The 2021 Fairfield Crystal Classic schedule was released today! It can be found at www.fairfieldcrystalclassic.com.
In addition, schools can buy tickets to come and see their own groups perform. Tickets are now on sale on the website or at https://fairfieldchoralmusic.ticketleap.com/crystalclassic21/
Fairfield will be offering LIVESTREAM tickets this year the week of the event. The tickets will be encrypted so that only one person can use the link that is sent. If a link is shared, it will kick the other person off the link. The link can only be attempted three times. The stream will be for both venues.
I hope that you are all doing well and making it through the year. I wanted to take a minute and let everyone know that Crystal Classic just got the official green light to happen this year!!! We are very excited. Although we are completely full in our medium mixed, large mixed, and single-gender divisions, we still have room in our small mixed division. Below our the details of our competition. If you are interested, please contact me asap and we will get you registered for the event ([email protected]).
2021 Judging Panel
Middle School Panel:
Kristin Anderson (Vocal), Randy Sage (Visual), and Rachel Snyder (Both)
Best Performer: Maiya Caldwell
Small Mixed Panel:
Kristin Anderson (Vocal), Garrett Breeze (Band), Brian Paulsen (Vocal), Adam Pulver (Visual) and Randy Sage (Visual)
Best Performer: Maiya Caldwell
Medium Mixed, Large Mixed, and Single-Gender Panel:
Chantz Gould (Visual), Mark Lindvahl (Band), Marty Lindvahl (Vocal), Nicholas Quamme (Visual), and Rachel Snyder (Vocal)
Best Performer: Tyler Moore
Information and Guidelines
Fairfield will no longer be offering finals. Through much discussion, the benefits do not seem to out weight the cons of having finals. Show choir competition days are becoming longer and longer – we want to eliminate late nights for everyone. Although it is a benefit at times to get feedback and work to improve, this nearly is impossible at most competitions due to the timeliness of feedback, the space to work, etc. There is nothing wrong with coming into a competition and giving it your best the first and only time. Sports teams don’t get to come back later that evening and re-play the game. They take what they learned from the game and work to be better the next week. In addition, eliminating finals allows for more groups to attend (in the future when it is safe to do so.)
Fairfield will be reconfiguring scoring so that the students are ONLY being scored on what the students themselves have control of. Costuming, Special Effects, Show Design will allow still have caption awards, but will no longer be a part of the overall score. In addition, band will no longer be a part of the overall score as not every group has all students in the their band. We find it unfair to factor scores for band into overall scores when a group can possibly have adults in their band versus an all student band.
We will be reconfiguring our ‘classes’ for competition. We will be doing a high school small mixed, medium mixed, and large mixed division. We will continue the middle school division and single-gender divisions. HS Small Mixed will be defined as 0-30 members, HS Medium Mixed will be defined as 31-45 members, and HS Large Mixed will be defined as 46+ members. Division will not be based on school size.
We will be adding achievement levels to scoring. In addition to placement awards, achievement awards will be awarded to each group. For groups scoring 98%-100% of the possible points, they will receive a crystal rating. For groups scoring 89%-97% of the possible points, they will receive a gold rating. For groups scoring 80%-88% of the possible points, they will receive a silver rating. For groups scoring 79% or below of the possible points, they will receive a bronze rating. This rating system allows for all groups to work towards levels and compete against themselves each year they return to the Fairfield Crystal Classic.
We will provide a live stream of both of our venues to allow for those who cannot be in attendance a chance to see all of the amazing groups perform.
Changes This Year Due to COVID-19:
All students, parents, and staff would be required to wear a mask – even when performing.
All groups from a school would arrive together – perform in one block of time regardless of division – and depart together.
Group will need to come dressed in their first outfit (if applicable). If you have doubles between your two groups (should you have two), we will come up with a solution for them to be able to change between shows. (If this is a problem, we are open to discussing needs on a case-by-case basis.)
If you have two groups, the group not-performing will watch from the audience while the other one performs. The combo, clothing racks and whatever you bring will remain on stage during the transition period between the two groups.
There will be a 30 minute gap between schools to let the performance space air out.
Each warm-up space will have 30-60 minutes between uses to air out and be sanitized.
A link will be sent to directors to share with their student’ families to purchase tickets. Capacity would be limited, but the whole event will be streamed online. No tickets will sold at the door. All tickets MUST be purchased prior to arriving.
Both Friday and Saturday will have their awards streamed, no representatives present.
Our typical setup for concessions would not be available, but some concessions MAY be available.
All groups would be required to use a standard 4x4 riser setup. However, we are open to you adding risers on the sides to allow for your groups to be more distanced if that is your preference. Just communicate with us early. Our big push is just to avoid crazy riser formations this year.
There will not be a director/bus driver lounge.
All solo competition entries will need to be pre-recorded and submitted BEFORE the day of the competition. More information on this soon.
Entry and exit points will be communicated to each school so that overlap of spectators does not accrue.
Only essential personnel (Participating students, participating directors, participating support staff) can travel through the building with the performing group.
CD’s or pre-recorded accompaniment are allowed regardless of division. (Combos will still be judged separately.)
We hope this message finds you healthy and well. We wanted to take a moment and let you know a little bit of some of the plans and changes that will be happening with the Fairfield Crystal Classic on March 12-13, 2021 and beyond. After much discussion with Fairfield staff, administration, and colleagues, we have felt that we want to make some immediate changes to our competition along with some ‘plans’ that we will keep you informed of as we navigate through the ongoing pandemic.
At this moment, we plan to continue forward with the Fairfield Crystal Classic under the assumption that we will be through the pandemic by March 2021. In the case that we are not, we will make a call by January 15, 2021 so that our participants and spectators have enough notice for their plans. At this time, we do not plan to provide an alternative date for the 2021 competition season should we not be able to host a competition on March 12-13, 2021. In addition, there will not be a virtual option to compete in at Fairfield.
Moving forward, we do plan to make some of the following changes:
- Fairfield will no longer be offering finals. Through much discussion, the benefits do not seem to out weight the cons of having finals. Show choir competition days are becoming longer and longer – we want to eliminate late nights for everyone. Although it is a benefit at times to get feedback and work to improve, this nearly is impossible at most competitions due to the timeliness of feedback, the space to work, etc. There is nothing wrong with coming into a competition and giving it your best the first and only time. Sports teams don’t get to come back later that evening and re-play the game. They take what they learned from the game and work to be better the next week. In addition, eliminating finals allows for more groups to attend.
- Fairfield will be reconfiguring scoring so that the students are ONLY being scored on what the students themselves have control of. Costuming, Special Effects, Show Design, etc. will still have caption awards, but will no longer be a part of the overall score. In addition, band will no longer be a part of the overall score as not every group has all students in the their band. We find it unfair to factor scores for band into overall scores that can be considered unfair if a group has adults in their band.
- We will be reconfiguring our ‘classes’ for competition. We will be doing a high school small mixed, medium mixed, and large mixed division. We will continue the middle school division and single-gender divisions. HS Small Mixed will be defined as 0-30 members, HS Medium Mixed will be defined as 31-45 members, and HS Large Mixed will be defined as 46+ members. Division will not be based on school size.
- We will be adding achievement levels to scoring. In addition to placement awards, achievement awards will be awarded to each group. For groups scoring 98%-100% of the possible points, they will receive a diamond rating. For groups scoring 89%-97% of the possible points, they will receive a gold rating. For groups scoring 80%-88% of the possible points, they will receive a silver rating. For groups scoring 79% or below of the possible points, they will receive a bronze rating. This rating system allows for all groups to work towards levels and compete against themselves each year they return to the Fairfield Crystal Classic.
- We will provide a live stream of both of our venues to allow for those who cannot be in attendance a chance to see all of the amazing groups perform.
Things that we plan to continue to do:
- Provide top-notch experiences in both of our performing spaces. We pride ourselves on providing some of the best lighting, sound, and special effects to make your students feel like rock-stars on stage as they perform.
- Hire highly-qualified judges to adjudicate your groups and rotate them so you aren’t getting the same judges each year.
- Great food including specialized food trucks throughout the entire day.
- And much more!
We appreciate your support and understanding as we utilize these trying times as a means to reflect and improve our competition and experience for all involved.
Looking forward to seeing many of you return to our competition when it is safe to do so.
We know the 2020 show choir season came to an unexpected halt, but we hope that what you were able to have was enjoyable. As we look towards the 2021 competition season, please consider us as one of your stops! The Fairfield Crystal Classic has consistently been seen as a great competition for groups of all kinds to compete. We house five different divisions: Middle School Mixed/Single-Gender, High School Single-Gender, High School Small Mixed, High School Medium Mixed, and High School Large Mixed. The event happens over a period of two days. Middle School groups compete on Friday night (March 12, 2021) and the High School groups compete on Saturday (March 13, 2021).
As always, our competition will host an amazing setup of lighting, sound, and special effects. Students often comment on how their performance feels like a rock concert at Crystal Classic. From our unique introductions to the end of the night dance party, it’s sure to be a favorite of your students and parents! We have many options for eating both inside and outside at our food trucks. Food is served from the time the competition begins to the time you leave. Get your portrait drawn, buy some merchandise, or get a relaxing massage. There are many fun options to do in between seeing all of the amazing groups attending the competition. We always have great judges, utilize the Carmen scoring system, and some of the best lighting and sound experiences.
Directors will be taken care of in our lounge from beginning to end. Mixed groups get two rooms, single-gender groups get one room. Solo Competition is held at the state-of-the-art Freshman Campus Theater and winners are given scholarships to SCA that value over $700!
Friday, March 12, 2021
MS Mixed and Single-Gender Groups
Saturday, March 13, 2021
HS Single Gender Groups
HS Small Mixed Groups
HS Medium Mixed Groups
HS Large Mixed Groups
It’s important to know that we are already almost full as many of our groups that were coming this past year are attending due to the cancellation of our event.
Fairfield Crystal Classic 2021
