Songs of Praise: Gospel Choir of the Year
Terms and conditions– These terms were amended on the 14thAugust 2017.
This Competition is organized by the BBC (“BBC”) and Avanti Media Limited (“Avanti”), together the “Organisers”.
Who May Enter
- Entries are invited fromamateurgospel choirs. An amateur gospel choir is defined as onethatrehearses frequently and in which the majority of members do not receive professional fees for singing, on aregularbasis. Choirmembers primary source of income must not be from singing in a gospel choir. Choirs should nothave any commercially available recordings distributed by a major record label and theyshould not have had music released in any of the official commercial charts (this includes the UK Christian and Gospel chart).
The BBC’s decision regarding the definition of ‘amateur’ will be final.If you are in any doubt about your choir’s amateur status, please contact the Organisers for clarification before entering the competition.E-mail:
2.Choirs should consist of singers who are aged 18 years and above - as of 1st January 2017.
3.The maximum number of choir members is 50; we cannot accept entries from choirs that exceed this number due to staging restrictions.
4.Choirs should not include any members who are staff of the Organisers, staff of an affiliate of the Organisers, a close relation to any such staff member, or anyone connected to this competition.
How to Enter
5.Initial entry to the competition will entail submission of a recording on CD or MP3 of two gospel songs with keyboard accompaniment ONLY(or unaccompanied/A cappella) of:
- Atraditional ‘recognisable’ song:hymn in a gospel style, a spiritual, or a capella song.
- A gospel song of your choice – a modern worship song, contemporary gospelbased on the Christian faith.
Each song must not be longer than 3 MINUTES. Please keep any musical introduction to a minimum. Choirs are expected to sing the same two songs in the televised finals as on their initial entry. Changes will only be allowed at the BBC’s discretion if, for instance, two choirs enter the same song.
6. The Musical Director/Choir Director or equivalent - can be an amateur or professional.
7. If a choir chooses to commission arrangements, or to employ a professional musical director, any costs incurred must be met by the choir – not the Organisers.
8.A completed official entry form must accompany the initial entry recordings on CD or MP3. The names of all the choir members must be submitted with the entry form.
9.The entry CD or MP3 must be clearly marked with the named contact for the choir with their telephone number (this is usually the Choir Director/Music Director). Please also mark on the CD or MP3 the duration of each track. The entry CD or MP3 must contain only the performances being submitted for this competition. *See ‘Sound Recording Guidelines’ at the bottom of these terms and conditions.
10. The information you provide will be collected and compiled by Avanti and the BBC for the purposes of administering the competition. Avanti Media and the BBC will not store or use your details for any other purpose and will not transfer your details to any other third party without contacting you first. The BBC and Avanti will destroy the information provided when the competition has ended. Please see the BBC’s Privacy Policy: further information.
11. The named contact will be responsible for obtaining all permissions necessary from the choir members participating before entering the competition. Proof of relevant consents may be requested.
12.CDs are not returnable, so please remember to keep a copy.
13.The address and e-mail to send the CD’s/MP3’s and completed application form is overleaf. The closing date for entries to be received isFriday 1st September 2017at the latest.
Progression to the Televised Finals
14. A small panel of specially appointed judges will listen to the quality and style of the singing as demonstrated by the performances on the CD or MP3 (but will not be judging the technical quality of the recording – see ‘Sound Recording Guidelines’) before selecting five choirs to go forward to the finals (the televised part of the competition). Once a choir has been notified that they have made it into the finals, they will be required to send the musical arrangements – or a copy of the manuscript of the submitted entries – to the Songs of Praise production office (address overleaf).
15. The judges will be selecting choirs throughout the competition using the following criteria:
- Technical ability: tuning, diction, voice quality, balance, ensemble, dynamics of “gospel sound”.
- Musical expression: musicality (rhythm/melody), communication, phrasing, passion, energy, commitment, and interpretation of the text.
16. Those choirs chosen for the finals will be informed from September 15th2017. After which, Avanti will visit each choir to film a rehearsal, and to conduct a “gospel workshop/master class” with an expert gospel singing coach. Choirs must be able to hold this rehearsal by Monday 16thOctober at the latest.
17.The competition finals willbe held on 5th November 2017 in central London and will be filmed for BBC Television.
18.The two gospel songs per choir performed in the television finals of the competition will be confirmed by Avanti, as it may be necessary for finalists to make adjustments or even change their competition entries – e.g. if other choirs are submitting the same song(s).
****Choirs will be asked to perform one additional song together with the other choir finalists. This song will be chosen by theOrganisers and choirs will be given time to learn this piece in the run up to the competition during their own rehearsal time. This WILL NOT be judged and isn’t part of the formal competition.
19 For choirs selected to take part in the finals, the Organisers will provide a live band accompaniment. Please note: we will not pay for the choir’s own accompanists.Choirs can also sing one of their two songs unaccompanied/A cappella rather than with the live band if they prefer.
20. As part of the final, one choir will be selected as overall winner. The others will be “finalists”. In the event of the judges not being able to reach a decision, the chair of the judges will have the final say as to which choir will be the winner.
21.The title of ‘Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year’ is held for one year only. The winning choir and finalists will be eligible to re-enter the competition the following year – if the competition takes place again.
22.The rules of this competition are compliant with the BBC’s current code of conduct, which is available at:
Entry for the competition implies acceptance of the present rules without possibility of the right of recourse. The decision of the judges is final, without appeal, and no subsequent correspondence on their decisions will be entered into. In case of any dispute concerning nominations, matters of eligibility, or interpretation of these rules, the decision of the BBC shall be final. The BBC is under no obligation to name the shortlisting judges or the number of entries received.
Additional Information
23.Choirs who make it through to the televised finals will be required to sign an All Rights Contract. If for any reason you are unhappy to grant all rights, in all media, for free, and in perpetuity to your contribution towards the programmes, you should not enter the competition.
24.Entries must not infringe the rights of any other party. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.
25.Entrants must agree to take part in any post-competition publicity, if required.
26.The BBC reserve the right to replace choirs whose entry (or any of its members) breaches any of these Terms Conditions or for any other reason beyond its control.
27.The BBC reserves the right to extend the deadline for entries or to cancel this competition or amend these terms and conditions at any stage, if, in its opinion, entries do not reach the required standard, or if deemed necessary in its opinion and if circumstances arise outside its control.
28.The Organisers, their sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any server, internet access, postal system or otherwise which may result in any entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.Please be aware that sending personal data by email may not be secure as email messages can be intercepted.
29. Acontribution is available to choirs to assist with travel costs for choirs based outside London to enable them to attend the recording of the finals. This payment is at the discretion of Avanti. No other expenses incurred by the choirs in entering the competition or taking part in the finals will be covered by the Organisers.
30.Choirs that successfully reach the televised finals will perform with microphones provided by Avanti. These will usually be on stands with hand-held microphones for soloists.
31. The Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
□ I have read the above rules and regulations and agree to adhere to them.
Name: ______
Name of Choir: ______
Position: ______
Signature: ______
If you do not wish the Organisers to keep your contact details for use after this year’s competition, tick here □
Entries should be clearly labeled and mailed to arrive no later than Friday 1st September 2017.
Post to: Songs of Praise GCOTY 17, 114-116 Broadway, Salford. M50 2UW
E-mail:
For further information, please visit:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there any prize money?
No. A trophy is awarded to the winning choir.
Will you pay for any expenses for travel or accommodation for the televised finals?
A small contribution is available to choirs travelling from outside London to the televised finals to help with travel costs. This payment is at the Avanti’s discretion. TheOrganisers will not pay for accommodation for the televised finals.
Are any refreshments provided for the choirs at the televised finals?
Yes, light refreshments are available.
Can we add other instrumentation to the entry songs?
No, keyboard instrumentation only.
Who selects choirs to go through to the televised finals?
Expert judges from the gospel music community select which choirs go through to the televised finals.
Who are the celebrity judges at the televised finals ?
The names of the celebrity judges will be revealed nearer the time.
Can we bring guests along on the day of the televised finals?
Yes but supporters will not be allowed access backstage or into the auditorium until theevening recording begins– subject to space being available.
When will the programmes be broadcast?
Probably in late November/early December 2017, on BBC One. The exact timesare to be announced.
What should we wear?
If the choir has a specific outfit for performance purposes then this should be appropriate. Failing that, watch clips from last year's competition to see what works well for television. Spare flat shoes are required for backstage.
Will we use microphones at the televised finals?
Yes. We will demonstrate the correct technique for using microphones at the aforementioned workshop if your choir gets selected for the finals.
What is the best way to record the choir singing for the application process?
Please see ‘Sound Recording Guidelines’ at the end of this document.
How long does the recording of the finals last?
Recording the two programmes that comprise the finals takes between approximately 1400 – 2200. The programmes will hopefullybe recorded inNovember2017 at a location to be announced.
Are there any childcare facilities at the finals?
No, there aren't any childcare facilities available.
Can we bring our children to be in the audience of the finals?
Yes – subject to a minimum age of 2 years and above, and seats being available. Please bear in mind that the venue could get hot for young children who will struggle to stay seated for the whole evening. We may have to ask sections of the audience to move seats for technical reasons.
Our recording is over 3 minutes by a couple of seconds. Is this okay?
No, 3 minutes is the maximum length for a recording.
Can we do a medley of songs as a 3-minute item?
Yes, as long as the songs abide by the terms and conditions above.
Can we enter an original composition as one of our items?
Yes, but only as your second song, and as long the song abides by the terms and conditions and is based on the Christian faith.
Who will the live band be and what instruments will it include?
The band will be made up of professional musicians. The final line up of instruments will be confirmed once the choirs have been chosen.
SOUND RECORDING GUIDELINES
Whilst your gospel choir will not be judged on the production quality of the recording, it is vital to get the best recording of your choir in order to paint an accurate picture of how you really sound.
For example, your choir may be well balanced but if the recording equipment is not appropriately placed, it may pick up more of one part (or even individual voices), which will make your choir sound unbalanced on the recording. Remember, the recording is the only reference the shortlisting judges have of your choir's sound.
The following simple guidelines will help you to achieve a better-recorded sound.
- CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT
Not all choirs are blessed with state-of-the-art recording studios, but you really don’t need one to achieve a suitable recording; abasic set-up is adequate. You’ll ideally use two microphones, or one stereo microphone and a recorder. It's better to record in stereo (i.e. independent left and right signals) in order to capture the full sound of the choir.
Bear in mind that you can even use a smartphone or tablet to record your choir as long as it has a high quality recording app.
- PLACEMENT OF MICROPHONES
This is key to achieving a suitable recording. The best way to approach this is to think of recording like you would if you were filming the choir. You would want to get everybody in the shot and the choir to be centre of the picture.
Microphones should be a few feet away from the choir in order to achieve a balanced sound. The further away the microphones are the more balanced the choir will sound. You may need to experiment with what is suitable distance.Ideally place the microphone(s) just above head height where practical or possible. Simply get the choir to sing a few bars and then have a listen. If you discover you are picking up individual voices, or the sound is too 'in your face', then move the microphones or choir backward.
Do bear in mind this is a choir competition; microphones should be placed to pick up the choir, with keyboard accompanying the choir and not the other way around.
- NOISE REDUCTION
Try to record with as little background noise as possible.
- LEVEL
In order to achieve the correct level for the recording, get the choir to sing the loudest parts of the songs they will record and make sure the recording does not distort.
- PRODUCTION
In the world of recording, and with the rapidly developing sound technology at our disposal, recording engineers often use techniques to make a recording sound more commercial and to give the best possible sound.
As this is a competition where the choirs are required to sing live, we recommend that only recordings which are a true representation of the choir singing live are submitted. We discourage choirs from employing specific production techniques to make a sound more balanced, or sound bigger. Many conductors are not responsible for the recordings so please do pass this on to anyone who may be responsible for making the recording of the choir.
Choirs should not use the following production practices and techniques:
- Dynamics Processing - the choir should be recorded without dynamics processing, i.e. compressors, limiters, expanders, gates. The judges do judge dynamics, and therefore need to hear the true dynamic range of the choir.
- Auto-tuners should be avoided. Again, the choir is being judged on tuning.
- Tracking/layering voices should be avoided. This is where individual voice parts are recorded, so a sound engineer can manually balance them. This also includes a technique known as 'double-tracking', where a choir records multiple times to give a warmer, smoother, fuller sound. If youare a choir of 20, and sound like 200 voices on the recording because of production techniques, how will that be achieved live?
- Recordings should beunedited. By all means edit out noises before or after the recording, but editing individual phrases to make it sound as though the choir is coming in and cutting off togetherwill not work in the choir's favour.
- Soundeffects -e.g., reverb etc. should be avoided. We are keen to hear the choir’s natural vocal sound and reverb can mask this; other sound effects (delays, etc.) should also be avoided.
Don’t forget the basics: a standing choir will produce a better sound than one sitting!