Musicality Category

Musicality is defined as the song and arrangement, as performed. The Musicality Category judges the suitability of the material to the barbershop style and the performer’s musicianship in bringing the song and arrangement to life.

The Musicality judge is responsible for adjudicating the musical elements in the performance, judging the extent to which the musical performance displays the hallmarks of the barbershop style and the degree to which the musical performance demonstrates an artistic sensitivity to the music’s primary theme(s).

The sensitive handling of musical elements, such as melody, harmony, and embellishments, demonstrates musicality in a performance. A strong musical performance is one in which everything provided by the composer and arranger is skillfully delivered and effectively integrated in support of the musical theme.

See a brief description on Musicality and Performance Elements

Read the full Musicality Category Description

Watch a presentation from Harmony University 2017 on the Music Category

RMD Musicality Category Judges

Singing Category

 In the Singing category we judge artistic singing in the barbershop style – listening holistically for ringing in-tune voices that use a free, beautiful and rich vocal quality, which is wonderfully unified and vocally expressive.

Judges in this category evaluate the degree to which the performer achieves artistic singing in the barbershop style: the production of vibrant, rich, resonant, technically accurate, and highly skilled sound, created both by the individual singer’s use of good vocal techniques, and by the ensemble processes of tuning, balancing, unity of sound and precision. They listen for a sense of precise intonation, a feeling of fullness or expansion of sound, a perception of a high degree of vocal skill, a high level of unity and consistency throughout the performance, and a freedom from apparent effort that allows the full communication of the lyric and song.

See a brief description on Singing Category

Read the full Singing Category Description

Watch a presentation from Harmony University 2018 on the Singing Category

Performance Category

 These judges evaluate how effectively a performer brings the song to life. They judge the entertainment value of the performance; the art of the performance.

One significant goal of any art form is communication. A barbershop performance refers to how the artist communicates his/her message and vision via the transformation of a song into an entertaining experience for an audience. The performance of a song is the artist’s gift to the audience; whose experiences, memories, and imagination transform that gift into an emotional experience. The performers’ goal is to create a high level of entertainment through the performance. The means to that end are as varied as the personality, abilities and creative skills of the performers.

See a brief description on the Performance Category

Read the full Performance Category Description

Watch a presentation from Harmony University 2016 on the Performance Category

Performance Category Judges

Administrative Category

The Administrative Judges (ADM, until recently known as Contest Administrators, or CAs) are responsible for ensuring the best possible environment for contestants to perform, for judges to adjudicate the performances, and for audiences to enjoy the performances. The The ADM effectively is a project manager for each assignment, and is responsible for administering a smooth and orderly contest with minimal delays.

The Administrative Judge is responsible for the orderly management and operation of barbershop competitions under the Society Contest Rules. Accordingly, the CA must: 

• have a full and complete knowledge of the rules and related policies;
• communicate effectively using both verbal and written skills;
• be sensitive to the needs of both contestants and judges at a barbershop contest;
• have a thorough knowledge of the tools used in the preparation and scoring of a contest, particularly the use of a computer;
• exhibit a good judging image that commands the respect and attention of both the contestants and the judges;
• be humble and able to work unobtrusively;
• be able to keep information confidential;
• possess the understanding and good judgment required to make decisions in difficult circumstances; and
• preferably, be an experienced contestant in both chorus and quartet contests.

The ADM provides information to the host district regarding the facilities and contest flow. They are responsible for preparing both the results of the contest and the announcement of the results, as well as providing scoring summaries for the contest. They notify the host chapter and other relevant parties of any special needs of the judging panel. They also have responsibility to provide to the Society Contest and Judging Committee all copies of electronic data produced as a result of the contest.

Administrative Category Judges