COMPETITION UPDATES AND REVISIONS EFFECTIVE FOR ALL CONTESTS BEGINNING MARCH 2021
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n 2019, Sweet Adelines International’s new Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles were adopted by the International Board of Directors. Since that time, the International Board and its committees and task forces have been reviewing and continuing to bring into alignment all policies, materials and methods used in various areas of the organization. Over the last year, the Judge Specialists Committee has been reviewing the materials that guide the judges and competitors in each competition. As a result, the Judging Category Description Book —the definitive book which provides judges and competitors with the requirements and guidelines for successful Sweet Adelines competition performances — has been in the process of review and revision. While not all revisions have been completed, we want to share with you some of the results of this review. All of these revisions can be accessed on the Sweet Adelines website here. As you prepare for your next contest, you’ll want to keep these changes in mind.
PREFACE: This Preface, which is being newly added to the JCDB in 2020, will briefly explain the origins of the barbershop art form as well as the organizational commitment to display sensitivity, respect and high regard for collective harmony in our contests and performances.
MUSIC CATEGORY REVISIONS: Song Stipulations (Previously “Lyric Stipulations”) Competition policies established by the International Board of Directors prohibit the use of songs with religious or patriotic lyrics or official organizational songs as the contest song in a Regional, International or Evaluation Only contest performance. Religious songs include hymns and other songs written to create an awareness of and reverence toward a supreme being. Patriotic songs include national anthems and other songs written to inspire patriotism and allegiance to a particular country. Official organizational songs include “Harmonize the World”, “How We Sang Today” and “The Voice of Harmony”. In the Open Division or International Entertainment Packages,
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religious, patriotic or official organizational songs of Sweet Adelines International may be used as part of the package. The degree to which such use enhances or detracts from the performance is reflected in the judges’ score and commentary. Many songs from Broadway musicals and other sources are not considered religious or patriotic because they were written primarily for entertainment purposes rather than for inspirational values. Competition policies also require that songs be sung in English, though no penalty will be assessed for the occasional foreign language word or phrase found in American popular song.
Major changes:
1) Combining “religious, patriotic or organizational songs” into one paragraph with like treatment in contest; 2) the addition of “The Voice of Harmony” to our list of organizational songs; 3) the clarification that these songs may now be used in Open Division and Entertainment Packages; 4) revisions/deletions to coordinate with organizational guiding principles.)
Lyric Considerations: This section was rewritten to complement and coordinate with the organizational guiding principles. Lyric Alterations: This section was rewritten to complement and coordinate with the organizational guiding principles.
PENALTIES: In the “Penalties” section, several revisions and one addition have been made. The addition has to do with “Inadmissible Songs” as reflected in the Music Category revisions and in our organizational guiding principles.
Rule Infraction Penalties
Inadmissible Songs: In accordance with our guiding principles of Diversity and Inclusion and the Culture of
