Mixed Quartet: a new category of IABS competition
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Contest Rules for IABS Mixed Quartets
Foreward
These contest rules apply to the Mixed Quartet Competition to be called the Dan O’Duffy Competition at the IABS Convention for mixed (both male and female singers) barbershop quartets. Unless otherwise indicated the "Contest and Judging Rules" of the "Barbershop Harmony Society" (BHS), which is recognized by most barbershop organizations worldwide, apply for this contest.
Decisions concerning contest related matters, that are not handled in these rules, will be made by the Contest Administrator.
§ 1 Eligibility
1. Only quartets with male and female singers are eligible to apply for the contest. The male-to-female ratio is not important provided there is at least one male and one female in each quartet.
2.All competitors must be registered members of their own country's barbershop organizations.
3. No singer may sing in two quartets in the Mixed Quartet Competition.
§ 2 Registration Requirements
Quartets are required to submit the completed contest registration form for a contest.
§ 3 Judging panel and contest administrator
1. The judging panel and the number of judges will be determined by the IABS Executive.
2. There will be a minimum of two judges per scoring category. The judges must be certified barbershop judges in their organizations.
3. Members of the judging panel are not allowed to coach a contestant or hear the presentation of their contest set during the eight weeks prior to the contest.
4. The contest administrator will be appointed by the IABS Executive. He or she is responsible for the contest from the start until the announcement of the results. The contest administrator will assign the seating for the judges so that no communication between the judges concerning scoring results can take place. The contest administrator will collect the score sheets directly from the judges. The IABS Executive will announce the contest results. The contest administrator is responsible for the fair and smooth operation of the contest. S/he alone holds the right to stop or interrupt a performance or it’s scoring and/or to have it repeated later. This would be in accordance with consultation with the judges.
§ 4 General contest rules
1. Quartets are judged on two different songs in one appearance. One song must neither be repeated nor significant parts of it be used in the second song. The music judges will inform the contest administrator if two or more phrases have been repeated in the second song and the score for the second song will be forfeited.
2. A song performed in contest must be in good taste.
3. All songs performed in contest must be contestable and arranged in the barbershop style.Questions regarding the contestability of songs will be answered by the IABS Executive.
6. Songs must be sung totally unaccompanied by instruments of any kind.
7. Contestants may not use their own equipment to electronically amplify or alter their voices. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification by the presentation judge.
8. Introductory comments and other general remarks in connection with the performance are not allowed. Violation of this rule will result in penalty points or disqualification by the presentation judge.
9. All contestants are required to observe the copyright laws in the acquisition, arranging, learning, and performance of songs and arrangements.
10. Violation of one of these rules will be penalized or lead to the disqualification through one or more jury members, or if the violation is first detected after the contest, through the IABS Executive.
§ 5 Scoring Categories
Each scoring judge awards a score from 1 to 100 points for each song.
All contestants will be judged in three scoring categories:
A. Music
The Music judge evaluates the song and arrangement, as performed. S/He adjudicates the musical elements in the performance: melody, harmony, range and tessitura, tempo and rhythm and meter, construction and form, and embellishments. S/He judges how well the musical elements of the performance establish a theme and the degree to which the performance demonstrates an artistic sensitivity to that theme. S/He adjudicates the degree to which the musical elements of the song and arrangement display the hallmarks of the barbershop style.
B. Presentation
The Presentation judge evaluates how effectively a performer brings the song to life; that is, the believability of the theme in its musical and visual setting. S/He responds to both the vocal and visual aspects of the presentation, but he principally evaluates the interaction of those aspects as they work together to create the image of the song. S/He adjudicates the quality and appropriateness of the overall effect. The Presentation judge evaluates everything about the performance that contributes to emotional impact upon the audience.
C. Singing
The Singing judge evaluates the degree to which the performer achieves artistic singing in the barbershop style. This is accomplished through precise intonation, a high degree of vocal skill, and a high level of unity and consistency within the ensemble. Mastering these elements also creates a feeling of fullness, ring, or expansion of sound throughout the performance. When artistry is present, these elements will be natural, not manufactured, and free from apparent effort, allowing the performer to fully communicate the theme of the song.
§ 6 Order of appearance
1. The order of appearance will be determined by a draw held by the Convention Team. The Contest Administrator has the authority to alter the order of appearance in case of special circumstances beyond the contestant’s control.
2. The contest administrator decides whether a contestant may perform for a second time at the end of the regular order of appearance.
3. Any contestants who without valid excuse are absent from the stage at the scheduled time will receive penalty points. The Contest Administrator gives five penalty points per jury member. The contestant will then be allowed to perform after the last scheduled contestant. In case two or more contestants are rescheduled for being late, the contest administrator will decide on the order of their performance.
§ 7 Penalties and Disqualification
A member of the judging panel will indicate a disqualification by giving 0 (zero) points on the score sheet. Penalties and disqualifications are not announced. These will be made public on the official results list, when possible indicating the rule that was broken.
§ 8 Ranking of Contestants
Contestants will be ranked in accordance with the cumulative total scores of points awarded by the panel of judges, who, after each performance, submit their score sheets to the Contest Administrator. In the case of a tie the contestants will be listed in alphabetical order. If the highest score should be a tie between two or more contestants, the winner will be the contestant scoring highest in the Singing Category. If this does not result in a decision, the highest score in the Music Category will determine the winner. If this also fails to break the tie, both participants will be announced winners and listed in alphabetical order.
The international quartet with the highest score will be the International Champion Mixed Barbershop Quartet of that year.
The national quartet with the highest score will be the National Champion Mixed Barbershop Quartet of that year.
The Mixed Quartet attaining the highest score will be awarded the Waterford Trophy.
The Irish National Champion Mixed Quartet will qualify to represent Ireland at International Level.
§ 9 Official Results
An official scoring summary will show
• The name of the contest,
• The contest date and location,
• For every contestant the scores for each song in each category the total score,
• The titles of both songs,
• Names of the judging panel and Contest Administrator.The official scoring summary will be posted by the Contest Administrator directly after the announcement of the winners.
Contest Rules for IABS Mixed Quartets
Foreward
These contest rules apply to the Mixed Quartet Competition to be called the Dan O’Duffy Competition at the IABS Convention for mixed (both male and female singers) barbershop quartets. Unless otherwise indicated the "Contest and Judging Rules" of the "Barbershop Harmony Society" (BHS), which is recognized by most barbershop organizations worldwide, apply for this contest.
Decisions concerning contest related matters, that are not handled in these rules, will be made by the Contest Administrator.
§ 1 Eligibility
1. Only quartets with male and female singers are eligible to apply for the contest. The male-to-female ratio is not important provided there is at least one male and one female in each quartet.
2.All competitors must be registered members of their own country's barbershop organizations.
3. No singer may sing in two quartets in the Mixed Quartet Competition.
§ 2 Registration Requirements
Quartets are required to submit the completed contest registration form for a contest.
§ 3 Judging panel and contest administrator
1. The judging panel and the number of judges will be determined by the IABS Executive.
2. There will be a minimum of two judges per scoring category. The judges must be certified barbershop judges in their organizations.
3. Members of the judging panel are not allowed to coach a contestant or hear the presentation of their contest set during the eight weeks prior to the contest.
4. The contest administrator will be appointed by the IABS Executive. He or she is responsible for the contest from the start until the announcement of the results. The contest administrator will assign the seating for the judges so that no communication between the judges concerning scoring results can take place. The contest administrator will collect the score sheets directly from the judges. The IABS Executive will announce the contest results. The contest administrator is responsible for the fair and smooth operation of the contest. S/he alone holds the right to stop or interrupt a performance or it’s scoring and/or to have it repeated later. This would be in accordance with consultation with the judges.
§ 4 General contest rules
1. Quartets are judged on two different songs in one appearance. One song must neither be repeated nor significant parts of it be used in the second song. The music judges will inform the contest administrator if two or more phrases have been repeated in the second song and the score for the second song will be forfeited.
2. A song performed in contest must be in good taste.
3. All songs performed in contest must be contestable and arranged in the barbershop style.Questions regarding the contestability of songs will be answered by the IABS Executive.
6. Songs must be sung totally unaccompanied by instruments of any kind.
7. Contestants may not use their own equipment to electronically amplify or alter their voices. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification by the presentation judge.
8. Introductory comments and other general remarks in connection with the performance are not allowed. Violation of this rule will result in penalty points or disqualification by the presentation judge.
9. All contestants are required to observe the copyright laws in the acquisition, arranging, learning, and performance of songs and arrangements.
10. Violation of one of these rules will be penalized or lead to the disqualification through one or more jury members, or if the violation is first detected after the contest, through the IABS Executive.
§ 5 Scoring Categories
Each scoring judge awards a score from 1 to 100 points for each song.
All contestants will be judged in three scoring categories:
A. Music
The Music judge evaluates the song and arrangement, as performed. S/He adjudicates the musical elements in the performance: melody, harmony, range and tessitura, tempo and rhythm and meter, construction and form, and embellishments. S/He judges how well the musical elements of the performance establish a theme and the degree to which the performance demonstrates an artistic sensitivity to that theme. S/He adjudicates the degree to which the musical elements of the song and arrangement display the hallmarks of the barbershop style.
B. Presentation
The Presentation judge evaluates how effectively a performer brings the song to life; that is, the believability of the theme in its musical and visual setting. S/He responds to both the vocal and visual aspects of the presentation, but he principally evaluates the interaction of those aspects as they work together to create the image of the song. S/He adjudicates the quality and appropriateness of the overall effect. The Presentation judge evaluates everything about the performance that contributes to emotional impact upon the audience.
C. Singing
The Singing judge evaluates the degree to which the performer achieves artistic singing in the barbershop style. This is accomplished through precise intonation, a high degree of vocal skill, and a high level of unity and consistency within the ensemble. Mastering these elements also creates a feeling of fullness, ring, or expansion of sound throughout the performance. When artistry is present, these elements will be natural, not manufactured, and free from apparent effort, allowing the performer to fully communicate the theme of the song.
§ 6 Order of appearance
1. The order of appearance will be determined by a draw held by the Convention Team. The Contest Administrator has the authority to alter the order of appearance in case of special circumstances beyond the contestant’s control.
2. The contest administrator decides whether a contestant may perform for a second time at the end of the regular order of appearance.
3. Any contestants who without valid excuse are absent from the stage at the scheduled time will receive penalty points. The Contest Administrator gives five penalty points per jury member. The contestant will then be allowed to perform after the last scheduled contestant. In case two or more contestants are rescheduled for being late, the contest administrator will decide on the order of their performance.
§ 7 Penalties and Disqualification
A member of the judging panel will indicate a disqualification by giving 0 (zero) points on the score sheet. Penalties and disqualifications are not announced. These will be made public on the official results list, when possible indicating the rule that was broken.
§ 8 Ranking of Contestants
Contestants will be ranked in accordance with the cumulative total scores of points awarded by the panel of judges, who, after each performance, submit their score sheets to the Contest Administrator. In the case of a tie the contestants will be listed in alphabetical order. If the highest score should be a tie between two or more contestants, the winner will be the contestant scoring highest in the Singing Category. If this does not result in a decision, the highest score in the Music Category will determine the winner. If this also fails to break the tie, both participants will be announced winners and listed in alphabetical order.
The international quartet with the highest score will be the International Champion Mixed Barbershop Quartet of that year.
The national quartet with the highest score will be the National Champion Mixed Barbershop Quartet of that year.
The Mixed Quartet attaining the highest score will be awarded the Waterford Trophy.
The Irish National Champion Mixed Quartet will qualify to represent Ireland at International Level.
§ 9 Official Results
An official scoring summary will show
• The name of the contest,
• The contest date and location,
• For every contestant the scores for each song in each category the total score,
• The titles of both songs,
• Names of the judging panel and Contest Administrator.The official scoring summary will be posted by the Contest Administrator directly after the announcement of the winners.