Competitions

Is there reserved seating?
No, because people move in and out of the auditorium frequently. The host school generally requests that you try not to save seats, as these competitions are quite crowded (particularly later in the day).

When and where are competitions?
Competition season runs from February to April – on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, depending on which choir is performing (generally, stand-still choirs compete on Thursday, treble/unisex show choirs compete on Friday, and mixed show choirs compete on Saturday). They take place mostly in local area high schools, with possible occasional out–of–town competition(s), and generally run all day long. Please be aware of the days on the schedule, as there may be a/some competition(s) that are single–day competitions (where all groups compete on the same day), but you will also be made verbally aware of that when the Chorus Calendar is given if a single–day competition is on the schedule.

Do parents/other supporters really go to several/all competitions?
Yes! Just like sporting events, many parents/friends will attend as many competitions as possible (there are generally 4–5 per season). Once you see your first show choir competition, you become addicted! For out–of–town shows, sometimes parents will get together and carpool.

How much do tickets and other items cost at competitions?
Ticket prices vary according to the host school, but can range from $5.00–$20.00. Stand–still competition days typically charge less than show choir competition days, since performances are shorter. Concessions are available to purchase throughout the day, as well as merchandise sales, with meals being sold at lunch/dinner breaks. Competitions may also have a professional videographer and/or photographer on site with DVDs or photos available to order.

How long does a competition day last?
All day! Each choir is given a specific performance time slot (usually determined a week or two before the competition), with the slots beginning in the morning and running through the evening and awards being given at the end of the night (usually anywhere between 9:00–11:00pm). For competition days where the show choirs compete, Thomas Dale show choirs typically perform later in the afternoon/evening. You are absolutely encouraged to come watch your child's show or, better yet, watch some of the other competitors and enjoy their shows as well!

Since the day is so long, make sure your child has a water bottle to stay hydrated and money for food. We encourage supporting the concessions and merchandise stands, as hosting is a big fundraiser for the host school. Outside food/drink (other than a water bottle) is prohibited at competitions and could be grounds for disqualification of the choir. If your child has dietary restrictions, please contact the Choral Director to arrange bringing their own food/snacks.

What does my child's schedule look like the day of a local competitions?
Schedules vary from competition to competition, depending on what time the choir is supposed to perform. Knightingales and stand–still choirs will get ready (hair, makeup, putting on accessories, etc.) at Thomas Dale High School before loading the bus to go to competition (since stand–still and treble competition days take place on school days). Knight Scene will get ready before meeting at the school, then meet at Thomas Dale to do accessory checks and load the bus to go to competition (since mixed competition days take place on Saturdays). Show choirs are required to wear show shirts the day of and during competitions when not in costume.

Typically, arrival time to a competition is anywhere from 3–7 hours before performance time, depending on the performance's time of day. Knightingales and stand–still choirs may typically have a shorter time between arrival and performance than Knight Scene (since Saturday competition days are usually longer). Each ensemble has warm–ups, performance, and awards ceremonies. For stand-still choirs, warm–ups are about 10–15 minutes, whereas warm-ups for show choirs are about 20–25 minutes. From there, choirs head to the stage and prepare to perform. Stand–still performances are approximately 10 minutes and show choir performances are approximately 20 minutes. For show choirs competitions, students will then either a) go to critiques or b) help clear the stage and head back to their homeroom to change out of costumes and back into their show-shirt. At the end of each night, an awards ceremony takes place, which typically lasts about 30 minutes. After awards, students will go back to the homeroom(s) to grab their belongings and load the bus to head back to Thomas Dale High School.

In between established activities at competitions, students can and are encouraged to eat, participate in any activities they may have, sing and dance in the auditorium (mindfully, to avoid losing/damaging their beautiful voices or causing a bodily injury), and, most importantly, cheer on and support other choirs!

What are critiques?
Some (but not necessarily all) competitions will have critique judges. Critique judges watch and take notes on the show, just as scoring judges do, but provide those notes to the choir immediately following their performance. This is especially helpful for competitions that have finals (where a few top–scoring groups perform their show again at a later time to establish a Grand Champion winner), so that notes from the critique judge that can be easily applied can be taken and implemented in the finals performance. Critiques are typically only done for show choirs.

What does performance time look like during a competition?
Auditorium doors are closed once a choir is ready to perform and there is no admittance until they are finished. Therefore, if you want to watch a specific choir you should plan to be in a seat 5–10 minutes ahead of their scheduled performance time. It is sometimes common for competitions to run behind schedule, which causes a choir to perform later than their schedule time. If a schedule runs behind, the host school may possibly/likely skip breaks and do what they can to get the schedule back on time, so be mindful of what groups are performing when this happens so you don't miss watching your child perform. A stand–still choir will perform for approximately 10 minutes, then there is a very brief break to reset for the next choir (roughly 5 minutes). A show choir will perform for approximately 20 minutes, then there is a brief break to change stage sets and reset for the next choir (roughly 10–15 minutes). This is the time when people move in and out, have a meal, or just take a break.

Is this a traditional theatre–type show?
No! Everyone is strongly encouraged to cheer and shout to let the performers know how well they are doing. During a ballad or solo you may see students raise their arm and wave their hand up and down – this is the equivalent of “applause” during quieter times, but in general competitions are quite loud. The students can also be found in the audience when they are not performing and you will be amazed at how supportive all the schools are, regardless of which school is on stage. It’s a wonderful lesson in camaraderie and sportsmanship.

Can I take pictures/video?
No. Each competition has its own rules but there is definitely no flash photography and no video allowed. By disregarding this rule you may compromise Thomas Dale's eligibility to perform (yes, there is a possibility of disqualification).