Varsity Quartets

• Age divisions:
  • U26 (Varsity): All singers 25 and under at the time of the International event.
    • A varsity quartet may have up to three members under the age of 18, as long as a parent or guardian accompanies the quartet at the convention and accepts responsibility for the minors on the Youth Participation Form.
  • U18 (Junior): All singers 18 and under at the time of the Midwinter event.
  • Quartets with any member age 19 or older must compete in the Varsity division.
  • Age 18 creates flexibility—quartets with all 18-year-olds may choose Junior or Varsity depending on the event.

• Examples:
  

  • 18–16–16–15 → Junior or Varsity

  • 19–17–17–15 → Varsity

  • 18–18–18–18 → Junior or Varsity

  • 25–23–23–14 → Varsity

  • 25–25–25–26 → Not eligible for Next Gen (must compete open).

• Open to all genders (men’s, women’s, and mixed quartets).

• No membership required in BHS or affiliate organizations.

• An individual may only participate in one varsity quartet per year.

• Quartets eligible for both Junior and Varsity may only register for one contest per year.

• A quartet that has qualified and is eligible to participate in both the open BHS International Quartet Contest and the finals of the Varsity quartet contest may compete in only one of those contests in the same year.

  • An individual may compete in both the open BHS International Quartet Contest and the finals of the Varsity quartet contest in the same year; however, if the individual is competing in two or more quartets, each of those quartets must be comprised of no more than two of the same members.

• All quartets are required to participate in a pre-event and post-event survey.

• All varsity participants will be required to stay within the BHS convention hotel block at their own expense.

  • Participants staying outside of the hotel block will forfeit any/all scholarship/financial assistance and be disqualified from all varsity participation.

• Each varsity quartet will be required to learn two (2) songs to be sung with the Varsity Honors Chorus during the convention on Friday or Saturday.

Contestable arrangements must feature:

• Melody primarily in the second voice (Tenor II/Lead).

• Four unaccompanied voices, singing distinct parts.

• Mostly consonant, diatonic harmony based in major tonality (with some secondary dominants).

• Homophonic texture with clear, understandable, G-rated lyrics.

• Check out our Suggested Song List.

Contestable arrangements do not include:

• Jazz-based harmonizations, counterpoint-heavy arrangements, or Eric Whitacre-style writing.

• Patriotic, religious, or explicit themes.

• Any form of instrumental accompaniment.

Forfeiture, though, may result from one or all judges for:

• Anyone other than quartet members or the director appearing on stage during the performance.

• Actions by any contestant that are deemed suggestive, vulgar, or otherwise not in good taste, as determined by acceptable, contemporary community standards.

• The two songs in the barbershop style must not be either primarily patriotic or primarily religious in intent.

• Any spoken words deemed excessive or detrimental to the performance. Participating quartets should not introduce their selections.

• Use of the contestant's own electronic sound equipment.

• Instrumental accompaniment, including instrumental introductions, interludes, or conclusions.

Check out our Suggested Song List.

Copyright compliance:

• Arrangements must adhere to international and U.S. copyright law.

• See our Copyright Basics for Barbershoppers.
  
  

Adapting Existing Barbershop Arrangements for Mixed or Women’s Voices:

• TTBB → SSAA: transpose up a minor 3rd to perfect 5th; revoice as needed.

• TTBB → SATB:

  • The entire arrangement might need to be transposed down a half-step or a full-step.

  • This adaptation requires switching some of the voice parts.

    • Lead (Tenor II)→ Sopranos (up an octave).

    • Tenor (Tenor I) → Altos (as written).

    • Baritone (Bass I/Baritone) → Tenors (as written).

    • Bass (Bass II) → Basses (as written).

• Some revoicing may be needed if notes fall outside range.

Not recommended to adapt arrangements with fewer than four voices.

• A panel of BHS certified judges from each of the three categories will review all video submissions to determine which quartets qualify for the International Event, and will also be scoring the International Event.

• At least one judge will be required to write a brief, one-paragraph evaluation encouraging the competitor’s participation and improvement.

• The top 20 quartets, based on combined scores, are invited to compete at International.

• Medals will be awarded to the top 5 quartets at our International convention.

• Non-qualifying quartets will be invited to participate in the Varsity Honors Chorus.

1. Learn two(2) contestable barbershop songs.
   
   

   • Prepare as you would for any scholastic festival (Large Group, Solo & Ensemble, Heritage, Music in the Parks, etc.).

   • Barbershop diction is conversational American English, not formal choral diction.
     
     

2. Record your video.
   
   

   • Use a well-lit, acoustically balanced room (avoid echo-heavy spaces like stairwells).

   • A classroom or music room works well.

   • Avoid amplified sound, speakers, or audio modification.

   • Record the quartet with a stationary camera, full body visible (head to toe).

   • Use the best possible video quality (most smartphones are sufficient).

   • Video must be performed in front of a live audience (public or private).
     
     

3. Upload your video.
   
   

   • Upload to YouTube (recommended as unlisted).

   • Watch your video after upload to confirm quality.
     
     

4. Submit your application.
   
   

   • Complete the online application form and include the YouTube link (do not email links).

   • Quartet names must be approved to avoid duplication.

   • All quartets must complete pre- and post-event surveys.
     
     

Additional Notes:

• Fall BHS District contest videos can be used if judged/recorded between Aug 1 - Dec 1

• All submissions (video, photo, audio) become property of BHS with unrestricted usage rights.

• All Varsity quartets, qualifiers and non-qualifiers, will be eligible for a free International Convention registration and scholarship assistance based on distance from convention city, number of BHS members, number of times to competition, current student, etc.

• All varsity participants will be required to stay within the BHS convention hotel block at their own expense.

  • Participants staying outside of the hotel block will forfeit any/all scholarship/financial assistance and be disqualified from all varsity participation.

• Any singer competing in the International Quartet Contest is ineligible for any level of Varsity scholarship assistance, including a free International Convention Registration.

• International convention registrations purchased by the quartet will not be reimbursed by the Barbershop Harmony Society should they receive a scholarship award.

• Scholarship recipients will be required to participate in the Varsity Honors Chorus and complete a post-event survey.

• 80% of the scholarship award will be given onsite at the International Convention.

• Final 20% will be awarded after receiving a completed post-event survey.