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Convention 2025

Competitor paperwork and information

 


Convention Contest Timetables - provisional


Chorus Contest
LABBS Chorus timetable LABBS Chorus timetable

Quartet Contests 
LABBS Quartet Semifinals timetable (updated 24 September) LABBS Quartet Semifinals timetable (updated 24 September)

LABBS Quartet Finals timetable (blank) LABBS Quartet Finals timetable (blank)


Saturday Show
Traffic pattern for info, for those appearing on the Saturday Evening shows:
Gold Show traffic pattern (updated 29 September) Gold Show traffic pattern (updated 29 September)

Celebration Song Spots traffic pattern (new 15 October) Celebration Song Spots traffic pattern (new 15 October)

 

Contestant briefings and information


These documents contain essential information that all contestants should be made familiar with:

Quartet (women's and mixed) contestants' information Quartet (women's and mixed) contestants' information

Chorus contestants information Chorus contestants information

We are aware that there may be people with mobility aids such as wheelchairs and motorised chairs. If you have any concerns, please contact the Stage Manager directly on stagemanager@labbs.org.uk, preferably before the event, He will liaise with you to arrange appropriate access for you to try the route in advance, to ease your concerns about accessibility.

Other Useful Resources for contestants

Soundcheck Chorus

The places for the Soundcheck Chorus are now all taken, no further signups are possible.

If you signed up in time, more information will be emailed to you approximately 1-2 weeks before convention. Keep an eye on your inbox!

 

Quartet Prelims 2025

21st/22nd June
Contest venue: Blue Coat School, Coventry

 

HQ Hotel: Holiday Inn, Hinckley Road, Coventry CV2 2HP

 

Prelims Results

LABBS Women's Quartet Prelims Contest placings:

  • 1st place:   Rooftop Social Club
  • 2nd place:  Fifth & Madison
  • 3rd place:  HOT MESS
Women's Quartet Prelims Scoresheet Women's Quartet Prelims Scoresheet

 

LABBS Mixed Quartet Prelims Contest placings:

  • 1st place:   Ami Quartet
  • 2nd place:  Flatmates
  • 3rd place:  From the Top
Mixed Quartet Prelims Scoresheet Mixed Quartet Prelims Scoresheet

 

Other contests and awards, covering both Women's and Mixed Quartets:

  • Open Youth Contest winner: Ami Quartet
    • Second place Youth Quartet: no contestant
    • Third place Youth Quartet: no contestant
  • Seniors Contest winner:  Shortcomings
    • Second place Seniors Quartet: no contestant
    • Third place Seniors Quartet: no contestant
  • Top Novice Quartet:  Chimaera
    • Second place Novice Quartet:  Soundwave
    • Third place Novice Quartet:   The BlueBells
  • Most Improved Quartet*:  Noteworthy
    • Second place Most Improved Quartet: Wanderlust
    • Third place Most Improved Quartet: Sic Note
*Highest improvement in points since Prelims 2024


Information for Quartet contest participants - key points

  • All quartet contests are part of the same prelims draw. Depending on the number of entries, we may need to conduct the contest over 2 days.
  • Relevant full information and paperwork to be returned will be posted on this page, so please check back regularly to make sure you've done everything in good time before each round in the contest cycle.
  • The results and draw for quartet semi-finals will take place shortly after the close of the prelims contest.
  • Coaching sessions for Quartets with a place are on Sunday 22nd June, the contest timetable has been drawn to allow for this.

Other Information

  • We expect contestants to be familiar with the contest rules (note that an update has been published for the 2025 contest cycle. Some eligibility criteria can also be found on the prelims page).
  • Contestant classes include: (see prelims page for more details):
    • LABBS Women's Quartets competition, which serves as a qualifying round for convention
    • LABBS Mixed Quartets, in collaboration with BABS and SA Reg31, which serves as a qualifying round for convention
    • LABBS Novice Quartets (Awarded at Prelims)
    • LABBS Senior Quartets (Awarded at Prelims)
    • Open Youth Quartets (Awarded at Prelims)
  • Non-contestant classes:
    • Perform for unpublished score and evaluation only
    • Sing for the joy of performing to an audience (no score or eval given)

Contest Rules

Contest rules - these are now updated for the 2025 contest cycle, please check to see if any changes affect you!

Contest & Judging Handbook - Including category descriptions detailing what judges are looking for. 

It is also recommended to check your songs are in line with the advice on the Good Taste page, provided by the Performance Category.


Contest Entry Classes

Choruses
Sing for Joy
Sing for Joy contestants will be included in the contest draw, and will perform two songs for ‘the joy of performing for the audience only.’ The judges will put down their pens, sit back, and enjoy your performance. The songs you perform need not be completely within the rules, but should be a capella. No score or evaluation will be given. There is a 20% discount on the contest entry fee for choruses opting to 'Sing for Joy'.

Sing for Evaluation
Evaluation only contestants will be included in the contest draw, but will not be shown on any scoresheet. An evaluation will be provided in the same manner as competing contestants. Songs need to be within the contest rules.

Quartets

Details as on the Prelims page, Quartets may also opt to Sing for Evaluation, or Sing for Joy as above, at Prelims, Plus:

Past gold medallists

Women’s and Mixed Quartets will be able to apply to sing for a score for nomination to BHS in 2026. These quartets will sing 4 songs in 2 rounds at Convention, but need you to register and enter contest at the same time as other contestants, so we can plan for Convention. You should have a reasonable expectation of achieving the qualifying score which is currently 78% but is subject to annual review by the BHS.


Other convention-related forms and useful information for LABBS members

Score histories - Look up what you scored in previous years and track your progress (or use to look for song ideas!).

Scoring summaries - Written by LABBS judges, a handy guide to skillsets usually experienced at each level and what you might need to work on and improve, to become better singers and performers and score higher in contest.

Trophies & Awards - A guide to the trophies and awards on offer in LABBS contests and the criteria for each.



Is this page missing some vital information? Let us know... email web@labbs.org.uk