Contest Entry Clarification for Female Society Members
With the recent announcements concerning the new quartet categories, new chorus options for chapters, and the latest update to the BHS Contest Rules, we’d like to provide more clarity regarding the specific options and procedures for contest entry for our female members.
Below, we’ve outlined the necessary steps that BHS members must take in order to participate with their chorus and/or quartet in BHS contest sessions at the district level. Although the requirements are the same for all members, we’ve given special emphasis to the necessary steps for female members to take part in the new opportunities just opened up to them.
While competition eligibility and rules differ from district to district, all choruses and quartets, including men’s, women’s and mixed harmony groups, are eligible to request to enter a district contest to compete for score/eval only.*
How Do I Compete with My Quartet?
Overview
The policies and procedures for women’s and mixed harmony quartets are the same as they are for men’s quartets:
- Become a member of the Society and a district with a record in Member Center
- Become a member of a chapter (optional)
- Register a quartet in Member Center and declare in which district it will compete
- Enter a BHS contest in Barberscore
Step-by-Step Instructions For Quartets
1. First, become a Society and District Member.
This can be accomplished in one of two ways:
- Join online. For step by step instructions, visit our tutorial here.
- Or, contact a local Society chapter that is currently accepting women for membership, and request to join that chapter. They will start the member sign up process online and you’ll get an email to finish joining.
2. Already a member of the Society? Add a Society district.
This can be accomplished in one of two ways:
- Add a new district subscription to your Society membership. (Additional district dues may apply.) For step by step instructions, visit our tutorial here.
- Or, contact a local Society chapter that is currently accepting women for membership, and request to join that chapter. They will start the member sign up process online and you’ll get an email to finish joining. Joining a chapter automatically makes you a member of the district to which that chapter belongs. (Additional chapter and district dues may apply.)
3. Next, register your women’s or mixed harmony quartet in Member Center.
When you register your quartet in Member Center, you will also need to choose the district in which your quartet will compete. If you have previously registered any of your quartet members without a district, you will need to go back and complete Step #2 by becoming a member of a district.
Once all of your quartet members have joined a district, please contact BHS customer service to make that district designation on your behalf.
NOTE: Contest rules regarding declaring a district prevent this from being an editable field in Member Center.
4. Finally, login to Barberscore to enter a quartet contest session.
Choose the applicable district or division contest convention and complete the entry process. More information on using Barberscore for quartet contest entry is available here.
NOTE: Only the quartet admin may enter the quartet into a contest.
Competing for Score/Eval Only
PLEASE NOTE: If there is not a contest/award available for women’s or mixed harmony quartets for that particular contest session, your quartet can still enter by choosing to compete for score/eval only.
How do I compete in a chorus?
The policies and procedures for women’s and mixed harmony choruses are the same as they are for men’s choruses.
Once a chapter that is accepting women for membership has registered a women’s and/or mixed harmony chorus with the Society, that chorus is eligible to enter their district or division contests as defined by district policies. Therefore, the only step needed is the one to be handled by the chapter or chorus leadership.
NOTE: Chorus Director, Chorus Associate or Assistant Director, and Chorus Manager may enter the chorus into a contest (typically done by the chorus director or manager).
Instructions for Chorus Leadership
1. Login to Barberscore to enter a chorus contest session.
Choose the applicable district or division contest convention and complete the entry process. More information on using Barberscore for chorus contest entry is available here.
Competing for Score/Eval Only
PLEASE NOTE: If there is not a contest/award available for women’s or mixed harmony choruses for that particular contest session, your chorus can still enter by choosing to compete for score/eval only.
Summary
In general, once you are a BHS participation member, your BHS registered quartet or chorus is eligible to compete. Society bylaws describe a participation member as a member of a Society subsidiary (chapter and/or district). Additionally, when choosing not to compete for any awards (or when your group is not eligible for any contests/awards), your group still has the option to request to compete for score/eval only. This option is the same for women’s and mixed harmony groups, just as it has been in the past for men’s quartets and choruses.
More information about entering contests is available here.
David Mills
Society Contest & Judging Committee Chairman
*While district contest sessions are open to male, female, and mixed groups, the International and international preliminary contests will continue to remain male only at this time.