guidelines

HIGH SCHOOL

DIVISIONS

Any show choir (mixed or unisex) will compete against each other within the following divisions:

  • ARTS / COMMUNITY GROUPS / INTERNATIONAL Any school with a regional or designated performing arts program, or from outside Canada, or any group that has a mix of students from different schools
  • NON-ACI LARGE ENSEMBLE
    NON-ACI SMALL ENSEMBLE Large vs. Small Ensemble placement will be determined by taking the median of the registered choir sizes so that there are an equal number of choirs competing in each division.
  • PRE-COMPETITIVE / SHOWCASE These groups will participate in the excitement of the Championships without the added pressures of fielding a competitive set. Schools in this division will perform a minimum of two contrasting pieces to an audience of supporters and fans and receive valuable feedback from our judges. However these groups will not be scored nor be eligible for awards.

Age / Grade Eligibility

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.

AWARDS

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.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

See Awards page for details


Entry Fees and Deadline

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Workshops

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.

Performance

WARM-UP

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.

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.

CONTENT

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”.

Stage and Equipment

RISER C(height 24")RISER B(height 16")RISER A(height 8")3'front curtain 15'10'2'12'32'4'2024 SHOW CHOIR CANADA Stage Dimensions (to scale)

STAGE DIMENSIONS

32 ft across by 29 ft deep TBC

RISERS

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.

MICROPHONES AND MONITORS

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.

ACCOMPANIMENT

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.

Lighting

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.

Direction

Directors may not perform with the choir other than in the capacity of a musician (see accompaniment section).

Participants

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).

Adjudication

Three adjudicators who are industry experts will evaluate your performance. Adjudicators will provide a five-minute, on-stage critique immediately following each performance. Scores, along with the judges verbal comments will be made available to each choir director.

Scoring System

We take great pride in hiring fair, competent, unbiased adjudicators.

Audience

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.