CHORUS
Purpose: This event presents a cappella music in a choral setting in order to praise God, encourage believers, and witness to unbelievers.
Process:
Each participating group’s adult or student choral director will:
1. Select and prepare the group with appropriate a cappella music.
2. Submit one judge per chorus entered for possible judging, time-keeping, or facilitating as needed.
3. Register chorus by grade and size on or before the Registration deadline.
4. Only allow participants to move up to a higher grade category chorus but not perform in a lower grade chorus.
5. Submit a completed Team Form to the Event Director at the convention event time and location.
6. It is requested that the local Chorus Director send to the Event Director a list of the songs at least two weeks before the Convention for programming purposes.
The Event Director will:
1. Assign each chorus to the grade category based on the oldest member’s grade level.
2. Assign each chorus to an event division, including performance times and room
assignments.
3. Communicate assignments to each church’s choral director.
4. Supply completed Team and Judging Forms with award recommendations to the Convention Events Coordinator.
5. Provide a critique sheet for each chorus. (Judging and critique forms will be in the church packet Saturday evening.)
6. Provide guidelines for the judges.
RULES:
1. A congregation may have no more than four choruses.
2. A participant may not be in more than two choruses.
3. Each chorus will consist of 3 or more members.
4. There will be four categories:
a. Large Chorus Grades 3 – 6
b. Large Chorus Grades 7 – 12
c. Small Chorus Grades 3 – 6
d. Small Chorus Grades 7 – 12.
5. Small chorus will consist of 3-12 people, a large chorus will consist of 13 or more members.
6. To be eligible for participation, each Chorus must be officially enrolled with LTC Northwest Region by the Registration deadline, and mail a completed Team Form to the Event Director by April 1.
7. Each chorus will have NINE MINUTES to set up, sing, and clear the stage. Full credit
will be awarded for completion within the time limit. A one-point penalty will be assessed
for each thirty seconds (or fraction thereof) above the limit.
8. Overall appearance – Dress does not need to be formal or uniform, but the participants will be expected to adhere to the LTC dress code. However, attention to group appearance does affect any performance.
7. Stage presence – This area includes the use of appropriate facial expression and body movement, as well as the group’s visible ease at performing in front of an audience. The group’s stage presence should reflect the style and content of the program.
8. Non-singing time – This area will rate how well the group presents itself and interacts when entering, between songs, and exiting. Verbal comments such as scripture readings will be scored under non-singing time, even if there is humming or singing in the background.
9. Musical Presentation – The presentation will be judged with the following criteria:
a. Blend of Voices: The group should demonstrate the ability to sing together through listening to achieve a good blend of voices. Harmony is not required and points will not be deducted for not trying to sing parts. However, improper or non-blending harmony may result in fewer points for this category.
b. Diction: The words should be clearly understandable by the audience.
c. Dynamic Contrast: The musical selections should be presented in such a way that loud/soft volume contrasts are evident. These dynamic changes should reflect the message that is being sent through the words and music.
10.Spiritual Message – the presentation will also be rated on the delivery of its overall spiritual message. It is strongly suggested that the current year’s LTC theme be the basis for the design of the presentation.
11.All participants will be expected to arrive at the beginning of the event and remain until the last chorus has performed.
12.There will be three Judges and a Timekeeper. An award rating will be based on the point average between the three
13.Judges with the final decision made by the Event Director.
AWARDS:
1. Each chorus will be rated according to the following scale:
Gold = 95-100 points, Silver = 85-94 points; Bronze = 70-84 points; No Award = 0-69 points
2. An appropriately colored engraved plate for the individual’s award plaque will be given to each team member receiving a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Rating. A team plate will be awarded to teams to hang on the congregational plaque.