Region 15 Convention & Competition 2022
May 12-15, 2022 • Albany, NY
We are thrilled to be returning to an in-person contest this year!
Friday, May 13, 2022
10:00 am through close of quartet contest - Boutique open
11:00 am – 7:00 pm - Spectator buses between Hilton and ESPCC
11:30 am - Registration/ticket sales desk opens at ESPCC
Noon - Region 15 Mass Sing – West Capitol Park (if weather permits. No rain venue.)
1:30 pm - Quartet Contest
Saturday, May 14, 2022
11:30 am through close of chorus contest - Boutique open
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Spectator buses between Hilton and ESPCC
1:00 pm - Registration/ticket sales desk opens at ESPCC
2:30 pm - Chorus Contest
Approx. 5:45 pm - Regional Awards Program immediately following chorus contest (On-stage, ESPCC)
Guests
Competition will take place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center (ESPCC).
You will be able to purchase an event ticket on-site. Please note that audience members must be masked, and everyone in attendance must either be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event.
Region 15 Members
You will register for contest, hotel, meals, etc. through your Chorus Competition Liaison (CCL).
The all-member contest correspondence sent to date is included below, for your reference.
(This form outlines all of the options, prices, and payment methods.)
Region 15 Contest Webcast 2022
We’re very pleased to announce that we will have a webcast!
There will be a $25 per person fee to access the webcast.
This fee covers the full weekend, for both the Quartet and Chorus competitions, as well as post-competition on-demand access. In addition to sharing live events from Albany on May 13 and May 14, the on-demand version of the webcast will include all on-stage performances, plus the video submissions from those who are not performing in person. (On-demand access will be available for one year.)
Watch this space for full webcast registration and access details coming soon!
For reference, here are the All-Member messages sent to Region 15:
This message was emailed to all members of Region 15 on March 3, 2022...
TO: All Members of Region 15
FROM: Barbara Wright, CRC, Regional Convention Committee
Hello, Region 15!
As you can imagine, planning for contest/convention this year has been a challenge. The Regional Convention Committee (RCC) has been hard at-work since the decision was made to go live, putting together the best possible program for our members while providing the safest plan for all involved. To that end, several changes have been necessary in order to move forward, while trying to meet everyone’s expectations. The following information has been communicated to Chorus Directors, Chapter Presidents / Team Coordinators, and Chorus Competition Liaisons (CCLs), and is shared with you below:
* We will once again be performing on-stage at the ESPCC. The space in that venue is large enough to accommodate all choruses, PLUS a sizable audience – and still maintain appropriate distancing. Everyone (except those performing on stage) will be masked; everyone, including audience members, must either be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event.
* The weekend’s schedule hasn’t changed greatly from what you’re used to: Chorus/quartet briefing on Thursday night, quartet walk-through and Quartet Contest on Friday, Chorus Contest on Saturday. Each contest will probably be somewhat shorter in duration based on the number of contestants.
* We will only contract with the Hilton Hotel to provide lodging and rehearsal space this year. This is a result of the reduced number of individuals who have indicated that they will need lodging. We are NOT contracting with the Hampton. It is critical that registration deadlines are met – if registration is made after the deadline date of March 15, lodging in our Hilton block may not be available, and individuals would need to make their own lodging and transportation arrangements. As always, the Chorus Competition Liaisons (CCLs) will be coordinating your chapter's hotel needs, and submitting the proper forms to the RCC Housing Coordinator. Hospitality suites are available at the discretion of each chorus (the RCC takes no responsibility for this choice on behalf of individual choruses.) Consideration should be given to the fact that hotel check-out time is 11 a.m. If you’re staying at the hotel you may want to book your room for Saturday night since you’ll need a place to prepare for contest on Saturday and store your belongings. It’s graduation weekend in Albany, and the hotel is unlikely to extend late check-out privileges that weekend.
* Meals at the hotel: Currently the menu at the Hilton Hotel is extremely limited. Additionally, the hotel is only running modified room service – the food is not delivered to your room, you need to go to the restaurant to pick it up. HOWEVER, the hotel has put together exclusive meal offerings for us over the weekend (we encourage you to take advantage of these offers, since the cost of each meal is applied directly to the region’s contracted food and beverage minimums.) Meal options are:
Thursday Evening – Boxed Dinner – $28 per person
Includes pasta salad, chips, fruit, cookie, water – and choice of the following:
* Thanksgiving Day Turkey – oven-roasted turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, cranberry mayo on whole wheat
* Roast Beef and Cheddar – including lettuce and tomato on a French roll
* Veggie Wrap – roasted eggplant, hummus, red peppers, wild greens
* Black Forest ham and Swiss – on marbled rye with lettuce, tomato.
Add grab-and-go soda for $4.00
Friday Dinner Buffet – $30 per person
(individuals will be masked and hotel will provide food service gloves for everyone so there will be no community contamination of serving utensils)
* Salad bar with soup * Roll and butter * Vegetable medley * Garlic smashed potatoes * Parmesan encrusted chicken * Seafood stuffed sole in lemon butter * Chef choice of dessert * Includes one non-alcoholic beverage
Saturday Breakfast Buffet – $24 per person
(individuals will be masked and hotel will provide food service gloves for everyone so there will be no community contamination of serving utensils)
To be requested by individual chorus as usual.
Meal reservations are to be made through your chorus and are due by April 15.
* There will be no banquet this year. This decision was made in order reduce the potential for disease transmission. Regional awards will be made in a separate program at the ESPCC immediately after the conclusion of the official SAI Contest.
* Details for a Mass Sing are still being ironed out at this time, but would be on Friday at noon, possibly in West Capitol Park (adjacent to the Capitol Plaza).
* There are several waivers needing your signature this year – either required by Sweet Adelines International, or by the Region. Please be sure to sign when presented with the documents by your Chorus Competition Liaison (CCL). We recognize that no one wants more paper – however the current environment dictates that these are necessary.
We’ll keep you informed of any additional changes, if they occur. We can’t wait to see you all in May!
Barbara Wright
Region 15 Convention Coordinator
This message was emailed to all members of Region 15 on February 4, 2022...
Regional Convention COVID Protocols Update - Addendum
TO: All Members of Region 15
FROM: Barbara Wright, Competition Regional Chair, Regional Convention Committee
The following information is being provided in order to clarify my earlier communication regarding COVID protocols for Region 15’s Contest/Convention in May, as there appear to be two areas of concern:
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: The definition of what it means to be "fully vaccinated" is evolving even as the CDC has remained careful not to change it officially. So as of today’s date, per the CDC, fully vaccinated means that an individual has completed at least 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson – and is at least 2 weeks post-vaccine. Boosters, while recommended, are NOT required for registration at this time. HOWEVER, please keep in mind that the CDC’s definition may change between now and May, and we will follow whatever the CDC’s guidelines and New York State’s mandates for large gatherings are at the time of contest.
MASKING: The RMT's original email release in December indicated that masks would be required of all non-singers. What that means to me is that masking would not be required of a competing chorus while on stage but will be required of everyone (competitors included) at all other times. If there are additional instructions forthcoming from International, or if the judges on-site at our contest offer additional options regarding masking while performing, we will make that information available to all. HOWEVER – please remain aware that this protocol is subject to change based on the COVID environment at the time of contest.
I wish I had a crystal ball so we could know what the situation will be in May. We can only remain flexible as we wade into uncharted territory regarding our response to COVID, and we greatly appreciate your patience as we progress toward convention. The only thing that is certain, in my mind, is that some things are sure to change between now and then.
I hope this relieves any concern you might have regarding these issues. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
In harmony,
Barbara Wright
This message was emailed to all members of Region 15 on February 3, 2022...
Regional Convention COVID Protocols Update
TO: All Members of Region 15
FROM: Barbara Wright, Competition Regional Chair, Regional Convention Committee
Hello, everyone -
I want to take a moment to update you regarding a change in COVID protocols that will be in place for our regional convention in May:
In an effort to align with SAI's decision and protocols regarding COVID, all convention/contest attendees - both competitors and audience - will be required to be fully vaccinated (including boosters) in order to attend, OR if not fully vaccinated, will be required to show valid ID and proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the event. Adherence to these protocols will enable members to register for contest, and will allow admission to the ESPCC for them and our audience. Masking is required of everyone in attendance, regardless of their status as a competitor or visitor.
As always, these protocols are subject to change based on the current health environment and New York State regulations. Hopefully the information provided today will help you make an informed decision regarding your participation in May. We certainly hope to see you there, as we continue to make Convention plans with the health and safety of all in mind.
The Regional Convention Committee is in the process of updating the Convention Handbook with further information regarding registration, etc., and will release it a little later this month.
In harmony,
Barbara Wright
CRC
Greater NY/NJ Region 15
This message was emailed to all members of Region 15 on January 31, 2022...