Region 15 Announces NEW Open Division Awards!

Victoria Tisch's picture
January 18, 2019 - 2:02pm -- Victoria Tisch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/18/2019
 
REGION 15 ANNOUNCES NEW OPEN DIVISION AWARDS
 
The members of the Sweet Adelines International Region 15 Management Team are excited to announce two new Regional Contest Awards, recognizing competitors in the Open Division category.
 
 
The first award will be known as the Monkey Wrench Quartet Audience Choice Award, compliments of and sponsored by the members of Monkey Wrench Quartet (Kristen McDonald, Michelle Metallo, Shayna Atkinson, and Dana Dunlevy). From the member of Monkey Wrench quartet: “In 2018 we had the opportunity to compete together for one contest only. Inspired by previous Open Division quartet winners like Just 4 and After Hours, we decided to challenge ourselves to create an Open Division entertainment package with the goals of having fun, entertaining an audience, and inspiring others to do the same. Creating an entertainment package around three songs was an invaluable learning experience, and we believe in the educational value of the Open Division format.” This experience motivated Monkey Wrench to establish and sponsor this new regional award, to encourage and recognize future Open Division quartet competitors.
 
Beginning with the 2019 Region 15 contest, Open Division quartets meeting the following criteria are eligible to win the Monkey Wrench Quartet Audience Choice Award: 
  • Open Division quartet competitor must score ‘C’ or higher in each category.
  • If a quartet competitor is disqualified from the Open Division, they are not eligible for the Monkey Wrench Quartet Open Division Award.
  • At least one member of the quartet must be a member of Region 15.
  • Quartet competitors competing at International in the current year, and performing in Open Division, are not eligible for the Monkey Wrench Quartet Open Division Award.
Even if there is one Open Division quartet competitor in a contest, medals will be awarded to that quartet during the Regional Awards portion of Contest Weekend, if competitor meets the above requirements. If there is more than one eligible Open Division quartet competitor, then an audience voting method will be used to choose the winner from the eligible competitors.
 
The winners will receive medals that can be worn for their entire winning year, and then be worn as pins once the new Open Division Quartet Audience Choice winners are announced.
 
Monkey Wrench, we thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
 
 
We are also happy to announce a second new regional contest award, the Region 15 Chorus Audience Choice Award, created to inspire and acknowledge future Open Division chorus competitors. Beginning with the 2019 Region 15 contest, Open Division choruses meeting the following criteria are eligible to win the Chorus Audience Choice Award: 
 
  • Open Division chorus competitor must score ‘C’ or higher in each category.
  • If a chorus competitor is disqualified from the Open Division, they are not eligible for the Chorus Open Division Award.
  • Chorus competitors competing at International in the current year, and performing in Open Division, are not eligible for the Chorus Open Division Award.
Even if there is only one chorus competing in this division, the plaque will go to that contestant, if the competitor meets the above requirements. If there are multiple choruses competing in Open Division, then an audience voting method will be used to choose the winner from the eligible competitors.
 
The Chorus Audience Choice Award winner will receive a traveling plaque that they can get engraved with their chorus name and date of their win. They will take possession of the plaque for the entire year, returning it the following contest year, so it can be presented to the next Chorus Audience Choice Award winner. This award will also be given during the Regional Awards portion of the Contest Weekend.
 
What an exciting way to begin 2019!