As discussed in the July/August 2010 issue of The Harmonizer: At the Society’s request, for more than a year, members of the Society Contest & Judging Committee (SCJC) have been investigating an idea that would nearly double the number of choruses eligible to compete on the international stage—dividing the most talented Society choruses into two equal pools to compete on alternating years. The suggestion was proposed by multiple sources, with arguments and anecdotal support compelling enough to request the SCJC research.

Highlights of the proposed two-year rotation

The Society Contest and Judging Committee has formulated a transition plan that would create two equivalent “flights” of competitors, one for 2012 (Portland) and one for 2013 (Toronto). Proposed dates are the committee’s recommendations and are subject to change. 		 

2-Year Rotation Research and Materials


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  • Qualification for the 2011 contest in Kansas City will follow current rules, i.e. based on 2010 Fall District Contest scores.
  • All choruses scoring 81 or higher during the 2010 district chorus contests (or if they do not compete in fall 2010, based on 2010 international scores) will be divided into two groups based on a set formula.
  • One group will receive invitations to qualify for slots in the Portland 2012 International Contest. The other group will receive invitations to qualify for slots in the Toronto 2013 International Contest. (Requests from choruses will be honored to the greatest extent possible.)
  • These will only be invitations to qualify for international competition on specific years; invited choruses must still post high enough qualifying scores at their Fall District Contests held 8-9 months prior.
  • The remaining international slots for 2012 will be filled based on 2011 Fall District Contest scores. Remaining international slots for 2013 will be based on 2012 Fall District Contest scores.
  • Districts are guaranteed at least one representative every year.
  • All choruses that compete in an international contest on a given year will be ineligible to qualify for the next year’s international contest.
  • All choruses are eligible to compete in district contests for score and for district championships in any year, regardless of international eligibility.
  • Any chorus that didn’t compete at international on a given year—no matter what the reason—will be eligible to qualify for the next year’s international contest.
  • International champs still sit out two years, effectively switching from A to B rotation. Go to www.barbershop.org/2year for a detailed explanation of the proposed transition plan, including a hypothetical A/B rotation based on 2009 district and international scores.