Convention 2025
Competitor paperwork and information
Convention Contest Timetables - provisional
Chorus Contest
 |
LABBS Chorus timetable |
Quartet Contests
|
LABBS Quartet Semifinals timetable (now populated) |
|
LABBS Quartet Finals timetable (blank) |
Convention songsheets
All competing ensembles (Quartets + Choruses) must fill out the following form giving their stage announcement details and song information.
The deadline for submission is Monday 15th September.
Songsheet and announcement form
Useful Resources for the songsheet form
Convention evaluations - choices
Formats for contestant evaluations are offered as follows:
- Written evaluation - comments from each category, as for previous years, sent within 3 weeks of contest.
- Virtual evaluation - a 1-hour online meetup using zoom or equivalent, with a quartet or small team from a chorus, with a judge from each category (20 minutes each), ideally all in the same meeting if diaries allow.
- No evaluation - groups can also opt out of receiving an evaluation if they wish.
Note that each evaluation format is mutually exclusive. For example, if you want to talk through your evaluation on a zoom call, you cannot also ask for it to be in written form and sent to you afterwards.
You submit your preference of evaluation format on the songsheet form. E&J will do their best to accommodate everyone's preference of format, however this may depend on demand and judge availability.
Soundcheck Chorus
A form to sign up to be a part of the Soundcheck Chorus on Thursday evening will be available during September.
Volunteering for the Soundcheck Chorus allows a few people per competing ensemble to experience the stage, as there will be no other opportunities available due to time constraints.
Contest draws
LABBS Chorus Contest
MW2: Amersham A Cappella
- The Belles of Three Spires
- Crystal Chords
- GEM Connection
- The Red Rosettes
- Steel City Voices
- Second City Sound
- Capital Connection
- Spinnaker Chorus
- Rhapsody
- Avon Harmony
- Abbey Belles
- Norwich Harmony
- London City Singers
The White Rosettes (Singing for Joy) - Bristol Fashion
- Harmony InSpires
- Mountain Harmony (For Evaluation)
- Sheffield Harmony
- Cambridge Harmony Chorus
- Six Town Sound
- The LABBS Youth Chorus
- Chorus Iceni
- Cheshire A Cappella
- Welwyn Harmony
- Blackdown Acapella
- Mayflower A Cappella Chorus
- One Acchord
- Main Street Sound
- Silver Lining
LABBS Quartet Semi-Finals (combining LABBS Womens' and Mixed Quartets)
MW2: Lil Nik & the Pitches (MxQ)
- Carousel
- From the Top
- Equinox
- Rooftop Social Club
- Steelettos
- Sonic
- Avalon (International score)
- Crunch Time
- Flatmates
- Nova
- Ami Quartet
- Noteworthy
- Deviate
- HOT MESS
- GenX
- Tempest
- Soundwave
- Jabberwocky
- The Gold Foil Experiment
- Powerhouse
- Fifth & Madison
- Wanderlust
- Hat-Trick
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 |
LABBS Mixed Quartet Prelims Contest placings:
- 1st place: Ami Quartet
- 2nd place: Flatmates
- 3rd place: From the Top
|
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
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
