 The Countdown is On On Thursday, October 29, the San Diego Chorus will return to the International stage as Contestant #6 in the 2026 SingUnited International Chorus Semi-Finals in Columbus, Ohio, joining outstanding choruses from around the world for one of the premier competitions in four-part a cappella harmony. For the San Diego Chorus, the return comes just two years after an outstanding 7th-place International finish in 2024, and during a milestone year as the organization celebrates 75 years of harmony, education, performance, and community in San Diego. The Chorus earned its invitation to the 2026 International competition following a strong showing at the 2025 Region 21 Golden West Contest and Convention. A second-place regional score of 659 placed San Diego as the highest-scoring Wild Card among choruses worldwide, securing one of the coveted Wild Card invitations to Columbus.
A First Look at What the San Diego Chorus Is Bringing to Columbus Local audiences recently got an exciting preview of what is headed to the International stage. At their recent Annual Show, “With a Little Help from Our Friends,” on September 27 at the MiraCosta College Concert Hall, the San Diego Chorus debuted both its Semi-Finals and Finals competition packages to a wildly enthusiastic hometown audience. The show brought together an impressive community of a cappella performers, including Pacific Coast Harmony and award-winning quartets Uproar, SoloVoce, and Ready, Willing & Mabel. For the Chorus, the afternoon also represented something bigger: one of the final opportunities to present months of preparation to a live audience before taking that work to Columbus. Preparing for International competition is an extensive undertaking. Competitive choruses invest countless hours in individual practice, weekly rehearsals, sectionals, vocal and visual qualification, and intensive coaching designed to refine every element of the performance.  How International Competition Works For those who have never experienced an International Chorus Competition, this is much more than simply choosing the group that “sounds best.” Semi-Finals performances feature two contrasting songs, traditionally an uptune and a ballad, performed in four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Every element of those performances is evaluated by a highly trained judging panel. Eight scoring judges, two in each discipline, evaluate performances across four categories:
Each scoring judge may award up to 100 points per song, creating a maximum possible score of 800 points for a two-song Semi-Finals performance. Judges themselves complete a rigorous, multi-year training and qualification process that includes education, testing, trial scoring, and practical experience. Certified judges continue their education and remain actively involved in the adjudication program to maintain their credentials. Meet the 2026 Judges The competition panel is chaired by Jana Gutenson, with Thérèse Antonini and Kelli Hinton serving as Panel Secretaries, Diane Porsch as Resource Judge, and Pattee Bender as Page. SingUnited's 2026 International Judging Panel includes:
And Then There Are the Finals ... The goal on Thursday is simple, even if achieving it is anything but: finish among the top ten choruses and earn a place in the International Chorus Finals. Finals give competitors an entirely different canvas. Rather than the traditional two-song Semi-Finals format, Finals packages allow choruses greater freedom to showcase their musical identity and personality through creative themes, contemporary a cappella music, staging, choreography, costumes, scripting, and, of course, plenty of ringing chords. In 2024, San Diego advanced to this stage before ultimately finishing 7th in the world. San Diego audiences who attended the September Annual Show already know that this Chorus has a Finals package waiting in the wings. Now we just have to earn the chance to perform it. International Competition in San Diego's 75th Year As they prepare to take the International stage, the timing of this contest feels especially meaningful to San Diego Chorus members. The San Diego Chorus was founded in 1951 and has spent three-quarters of a century pursuing musical excellence while building community through four-part a cappella harmony. Along the way, the Chorus has earned two International Championships, in 1975 and 2001, along with numerous regional and international honors. Generations of singers have carried the San Diego name onto stages around the world. This October, another chapter begins. Dozens of singers will travel from San Diego to Columbus carrying months of rehearsals, coaching, personal practice, laughter, friendship, and determination with them. They’ll also carry 75 years of history, and the voices of everyone who helped build it. Contestant #6. Thursday, October 29. Columbus, Ohio. The San Diego Chorus is ready to bring the ring!
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San Diego Chorus Accepts Wild Card Invitation as Competitor #6 in 2026 SAI Chorus SemiFinals7/11/2025  June 2025 – Based on the outcome of a random draw, the San Diego Chorus will take the stage as Competitor #6 in the SAI 2026 Chorus Semifinals in Columbus, Ohio. The organization recently accepted a Wild Card invitation to compete in the 2026 Sweet Adelines International Competition, following a strong performance at the 2025 Region 21 Golden West Contest and Convention, which was held in April 2025 in Redondo Beach, California. Established in 1952, the San Diego Chorus earned second place in the region with a score of 659, placing them fifth internationally based on global results released by Sweet Adelines International. This outstanding achievement secured the chorus one of a limited number of Wild Card invitations to the international stage in Columbus, Ohio, in October 2026. The San Diego Chorus is no stranger to international success, having placed 7th in the world at the 2024 competition in Kansas City, and having twice earned the title of International Champion in 1975 and 2001. Preparing for international competition is an extensive undertaking, with choruses typically investing 12 to 24 months of preparation. This includes personal practice, weekly rehearsals, sectionals, and intensive vocal and visual coaching. As a member-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the San Diego Chorus relies on thousands of volunteer hours from its members, along with financial support from fundraising, performances, and grants. The chorus is a proud multi-year recipient of the Creative Communities San Diego Funding Award, granted through the City of San Diego’s Cultural Affairs Division. In 2026, 32 choruses from around the world will compete at the international level. Performances are adjudicated by four judges, each specializing in one of the following categories: Sound, Music, Expression, and Visual Communication. Each category allows for a maximum of 100 points per song, with a total possible score of 800 points per performance. In addition to chorus competitions, the event includes quartet contests, culminating in the International Women’s Quartet Finals, which crowns each year’s Queens of Harmony. Founded in 1945, Sweet Adelines International is dedicated to preserving and advancing the American art form of four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. With over 25,000 members, 1,200 registered quartets, and 600 choruses worldwide, it is one of the largest singing organizations in the world, focused on musical excellence and education. The San Diego Chorus welcomes treble singers year-round through a self-paced “soft” audition process. Interested singers are invited to begin their audition journey at any time. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 PM to 9:45 PM in Room 207 of the Casa del Prado, located in beautiful Balboa Park.
NOVEMBER 3, 2024 - The San Diego Chorus returned from the 76th Annual Sweet Adelines Convention & Competition ranked 7th Internationally. Approximately 76 of San Diego's 80 members took the stage in the Semi-Finals, competing against 33 other a cappella choral organizations worldwide. Semi-Finals contest packages are timed and typically feature two songs - an uptune and a ballad. These pieces are arranged and performed in the classic, 4-part a cappella harmony that is a hallmark of the barbershop style. A panel of eight judges evaluates each performance intensely, focused on four key areas that uphold the core tenets of this American art form. San Diego Chorus's scores in the Semi-Finals phase placed them within the top ten, which secured their position in the International Finals. Finals packages showcase each chorus's musical excellence and personality, blending a barbershop number with several contemporary a cappella numbers that feature dynamic arrangements brought to life through creative themes, choreography, costumes, and scripting. The San Diego Chorus Semi-Finals package included the 1918 ballad Smilin' Through, with music and lyrics from Arthur A. Penn and Ed Waesche. This specific version featured a revitalized and never-before-performed a cappella arrangement by Joey Minshall. The chorus's uptune, A Wonderful Day Like Today, is from the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd, and was also arranged by Joey Minshall, The San Diego Chorus Finals package opened with the Jeremy Johnson arrangement of The Greatest Show from the 2017 film The Greatest Showman. The ballad, I Will Never Pass This Way Again (1972, Ronnie Gaylord) was originally arranged in the traditional barbershop style by Clay Hine, and later refreshed by his daughter, Melody Hine. Next up was the crowd favorite I Will Survive (1978, Dino Fekaris / Freddie Perren) a high-energy number most commonly associated with artist Gloria Gaynor, featuring a new arrangement from Rowena Harper. The set concluded with a jubilant rendition of OneRepublic's I Lived (Noel Zancanella / Ryan Tedder). This energetic and memorable finale was arranged by Jeremy Johnson and truly reflects the heart and spirit of this unique chorus. The San Diego Chorus was unique within the competition based on successful efforts to expand chorus membership in recent years, which resulted in nearly 30% of singers being first-timers to the International stage. Choral organizations like many sectors within the performing arts were deeply affected by the pandemic, experiencing impacts to both membership and funding. In recent years, the San Diego Chorus has opted to focus recruitment efforts on expanding diversity in a holistic sense - with a goal of membership that reflects population trends within the San Diego region. The result has breathed new life into the chorus, attracting singers of all ages, ethnic and racial backgrounds, differently-abled individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Participation in an SAI Chorus competition entails approximately 18 - 24 months of focused preparation encompassing vocal and visual coaching, weekly rehearsals, sectionals, and personal practice. Throughout this competitive cycle, the San Diego Chorus has welcomed esteemed coaches from around the country, including:
Chorus members are required to qualify both vocally and visually in several phases to participate in regional and international competitions. Judges within Sweet Adelines International complete a rigorous, multi-year training and qualification track that includes experiential prerequisites, testing, training, and trial scoring in multiple environments. Upon completion and with appropriate recommendations, candidates are eligible for consideration as a Certified Judge. Once certified, Judges commit to ongoing musical education and training as well as regular involvement in regional and international competitions to keep their certification current. The 2024 Sweet Adelines International Chorus Judging Panel was as follows:
The week-long competition and convention also featured the 2024 Quartet Semi-Finals and Finals as well as the Harmony Classic, a competition for midsized choruses with membership ranging from 31 - 60 members. Attendees enjoyed a diverse offering of musical education sessions, with well-known vocal leaders, many of which include small group singing, coaching under glass, and more. Recent recaps and full performances for all divisions and phases of the competition are available for viewing on Sweet Adeline's YouTube channel. 
 The San Diego Chorus was founded in 1951 and is a two-time International Championship organization, earning the titles in 1975 and again in 2002, under the direction of Marvin Yerkey and Kim Vaughn respectively. Throughout the nearly 75-year lifespan of the organization, the organization has won multiple awards at varying levels including within Region 21 Golden West. Region 21 is recognized as one of the most competitive within SAI, encompassing approximately 16 choruses across southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii. The San Diego Chorus is currently under the direction of Kathleen Hansen.
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CONTACT
619-796-5162 MAILING PO Box 33365 San Diego, CA 92163 NONPROFIT EIN 501c3 95-6095457 AFFILIATIONS Region 21 Golden West SingUnited International COPYRIGHT San Diego Chorus © 2026 All Rights Reserved TERMS & CONDITIONS |
OPEN REHEARSALS
Weekly on Wednesdays 6:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Plan a Visit REHEARSAL LOCATION Casa Del Prado, Room 207 Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101 Detailed Location Information 45 |
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