The University of Louisville

Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition
Friday, February 28, 2020

February 11, 2020

Dear Colleagues:

I am happy to present the schedule for the University of Louisville School of Music seventeenth annual
Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition on Friday, February 28, 2020. Members of the Cardinal
Singers will host you during your visit to the University of Louisville.

This year we have nine mixed ensembles and one SSA chamber choir. All choirs will compete in open
classification. Repertoire and time requirements in the first round of competition must be strictly observed.
I have included the competition guidelines for your review before the event begins. I have also attached the
Adjudicator’s Score Sheet that will be used for the competition. Please send in your repertoire selections,
including full title and full name of composer, at your earliest convenience, as we will provide a program
for the event.

After all choirs have performed in the first round, the Cardinal Singers will offer a brief performance while
the adjudicators deliberate. Following the deliberation three choirs will be announced for the final round of
the competition. In the final competition round, beginning at approximately 5:00 P.M., the selected choirs
will perform the compulsory piece along with other selections of their choice. Repertoire choices may
include selections not performed in the first round.  Choirs selected for the final round are limited to 10
minutes total performance time, including stage entrance and exit, applause, and giving pitches. If your
performance goes slightly over the 10­minute limit in the final round, you will not be penalized. The judges
will once again deliberate and the rankings of the top three choirs will be announced.

While this event is competitive in nature, it is our aim to offer a friendly, supportive environment for the
performance of chamber choir music. We invite you and your students to observe performances of the other
choirs in the competition. We ask that performers and attendees understand the expectations of proper
performance and audience behavior.

Parking is limited around the School of Music. Those of you who are traveling by bus can have the students
dropped off in front of the School of Music, but the buses will need to move out of this area during the
competition. They may park at the football stadium during the competition. I have attached a parking pass
that your drivers can display on the dashboards of your vehicles. If your students are arriving in cars or
vans, you may print the number of passes needed.

I am looking forward to hearing your choirs on Friday, February 28.

Sincerely,

Kent Hatteberg
Director of Choral Activities
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville
Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition
Friday, February 28, 2020

Competition Round I

 School                                                                                       
   Warm­up
                 
   Performance
                 
   Clinic
Ballard High School Madrigal Singers 10:00 10:30 10:45
 Noel T. Weaver,  conductor
     Stage
                                                                              
   Stage
                               
   Stage
New Albany High School A Cappella Singers 10:30 11:00 11:15
 Sarah T. Coleman,  conductor
     135
                                                                              
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Spencer County High School Varsity Choir (SSA) 11:00 11:30 11:45
 Kelsi Edelen,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                             
   Stage
                               
   Stage
East Jessamine High School Chorale 11:30 12:00 12:15
 Demetrius Walker,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                   
   Stage
                               
   Stage

LUNCH FOR ADJUDICATORS 12:30 – 1:20

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Chamber Choir 1:00 1:30 1:45

 Tiffany Marsh,  conductor
     Stage
                                                                                
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Tates Creek High School Chamber Choir 1:30 2:00 2:15
 Nick Johnson,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                            
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Louisville Male High School Chamber Choir 2:00 2:30 2:45
 Alexis Paxton,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                            
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Oldham County High School Chamber Choir 2:30 3:00 3:15
 Maggie Owens,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                          
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Avon High School Chamber Singers 3:00 3:30 3:45
 Rick Gamble,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                            
   Stage
                               
   Stage
Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers 3:30 4:00 4:15
 Ryan Marsh,  conductor
     Bird Hall
                                                                             
   Stage
                               
   Stage

4:30 P.M. Feature Performance

University of Louisville Cardinal Singers Margaret Comstock Concert Hall

4:55 P.M. Announcement of Finalists

Round II

Choir I 5:00 Margaret Comstock Concert Hall

Choir II 5:10 Margaret Comstock Concert Hall
Choir III 5:20 Margaret Comstock Concert Hall

5:40 P.M. Announcement of Results, Presentation of Trophies

Adjudicators

Dr. Susan Davenport, Director of Choral Activities, Southern Illinois University
Dr. Greg Detweiler, Director of Choral Activities, Morehead State University
Won Joo Ahn, Associate Director of Choral Activities, University of Louisville
Dr. Kent Hatteberg, University of Louisville (Clinician)

All performances and clinics are on the stage of Margaret Comstock Concert Hall.
Please turn off pagers, cell phones, etc., as the performances are being recorded.

The University of Louisville
Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition
Friday, February 28, 2020
Competition Guidelines

General:

1. All music must be a cappella.
2. Pitches must be given by pitch pipe, tuning fork, vocally, or by some means other than piano. There
will be no piano onstage. 
3. Each choir must perform a minimum of 8 minutes of actual music but no longer than 15 minutes. 
Please time your selections carefully. Timing does not include applause or giving pitches. 
Adjudicators reserve the right to deduct points or disqualify ensembles that do not stay within the 
time guidelines. 
4. Memorization of music is not required.
5. Fee per ensemble: $150 (non­refundable)
6. Adjudication sheets and comments will be available after the closing concert of the competition.
7. Each choir will receive a high quality recording of their performance.
8. The application and entry fee payment deadline is Friday, January 10, 2020.

Repertoire:

1.  Pop or show tunes are not permitted.
2.  Spirituals or gospel selections are not allowed.
3.  High quality literature is expected. Adjudicators will consider the quality of repertoire in their 
decisions.
4.  Madrigals, motets, part songs, and chansons are recommended.
 5.  The use of piano or any accompanying instrument (pitched or unpitched) is not permitted.
6.  Four numbered scores must be furnished for use by adjudicators. The use of photocopies will be 
grounds for disqualification. Copies of scores obtained through the cpdl or ismlp are acceptable.

Mixed Chamber Choir:

Ensemble size: 8­40 members
Compulsory piece: Sanctus from Missa brevis in F by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, available at 
www.cpdl.org, #52964 or #52934 p. 19­21 (lowered one whole step), #39302 p. 11­12 (original pitch), or 
#25249 p. 16­18 (lowered one whole step). Choirs may sing the compulsory piece in the original key (F), in
E­flat major, or E major. Copies are not need for adjudicators.

Female Chamber Choir:

Ensemble size: 8­40 members
Repertoire Requirement: At least one high quality selection in a foreign language with a minimum of three 
separate vocal lines.

Male Chamber Choir:

Ensemble size: 8­40 members
Repertoire Requirement: At least one high quality selection in a foreign language with a minimum of three 
separate vocal lines.

The University of Louisville
Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition
Friday, February 28, 2020

Competition Schedule and Information

10:30 A.M.– 4:30 P.M. First round of competition.
4:30 P.M. Adjudicator Deliberation; Cardinal Singers demonstration/performance
4:55 P.M. Announcement of Finalist choirs
5:00 P.M. Final round of competition: Performance by Choir I
5:10 P.M. Performance by Choir II
5:20 P.M. Performance by Choir III
5:30 P.M. Adjudicator Deliberation
5:40 P.M. Announcement of winners; presentation of trophies

Location: Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, University of Louisville School of Music, Louisville, KY
Adjudication:   Highly qualified  adjudicators  will give written comments  to each choir. In addition, a
clinician will work with each choir immediately following the competition performance. After the opening
round of the competition, adjudicators and clinicians will confer to select three finalists for the evening
competition. After the final round of the competition,  results will be announced. Winners will receive
trophies. Any school that cannot perform in the final round of the competition will not be considered for the
top three places. Adjudicators reserve the right to withhold places or award special commendations for
choirs.

Classification: All choirs will compete in an open classification. There are no categories by school size.
Female choirs and male choirs will compete with mixed choirs unless the number of entries warrants a
separate division.

Performance   Times:  Choirs   will   be   assigned   performance   times   of   15   minutes   in   the   first   round   of
competition. Each choir must perform at least 8 minutes (actual music) but no longer than 15 minutes.
Timing does not include stage entrance and exit, applause, or giving pitches. In the final round of the
competition, selected choirs are limited to 10 minutes total performance time, including stage entrance and
exit, applause, and giving pitches. Final round repertoire selections may include selections not performed in
the first round but  must include the compulsory work  (mixed choirs) or the  repertoire requirement
(men’s and women’s choirs).

Audience:  Margaret Comstock Concert Hall will be open to the public throughout the day. Directors,
singers, families, and friends are encouraged to listen to the performing choirs. Please do not enter or exit
the performance hall during performances. Applause is permitted after the choir has completed its final
selection.

Warm­up:  A warm­up room will be provided for each choir 25 minutes  before performance  time. A

warm­up time of 20 minutes is allowed.

Belongings:  The University of Louisville is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave your
valuables in a safe place. Dressing rooms are not provided.

Past winners of the Margaret Comstock Chamber Choir Competition:
2004 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Floyd Central High School Chamber Singers, Angela Hampton, conductor
3. Atherton High School Chamber Singers, Stephen Lin, conductor
2005 1. Sacred Heart Academy Madrigal Choir, Amy R. Shepherd, conductor
2. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
3. Western Hills High School Chamber Choir, Tiffany Marsh, conductor
2006 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Eastern High School Singers, Lori J. Knapke, conductor
 3. Not awarded
2007 (Not awarded)
2008 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Eastern High School Singers, Lori J. Knapke, conductor
3. Western Hills High School Chorale, Tiffany Marsh, conductor
2009 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Eastern High School Eastern Singers, Lori J. Knapke, conductor
3. Shelby County High School Treble Singers, Frances Fonza, conductor
2010 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. South Oldham High School Chamber Choir, Jan Gibson, conductor
3. Shelby County High School Chamber Singers, Frances Fonza, conductor
2011 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Eastern High School Chamber Choir, Lori Knapke, conductor
3. Bowling Green High School A Cappella Choir, Maggie Blair, conductor
2012 1. Floyd Central High School Chamber Singers, Angela Hampton, conductor
2. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
3. Ballard High School Madrigal Singers, Noel Weaver, conductor
2013 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Youth Performing Arts School Chamber Choir, Jacob Cook, conductor
3. Floyd Central High School Chamber Singers, Angela Hampton, conductor
2014 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Youth Performing Arts School Chamber Choir, Jacob Cook, conductor
3. Male Traditional High School Mixed Choir, Alexis Paxton, conductor
2015 Event cancelled because of snow
2016 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Evansville North High School Varsity Singers, Nicholas Drew Gray, conductor
3. Jeffersontown High School Bella Voce, Samantha Lilly, conductor
2017 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Ballard High School Madrigal Singers, Noel Weaver, conductor
3. Eastern High School Chorale, Lori Knapke, conductor
2018 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Evansville North High School Varsity Singers, Nicholas Drew Gray, conductor
3. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Chamber Choir, Tiffany Marsh, conductor
2019 1. Lafayette High School Madrigal Singers, Ryan Marsh, conductor
2. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Chamber Choir, Tiffany Marsh, conductor
3. Louisville Male Traditional High School Mixed Choir, Alexis Paxton, conductor