Gospel Choir of the Year: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any prize money?
Yes. The winning choir receive £1,000 to be spent on developing the choir. The winning choir will also receives a trophy to keep.
When are the televised finals, and how long does the recording of the finals last?
The semi-final, and the final, will take place on the same day. Recording the two programmes will be between approximately 10:30 – 21:30. The programmes will be recorded on Saturday 7th October 2023 in Manchester. If you get through to the semi-final there will also be a day’s filming where a small filming team will visit one of your choir rehearsals.
Will you pay for any expenses for travel or accommodation for the televised finals?
A small contribution is available to choirs travelling from outside the location of the televised finals to help with travel costs. This payment is at CTVC's discretion. The Organisers will not pay for accommodation for the televised finals.
Are any refreshments provided for the choirs at the televised finals?
Yes, refreshments are available.
Can we add other instrumentation to the entry songs?
No, keyboard instrumentation only.
Who selects choirs to go through to the televised finals?
Expert judges from the gospel music community select which choirs go through to the televised finals.
Who are the celebrity judges at the televised finals?
The names of the celebrity judges will be revealed nearer the time.
Can we bring guests along on the day of the televised finals?
Yes, but supporters will not be allowed access backstage or into the auditorium until the evening recording begins – subject to space being available.
When will the programmes be broadcast?
Probably at the end of January 2024 on 大象传媒 One. The exact times are to be announced.
What should we wear?
If the choir has a specific outfit for performance purposes, then this should be appropriate. Failing that, watch clips from previous finals to see what works well for television. It is best to avoid busy patterns and all black or all white clothing. Please don’t wear anything with logos or branding other than choir name branding. Spare flat shoes are recommended for backstage.
Will we use microphones at the televised finals?
Yes. We will demonstrate the correct technique for using microphones if your choir gets selected for the finals.
What is the best way to record the choir singing for the application process?
Please see the Recording Guidelines.
Are there any childcare facilities at the finals?
No.
Can we bring our children to be in the audience of the finals?
Yes – subject to a minimum age of 2 years and above, and seats being available. Please bear in mind that the venue could get uncomfortable for young children who will struggle to stay seated for the whole evening. We may have to ask sections of the audience to move seats for technical reasons.
Our recording is over 3 minutes by a couple of seconds. Is this okay?
No, 3 minutes is the maximum length for a recording.
Can we do a medley of songs as a 3-minute item?
Yes, as long as the songs abide by the Entry Rules.
Can we enter an original composition as one of our items?
Yes, but only as your second song, and as long as the song abides by the Entry Rules and is based on the Christian faith.
Why can鈥檛 we produce our own backing track if we get through to the finals?
We insist on producing each choir’s backing tracks for both songs as it provides a fair system for all choirs. The backing tracks are produced by the same professional gospel music producer under guidance and instruction from each of the choir directors.
