Any show choir (mixed or unisex) will compete against each other within the following divisions:
Participants must be enrolled in a full time high school program at the time of the competition to be eligible to participate. First year CEGEP students from Quebec can participate with the high school they previously attended in grade 11.
Please have two representatives from your choir in costume on stage to accept the awards. The three highest scoring Show Choirs in each division will receive trophies and other prizing TBA.
The Show Choir with the top overall score will be crowned the Show Choir Canada Champions.
See Awards page for details
First eight choirs to register will compete. Registration closes January 31, 2024 or when the schedule is full – which ever comes first. The final number of choir members will need to be submitted at this time. An invoice will then be issued for balance of fees owing, payable by March 15, 2024.
Register early and secure your spot!
$50 (includes HST if applicable) per Show Choir Member
Includes competition fees and admission to the theatre
Directors, choreographers and support staff (to a maximum of six) are admitted to the event free of charge.
In order to secure a spot in the competition a group must submit a registration form and fees for a minimum of 12 choir members ($50 x 12 = $600).
CLICK HERE for additional registration info and form.
Customized student/teacher workshops are available starting at $10 per student (minimum 20). We will work with your school to personalize a workshop to address your specific needs (for example: Show Choir 101, Vocal, Dance/Choreography, Music, Show Design etc).
Or schedule a ‘fine tuning’ session and have one of our SCC experts come to your school and offer valuable feedback on your show before competition.
A shared warm-up / holding area will be assigned and available to each group for a minimum of 60 minutes before their performance time. Dressing rooms will also be available during this time.
Once groups are marshalled to the pre-stage holding area, they should be prepared to transfer to the stage at any given moment. However if the event is running on-time, they will have an average of 20 minutes in this private space before moving to the stage for any final preparations. We will do our best to advise groups on timing as they get close to their performance time.
Twenty (20) minutes will be allotted for each group’s performance. This includes set-up, performance and tear-down. A penalty of 10% of the overall score will be applied for exceeding the time limit.
Show Choirs should perform a minimum of three contrasting compositions, including one ballad. Movement during the ballad should be kept to a minimum. There will be a five-minute on-stage critique by the adjudicators following the teardown. It is recommended to have a maximum performance time of 10-12 minutes in order to allow adequate time for set-up and tear-down. We encourage schools to keep the performance material age-appropriate and family-friendly.
For more information on a typical Show Choir design and format please refer to “Standards”.
32 ft across by 29 ft deep
The stage will be pre-set as follows:
Three (3) rows of 8″x4’x8′ risers (4 feet deep x 8 feet wide by 4 across=32 feet total width)
All three rows of risers will be preset and any requests to add to them must be approved in advance by SCC. Set pieces / backdrops must be generally QUICK AND SIMPLE to set-up within the 5 minutes allowed. Set pieces must be pre-approved by SCC and the venue.
Approval process: email design and descriptions of proposed set pieces to trudy@showchoircanada.com as early as possible but no later than Feb 1.
Area/Condenser mics will be placed overhead to cover the riser area as well as across the front of the stage. Eight (8) cordless handheld microphones will be available for the soloists. Monitors for the singers and band will be placed where necessary.
Recorded instrumental accompaniment tracks need to be sent to SCC by March 15. Groups with multiple tracks should consider editing them into one single track (with suitable transition times inserted) so that the track can be started and left to play right through to the end of the performance. It is always advisable to bring a back up on a USB stick.
The stage will be preset with a few basic lighting looks/designs to be controlled by the venue lighting operator. Confetti, streamers, sparklers, etc. are not to be used in the theatre. Due to fire codes, pyrotechnics are strictly prohibited.
Directors may not perform with the choir other than in the capacity of a musician (see accompaniment section).
All participants must be enrolled at the time of the competition at the school they are representing other than those who are competing as a Community Choir (see Age/Grade Eligibility above).
Three adjudicators who are industry experts will evaluate your performance. Adjudicators will provide a five-minute, on-stage critique immediately following each performance. A copy of the newly adopted adjudication form, along with the judges verbal comments with Video Judge will be given to each choir director.
Once again we will be implementing the following scoring system and Video Judge. We take great pride in hiring fair, competent, unbiased adjudicators.
Appropriate and courteous audience behaviour is expected of all participants. No one will be permitted to enter or leave the theatre once a group has started performing.