How to submit your video

Select the Entry Button at the top of this page and follow the instructions to Upload (Select) your video file and sign up.

About us

The Voice of Grove City Vocal Competition is held at the The Arts in the Alley annual event and is brought to you by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce.  

The purpose of this event is to foster and promote the art of music through a vocal competition that provides musical performance opportunities for people from ages 13 +, to educate, recognize and encourage them to continue to use their gifts and talents.

Online Entry Deadline: September 15th, 2019

$20 Entry fee

Live Rounds September 20, 21, 22, 2019

Entry Recording Selections

All videos should consist of either a solo or duo performance of a song either A Capella or with instrumental accompaniment. Any style of music is excepted that is family friendly in its lyrical content.

Preliminary Online Judging

Preliminary round recordings are reviewed by a selection committee with various musical backgrounds, talent and creativity. The judging for the online preliminary round is based upon the following criteria:

*Performance metrics will apply at onsite final rounds

Quality of tone and pitch

Level of difficulty and dynamics

Accuracy of intonation and diction

Quality of vocal technique and inflection

Advancement

After online judging is completed twenty-five contestants will advance to the first of three rounds beginning Friday evening, a day before the annual Arts in the Alley, weekend event held in Grove City, Ohio. Final notification will be sent via email, which will require confirmation of attendance to provide you with important information regarding the event.

The Friday evening Quarter-Final event location will be provided to the twenty-five contestants chosen by our online committee of judges.

Quarter-Finals

Contestants should be prepared to perform one selection, totaling up to two minutes, before a judges panel consisting of up to five or more vocal performance, music and entertainment professionals. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. There will be a small fee of $5, per person, to attend the Friday evening performance. The order of performance will be determined by random selection.

Quarter-Finals - Music Selection

Only songs that are family friendly in their lyrical content will be accepted. This includes all styles and genres.

A digital file of one song selection must be emailed to thevoiceofgrovecity@gmail.com . A maximum length of up to two minutes (120 seconds) will be accepted for the Quarter-Final round, for the purpose of time management.

*Performance metrics will apply at onsite final rounds

Quality of tone and pitch

Level of difficulty and dynamics

Accuracy of intonation and diction

Quality of vocal technique and inflection

Attire

For all rounds, all types of attire is permitted as long as it is appropriate for a family friendly audience. If attire is not deemed appropriate you will be required to change into something more appropriate. Friday will be an indoor performance.

Quarter-Finals - Judging Criteria

The judges will evaluate in all live final rounds:

Quality of tone and pitch

Level of difficulty and dynamics

Accuracy of intonation and diction

Quality of vocal technique and inflection

Performance appropriateness of physical gesture and use of space

Professional behavior and relationship with the accompanist, audience and judge’s panel

Notification of the Semi-Finalists

All contestants at Friday night’s performance will be notified at the end of the evening if they will be moving forward to the Saturday all day competition being held at The Arts in the Alley event. The Arts in the Alley has been the longest running music and arts festival in Central Ohio for the past 40 years.

All Quarter-Finalists will be required to remain after the event to review the details of the next round, including the time and location of the morning soundcheck and performance.

At this time we will need to be informed if you will have an accompanist and/or soundtrack. That soundtrack will need to be emailed to thevoiceofgrovecity@gmail.com, provided Friday evening or at soundcheck on Saturday morning.

The order of performance will be determined on Saturday morning by random selection.

The Semi-Final

Ten contestants will perform outdoors on Saturday during the Arts in the Alley event, before a live audience. Attendance for all family and friends is free during the Arts in the Alley event on Saturday and Sunday.

You are to perform selections that are different than your quarter-final performance. Only songs that are family friendly within their lyrical content will be accepted. This includes all styles and genres.

The Semi-Final round will allow full length song selections no longer than five minutes. Single instrument accompaniment is also permitted. Keyboard with basic effects and full sound system to be provided. Guitars and other instruments will need to be provided by the contestant. Another person playing the instrument is permitted. Please see the following instrument accompaniment instructions:

Single instrument accompaniment is permitted.

Keyboard with basic effects and full sound system to be provided.

Guitars and other instruments will need to be provided by the contestant.

Another person playing the instrument is permitted.

Semi-Finals Rehearsal

A sound check for each of ten performers will be provided Saturday. Time will be announced to the 10 finalists Friday evening. At that time, artists will have the opportunity to prepare their sound track or accompaniment details for this competition round.

Semi-Finals Procedures

Contestants should prepare a brief introduction of their piece for the audience. After the performance, the judges panel is invited and encouraged to offer commentary. Judges typically offer direct, encouraging, and constructive observations on the nature of the performance with an emphasis on the artist’s strengths and helpful advice on how to improve on weaknesses.

The value of this competition is to provide many opportunities to the contestants to learn and improve their artistic expression.

Semi-Finals - Judging Criteria

The judges will evaluate in all live final rounds:

Quality of tone and pitch

Level of difficulty and dynamics

Accuracy of intonation and diction

Quality of vocal technique and inflection

Performance appropriateness of physical gesture and use of space

Professional behavior and relationship with the accompanist, audience and judge’s panel

Attire

For all rounds, all types of attire is permitted as long as it is appropriate for a family friendly audience. If attire is not deemed appropriate you will be required to change into something more appropriate. Saturday and Sunday are outdoor performances. Although multiple outfit changes are permitted, please keep the weather in mind for your preference of attire.

Semi-Finals Atmosphere

Although the rules above may appear rigorous and strictly observed, The Voice of Grove City Vocal Competition volunteers make every effort to ensure that artists have a successful and enjoyable professional experience.

Participants are advised that their relationships with competition staff, accompanists, judges, and colleagues should be considerate and professional at all times.

Notification of the Finalists

All contestants will be notified at the end of the Semi Final round Friday night if they will be moving forward to the Saturday all day Finals Competition.

Finalists will be advised of their final round time and location of the next day’s rehearsal with the accompanist, call time, and location for the performance the next day by random selection.

Finals

Five contestants and one wild card, announced at the Sunday Finals, will sing or people’s choice contestant will sing on Sunday during the Arts in the Alley event, before a live audience. Attendance for all family and friends is free during the Arts in the Alley event on Saturday and Sunday.

You will be required to perform two selections that vary from your Quarter-Final and Semi-Final performances. However, one of your two song selections may be your initial song submission with full length track or accompaniment. Only songs that are family friendly with their lyrical content will be accepted. This includes all styles and genres.

If not accompanied by an instrument or A Capella, a digital file of both song selections must be emailed or provided Saturday night, when notified of advancement to the finals, to thevoiceofgrovecity@gmail.com. We will allow two full length song selections no longer than 5 minutes. Single instrument accompaniment is also permitted. Keyboard with basic effects and full sound system to be provided. Guitars and other instruments will need to be provided by the contestant. Another person playing the instrument is permitted.

Please see the following instrument accompaniment instructions:

Single instrument accompaniment is permitted.

Keyboard with basic effects and full sound system to be provided.

Guitars and other instruments will need to be provided by the contestant.

Another person playing the instrument is permitted.

Finals Rehearsal

A sound check for each of five performers will be provided by Sunday. Time will be announced to the five finalists Friday evening. At that time, artists will have the opportunity to prepare their sound track or accompaniment details for this competition round. The order of performance will be determined by a random selection. The wild card selection will be announced before the event’s start time, which requires this contestant to have both songs fully prepared.

Finals Procedures

Contestants should prepare a brief introduction of their piece for the audience. After the performance, the judges panel is invited and encouraged to offer commentary. Judges typically offer direct, encouraging, and constructive observations on the nature of the performance with an emphasis on the artist’s strengths and helpful advice on how to improve on weaknesses. This is a valuable aspect of a competition of this nature and we desire to provide many opportunities to the contestants to learn and improve their artist expression.

Finals - Judging Criteria

The judges will evaluate in all live final rounds:

Quality of tone and pitch

Level of difficulty and dynamics

Accuracy of intonation and diction

Quality of vocal technique and inflection

Performance appropriateness of physical gesture and use of space

Professional behavior and relationship with the accompanist, audience and judge’s panel

Attire

For all rounds, all types of attire are permitted as long as they are appropriate for a family friendly audience, if deemed inappropriate, you will be required to change your outfit to something more appropriate. While Friday is an indoor performance, Saturday and Sunday are live outdoor performances, during the Arts in the Alley event, before an audience of all ages. Although multiple outfit changes are permitted, please keep the weather in mind for your preference of attire.

Finals Atmosphere

Although the rules above may appear rigorous and will be strictly observed, The Voice of Grove City Vocal Competition volunteers make every effort to ensure that artists have a successful and enjoyable professional experience. Participants are advised that their relationships with competition staff, accompanists, judges, and colleagues should be considerate and professional at all times.

Finals Awards

First Place, Second Place and Third Place cash awards and trophies will be announced live at the end of the Final performances.

The winner of The Voice of Grove City will be required to attend the following year with an opportunity to perform as well as present the awards to the next year’s three award winners.

The Voice of Grove City - Assistance

If any aspect of the competition falls short of your expectations or requirements, you will have access to the producers or a volunteer representative to handle communications and remediation for you. This information will be provided to you upon your acceptance to perform at the quarter-final round. If assistance is needed, you will be formally introduced to the producers on Friday evening and will have their contact information for your use during your stay in Grove City. We will continue to make every effort to improve upon The Voice of Grove City vocal competition every year.

The Voice of Grove City Grievance - Procedures

Decisions by the The Voice of Grove City Vocal Competition judges panel, producers, and staff are final and not subject to appeal. Any complaints or requests for assistance or information are to be handled by contact with your contestant representative during your stay in Grove City, or by email after the event. Under no circumstances should a competitor’s agents, managers, or other professional or personal representatives contact the Grove City Chamber of Commerce office or staff concerning an artist’s involvement in The Voice of Grove City Vocal Competition.