2011 Show Choir Nationals Competition Guidelines

High School Guidelines

  • 1. High School Show Choirs will be accepted from all regions of the country.
  • 2. There will be a Mixed Division and a separate Women's Division.
  • 3. Judges for the competition will be current educators in the show choir activity or retired directors that are still active as judges in show choir competitions.
  • 4. The first twenty (20) choirs to respond to the invitation will participate.
  • 5. Preliminary performance order will be determined by postmark. The first application received will perform last, et cetera.
  • 6. Women's Division Competition will be held Thursday evening.
    Mixed Division Prelims will be held Friday. Mixed Division Finals will be held Saturday.
  • 7. The six (6) choirs in the Mixed Division with the highest preliminary scores will compete in the finals competition .
  • 8. Thirty (30) minutes will be allotted for each group's performance. This includes set-up, performance and breakdown.
  • 9. A penalty of one point per minute will be assessed for exceeding the time limit. Timing will stop for the introduction of the group's performance and will resume on the first musical note or first movement by a performer.
  • 10. Thirty (30) minutes will be allotted for warm-up and transfer to stage.
  • a. Twenty (20) minutes for warm-up
  • b. Five (5) minutes to transfer to stage
  • c. Five (5) minutes to prepare equipment for set-up
  • 11. The stage will be set with four levels of risers
  • a. Four (4) 4x8x8
  • b. Four (4) 4x8x16
  • c. Four (4) 4x8x24
  • d. Four (4) 4x8x32
  • Choirs may place risers in any arrangement, add extra sets to them, or not use them at all, however, risers must be returned to original arrangement within the allotted thirty (30) minute time period. Our crew will assist with this.
  • 12. Taped accompaniment tracks will not be allowed.
  • 13. No special lighting will be provided for any choir's performance.
  • 14. The stage will be set with five (5) corded stand microphones, three (3) cordless handheld microphones, three (3) audio technica booms, two (2) monitors for piano to singers and one (1) monitor for singers to director.

    • Middle School/ Jr. High Guidelines

  • 1. Middle School/Jr. High School Show Choirs will be accepted from all regions of the country.
  • 2. There will be a Middle School Division and a Jr. High Division in Mixed Choir only.
  • 3. Judges for the competition will be current educators in the show choir activity or retired directors that are still active as judges in show choir competitions.
  • 4. The first eight (8) competing choirs to respond to the invitation will participate.
  • 5. Performance order will be determined by postmark. The first application received will perform last, et cetera.
  • 6. The performance day will be Thursday.
  • 7. Choirs will be admitted to High School Women's Competition Thursday evening, High School Mixed Division Prelims Friday morning and High School Mixed Division Finals Saturday morning.
  • 8. Thirty (30) minutes will be allotted for each group’s performance. This includes set-up, performance, and breakdown.
  • 9. A penalty of one point per minute will be assessed for exceeding the time limit. Timing will stop for the introduction of the group’s performance and will resume on the first musical note or first movement by a performer.
  • 10. Thirty (30) minutes will be allotted for warm-up and transfer to stage.
  • a. Twenty (20) minutes for warm-up
  • b. Five (5) minutes to transfer to stage
  • c. Five (5) minutes to prepare equipment for set-up
  • 11. The stage will be set with four levels of risers
  • a. Four (4) 4x8x8
  • b. Four (4) 4x8x16
  • c. Four (4) 4x8x24
  • d. Four (4) 4x8x32
  • Choirs may place risers in any arrangement, add extra sets to them, or not use them at all, however, risers must be returned to original arrangement within the allotted thirty (30) minute time period. Our crew will assist with this.
  • 12. Taped accompaniment tracks will not be allowed.
  • 13. To be eligible for the combo award, only one adult may play in the combo. All others must be current Middle School or High School students.
  • 14. No special lighting will be provided for any choir's performance.
  • 15. The Grand Ole Opry House sound system will be used for the competition. five (5) stand microphones, three (3) audio technica boom microphones, and three (3) cordless handheld microphones will be used. Monitors will be provided for piano to singers and singers to combo director.
  • 16. The competition area will be 40 ft. across and between 38 ft. and 40 ft. deep.
    		•