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IMPORTANT DATES


Registration Deadline: Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, by 11:59 p.m.
Top Ten Announcement: Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, by 5 p.m.
Live Competition: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For questions or comments regarding audition submissions, email mwarner@wsre.org.

For more information or to sponsor the WSRE PBS Joyful Noise! Gospel Celebration and Competition, please email jknisbell@wsre.org.

CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS 
(UPDATED 9/13/24)

 

OVERVIEW

Gospel choirs and groups from the WSRE PBS viewing area are invited to register their groups online for a chance to participate in the Joyful Noise! live competition event at Pensacola High School on Nov. 9, 2024. This is a free, in-person event featuring performances by the award-winning Sing Harlem choir and the Soulful Movement: Spirit of Excellence dance troupe, plus a screening of the PBS documentary film "Gospel," the impetus for the Joyful Noise! Gospel Celebration. 

Applicants will be reviewed and ranked by a Talent Search Committee. The top ten (10) groups with the highest scores will receive an invitation to perform at the competition on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in front of a live audience and distinguished panel of judges, including celebrity guest judge Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson, Sing Harlem choir director. 

Judges will score each performance not only on vocal ability, but also on presentation, professionalism and, most importantly, ability to connect with the audience. The top three (3) groups will be awarded with high-quality broadcast and digital media packages, produced by WSRE PBS, which will provide them with wide-spread exposure utilizing the strength of the PBS brand. All groups who apply for the competition event will be recognized on WSRE broadcast.

All groups who apply for the competition event will be recognized on WSRE broadcast, the event website and in the event program. 

Contest registration and participation, as well as attendance at the live competition event will be free and open to the public; however, WSRE PBS will not provide compensation for travel.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The competition is open to gospel groups that meet the following requirements: 

  1. Each performing member of the choir must be age 18 or older at the time of submission. 
  2. Groups must have a minimum of four (4) members (excluding an accompanist). 
  3. Groups must not exceed one-hundred (100) members (including accompanist). 
  4. Groups must be able to perform on the competition date of Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, anytime between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Groups may be required to be on site by 11 a.m. depending on the time they are scheduled to perform. 
  5. Groups must sign media and liability waivers to participate.
     

INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE

The following are ineligible to participate in the contest:

  1. A gospel group or any of its individual members who are professional musicians. A professional musician is defined as “being signed to or contracted with a major record label.”
  2. A gospel groups or its individual members who are under any contract that would prohibit their participation in this contest.
  3. Each performing member must be a regular, active member of the choir.
  4. A gospel group or any of its individual members who do not meet the Eligibility Requirements above.
     

HOW TO ENTER

The Joyful Noise! Gospel Competition entry period ends on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 (entry deadline).

WSRE PBS will accept applications per the online registration instructions.

Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2024. Hand-delivered or mailed submissions will NOT be accepted.

FINALISTS ANNOUNCEMENT

Once the registration phase ends, a panel of judges (the Talent Search Committee) will narrow the field to the top ten (10) continuing gospel groups. Those groups will be notified via email and/or telephone on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, by 3 p.m. The top ten (10) gospel groups will proceed to the live competition event which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in the Pensacola High School auditorium. 

Please note: WSRE PBS will make reasonable efforts to contact the groups using the contact information provided on the audition application. If a winner does not directly speak with or reply to WSRE PBS within two (2) business days after the first initial contact, WSRE PBS may, at its option, award another group for advancement.

LIVE COMPETITION INFORMATION, RULES & REQUIREMENTS

  1. Each group will have no more than five (5) minutes to perform during the live competition on Saturday, Nov. 9. This includes any speaking. Contestants exceeding this time will be cut off and incur a scoring deduction.
  2. Entries may be in the following gospel music styles:
    Traditional or Contemporary Gospel;
    Praise and Worship;
    Holy Hip-Hop;
    Southern Gospel.
  3. Contestants performing in the live competition have the option of singing a cappella, with piano accompaniment or with a music track. (Music track cannot contain vocals.) Each choir is responsible for its own music accompaniment. Bands are not allowed.
  4. Official choir robes are encouraged but not required so long as the attire is uniform and tasteful.


Judging Criteria

Judges will consist of local and national personalities and gospel music experts. Standards for judging will be based on: 

  1. Diction (clarity, naturalness, purity of vowel, and articulation of consonants)
  2. Stage Presence (expressiveness, authenticity, poise and posture, and general audience appeal)
  3. Originality in Presentation (dynamics/style and expression)
  4. Rhythmic Accuracy (balance, blend, and accuracy in pitch)
  5. Tone Quality (resonance, control, clarity, focus, consistency, warmth, and breath control)
  6. Conductor’s Ability (awareness of musical elements and choir communication).

The decisions of the judges will be final. In the case of tie scores, the stage presence score will be the determining factor.

Disqualifications

  1. No assistance from anyone other than the Choir Director may be given to the choir during the performance. Any such assistance overseen by any of the judges and/or reported by two or more individuals and verified may be cause for automatic disqualification.
  2. An individual or group is deemed a late arrival. A late arrival is defined as “15 minutes later than determined arrival time and with no or unsuccessful contact and/or the event manager unsuccessful in reaching group contact by phone.”
     

PRIZES

The top three (3) gospel groups will be awarded with high quality broadcast and digital media packages, produced by WSRE PBS, which will provide them with awareness and wide-spread exposure and align them with the strength of the PBS brand.

Media content will be distributed via WSRE PBS broadcast and digital media platforms, including the station's website and the PBS app.

1st Place
The gospel group will receive a half-hour TV concert special to be broadcast on WSRE PBS and streamed on WSRE PBS digital platforms. This live performance will take place in front of a studio audience in the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College.

2nd Place
The gospel group will be featured on a special episode of "Connecting the Community," including a short performance and an interview with host Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary, to be broadcast on WSRE PBS and streamed on WSRE PBS digital platforms.

3rd Place
The gospel group will be showcased on a TV spot to be broadcast on WSRE PBS and streamed on WSRE PBS digital platforms.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

This contest is void where prohibited. WSRE PBS is not liable for wrong entries or those not accepted due to technical issues. All participants must be legal U.S. residents.

How will licensing of the submitted and performed songs be managed?

Licensing is required for all songs broadcast via WSRE PBS and distributed on WSRE PBS digital platforms. Licensing will be the responsibility of WSRE PBS.

Entry Form