Contest begins with 44 quartets in two sessions of quarter finals Wednesday, July 5, 12:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
	The top 20 quartets advance to the semi-finals Thursday, July 6, 7:15 p.m.
	The top 10 quartets after this round (cumulative score) advance to the finals, Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m.
	More than 150 SPEBSQSA quartets compete in 16 preliminary rounds held across North America from March to May to qualify for the top contest
	The quartets from Sweden and England are the national champions of their respective affiliated organizations.

	Quartets sing two songs in each round
	No man may sing in more than one quartet in a contest.
	Past-champion quartets do not compete again, because "once a champion, always a champion."
	No instrumentation is permitted.
	No patriotic or religious songs may be sung.
	Quartets cannot make verbal comments between songs or make more than one entrance and exit. All special effects must be operated by quartet members on-stage.

"What makes these guys better than those guys?"

Listen for:

	Clear, unforced, in-tune singing
	Tight, cohesive sound
	Close your eyes: Do you hear a "fifth voice"? That ringing sound is called an overtone, or expanded sound.

 

Look for:

	Relaxed, comfortable bearing on stage
	Appropriate costuming
	Visual involvement with the message of the song—are they believable?

 

 

Years of preparation

While it’s nice to think of a "Cinderella" quartet stepping out of the crowd and capturing the gold medal, realistically, it takes several years of intense preparation to become serious challengers for the title. In addition to regular rehearsals, most competitors attend Society-sponsored clinics to receive professional coaching in vocal technique, musical interpretation and visual presentation. Most quartets work with a team of coaches in the months leading up to a contest, carefully planning and rehearsing every aspect of their performance to create a polished, professional presentation in rich, four-part harmony.

 

 

QUARTETS

PLATINUM, Tampa, Florida, 1999 rank: 2

Gary Lewis, tenor; Joe Connelly, lead; Tony De Rosa, baritone; Kevin Miles, bass

Michigan Jake, Indiana, Kentucky & California, 1999 rank: 3

Drew Kirkman, tenor; Mark Hale, lead; Joel Wilson, baritone; Greg Hollander, bass

These two quartets were just 7 points apart at the end of this year’s qualifying rounds, recording the two highest scores in Society history.

CHORUSES

 

Perennial winner, the Vocal Majority from Dallas, Texas, tries for an unprecedented ninth championship.

New Tradition from Northbrook, Illinois, silver medalist for seven consecutive years, again goes in search of the elusive gold medal.