Cachet Region 11 Contest! KMPR Ringin Again. Region 11 Champions. Sally McLeish Shawnna Allen Tove Hoch Mary Ashford. 2nd Place Medalists

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1 2016 Region 11 Contest! Cachet KMPR Ringin Again 2nd Place Medalists Lady Luck Showtime Stacey Riss Ami Nichelson Suzanne Lunak Bobbie Jewell Region 11 Champions Agoura Hills Harmony Carpe Diem Harborlites Santa Monica South Valley Sound Sally McLeish Shawnna Allen Tove Hoch Mary Ashford 1

2 Region 11 Contest! Cheers! 3rd Place Medalists Carpe Diem Harborlites Barbara Gregg Viena Zeitler Banks Pecht Amanda De Lucia Makin Mischief 4th Place Medalists Antelope Valley Showcase Carpe Diem Harborlites Nicki Agner Lee Hays Liz Sloan Linda Agner Some Like It Hot 5th Place Medalists Santa Monica Timari Thorstenson Anna Mavromati Debra Hockenberger Jennifer Febre

3 2016 Region 11 Contest! Santa Monica 2016 Region 11 Chorus Champions Mid-Size Chorus Champions Laura Pallas, Master Director 3

4 2016 Region 11 Contest! Voices United 2nd Place Medalist Small Chorus Champions Michael Ogdon, Director Agoura Hills Harmony 3rd Place Medalist Monica Tautkus, Director 4

5 2016 Region 11 Contest! Lady Luck Showtime 4th Place Medalist Linda Kelly, Master Director RiverOaks 5th Place Medalist Most Improved Chorus (+12) Theresa Schonbach, Director 5

Co-Directors 2016 Contest Scores QUARTET 1 Cachet 580 2 Ringin Again 574 3 Cheers!

6 Region 11 Contest! 2016 Audience Choice Winners Kern Valley Cheryl Borthick / Francine Stirling, Co-Directors L.A. South Towns Show Chorus Caroline McLean, Director Pacific Horizon Kim Patrick-Miernick / Logan Patrick-Miernicki, Co-Directors 2016 Contest Scores QUARTET 1 Cachet Ringin Again Cheers! Makin Mischief Some Like It Hot After Eight Fuego Chemistry Invitation Hot Topic 522 CHORUS 1 Santa Monica Voices United Agoura Hills 530 Harmony 4 Lady Luck 512 Showtime 5 RiverOaks Celebrity City Golden Sands ChannelAire Central Coast Celebration 10 Antelope Valley Showcase

7 2016 Region 11 Contest! Region 11 Awards Novice Director Michael Ogdon VOICES UNITED Reach for the Top Theresa Schonbach RIVEROAKS Winners Circle Awards Most Promising Novice Bass No award given this year Most Promising Novice Tenor Melissa Molinaro MAJiC TOUCH Most Promising Novice Lead Anna Mavromati SOME LIKE IT HOT Most Promising Novice Baritone Amanda Timiko MAJiC TOUCH 7 Sizzle Award CACHET Most Improved Quartet 4 JOY! (+46)

Comments from the Judges Pit... Region 11 QUARTET TRENDS SOUND Category Joan Boutilier Lots of solid work in the area of vocal skills. Find the balance between ring and roundness.

The higher-scoring quartets need to explore a wider range of dynamics Some fine quartet Basses and confident Leads! Many Basses understand how to project in the lower range!

They can afford to take more risk and sing with freedom and energy. Breath support is an area in need of attention for almost all quartets. Some need to apply a gentle vigor to sustained chords.

The higher-scoring quartets can refine their understanding of finding the balance of ring and roundness in resonance.

Region 11 is to be commended for the high level of the Quartet Contest. Only 2 quartets scored in the C level, and 3 were C+. The rest were B- or B. What an awesome achievement!

8 Comments from the Judges Pit... Region 11 QUARTET TRENDS SOUND Category Joan Boutilier Lots of solid work in the area of vocal skills. Find the balance between ring and roundness. The distance between intervals/pitches needs to be appropriate and in line with BBS timing. The higher-scoring quartets need to explore a wider range of dynamics Some fine quartet Basses and confident Leads! Many Basses understand how to project in the lower range! More quartets should take a tune-up pitch/chord to enhance a successful start to their songs. Many quartets scoring in the B level are technically sound. They can afford to take more risk and sing with freedom and energy. Breath support is an area in need of attention for almost all quartets. Some need to apply a gentle vigor to sustained chords. Others need to decrease push and allow their sound to spin and ring. Almost all quartets can benefit from extending, energizing and lifting phrase endings. The higher-scoring quartets can refine their understanding of finding the balance of ring and roundness in resonance. MUSIC Category Linda Keever Generally, quartets are choosing good barbershop charts. All groups exhibited an awareness of vocal skills, though many were still under construction. Region 11 is to be commended for the high level of the Quartet Contest. Only 2 quartets scored in the C level, and 3 were C+. The rest were B- or B. What an awesome achievement! Nearly all quartets chose appropriate music. Only 7 songs were poorly chosen. I would suggest that NO David Harrington arrangements be sung in contest. Though lovely, they conform to the BHS standards rather than the SAI standards. Most groups have a good understanding of tempo, rhythm, and backbeat. Areas for improvement: harmony accuracy and synch. Such a fine region! EXPRESSION Category Marsha Fulton Vocal skills are generally good. Technical elements could use greater intensity and attention at all levels vocal skills, synch, word delivery, and musicality come as a matched set and truly would be beneficial for a focus for future education opportunities. Most quartets handled lyric flow and phrasing well. Need to strengthen dynamics. And there s always room for more energy. Finesse, artistry, characterization and emotional communication not always understood by competitors. Some competitors attempted to capture the characterization of the lyrics and went a touch beyond vocal capabilities would be helpful to have a jam session with the regional quartets and the guest faculty to explore the expression category as it relates to characterization. And the creation and bring-to-life the essence of the storyline/lyrics. This category isn t a mystery anymore and quartets are dipping their toes into bringing the characterization and storyline to life not an easy task. Kudos to those who are trying don t stop now! Quartet education is alive and well in Region 11! SHOWMANSHIP Category Sue Beck WOW! What a contest! Your quartets live in B Land, and it s so fun and challenging to judge! What s missing in this category are consistent energy, commitment to character, and unity. Most quartets are singing notes and words, but are only imitating what they think will get them where they want to go. More work needed on stamina and confidence, as well as stage awareness and then just let it go! Makeup needs more intensity and blending. Costumes generally good. Several singers need better posture too much hunching over. April 2016

Comments from the Judges Pit... Region 11 CHORUS TRENDS SOUND Category Joan Boutilier Breath support education should be ongoing. Precise interval accuracy was impacted by insuffient air.

Resonance needs to be addressed for almost all groups. Choruses at the C / B- / B levels need education on creating a balanced sound so that both vibrancy and roundness are married.

Several choruses had problems with blend. Vibrato and individual vocal qualities need to be woven into the ensemble s unit sound. The B levels are prevelant, which is OK!

All groups need more attention to singing in tune and in synch. All group need more musical artistry.

9 Comments from the Judges Pit... Region 11 CHORUS TRENDS SOUND Category Joan Boutilier Breath support education should be ongoing. Precise interval accuracy was impacted by insuffient air. Almost all performers can afford to up their quotient of vocal energy. Most choruses took a tune-up pitch or chord, which helped them to begin in tune. Lots of strong intros! Resonance needs to be addressed for almost all groups. Choruses at the C / B- / B levels need education on creating a balanced sound so that both vibrancy and roundness are married. Many choruses have solid Bass sections. They need an increased awareness of creating a forward, focused sound in their lower ranges so that lower chords don t get either foggy or muddy. Several choruses had problems with blend. Vibrato and individual vocal qualities need to be woven into the ensemble s unit sound. The B levels are prevelant, which is OK! Lots to praise and lots to polish! MUSIC Category Linda Keever Nearly all choruses chose good or strong material. Your education is working! All groups need more attention to singing in tune and in synch. All group need more musical artistry. Many groups exhibit a good understanding of tempo and rhythm, though some have trouble with backbeat. Many choruses should take a tune-up chord. Those that do should make sure they actually tune. Many groups need to keep the musical line fluid and consistently supported. Many had dynamic changes that were unevenly executed across the ensemble more awareness of maintaining chord balance (root-five) integrity during dynamic transisions is needed. Happy, joyful singers live here what a treat! EXPRESSION Category Marsha Fulton Vocal skills need to be an essential ingredient for all singers. For the most part, musicality is there attention needed for competitors in the C+ and below level. Vowels and Diphthongs need to focus on their value to the interpretive efforts. Work on non-singable consonants how to handle and smooth out. Lyric flow/phrasing and forward motion handled fairly well. Dyanamics rather narrow range for most. Lots of technique being exhibited impeding their opportunity to allow themselves to be touched by their lyrics. Many choruses are handling the elements in this category admirably the stumbling block seems to be an ability to support all dynamic levels and utilize with effect. Breath-to-sing and breath management are basic skills for all to work on. Such a pleasure to spend a weekend with you! Friendly, positive and supportive to the musical product. SHOWMANSHIP Category Sue Beck Good work on costumes and makeup. You are blessed with many talented singers. What s lacking is energy from the floor total body and soul involved. Designated visual focal points for all singers will allow more refined and powerful visual performances. Stamina is another area that needs work. Choruses need to learn to let it go but that is preceded by good vocal skills and techniques. April 2016

FRENZY[fren-zee], noun 1. A state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior! 2. Region 11's Guest Faculty at Summer Sizzler!

FRENZY[fren-zee], noun 1. A state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior! 2. Region 11's Guest Faculty at Summer Sizzler! 2016 International 2nd Place Quartet, FRENZY, will have you singing,