Ontario District Fall Convention

October 16 & 17, 2026 – Woodstock, ON

Woodstock, Ontario will host hundreds of barbershop singers from around the province for the annual fall convention of the Ontario District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. More than just a weekend of singing four-part a cappella barbershop harmony, it is a weekend of serious competition for quartets and choruses from across Ontario under the watchful eyes and ears of a panel of judges from across North America. Qualifying choruses from the weekend will advance to the Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Competition in Minneapolis, MN in July 2027. A qualifying seniors quartet will advance to the 2027 Midwinter in Virginia Beach, VA. Top scoring eligible quartets will win their respective Ontario District titles for 2026.

Host Chapters

Hamilton and Simcoe

Convention Theme:

TBA

Headquarters Hotel:

Joint HQ Hotels

Home2 Suites by Hilton
527 Lampman Place, Woodstock
519-290-4116

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
510 Norwich Ave., Woodstock
519-539-9828

Contest Venue:

Movement Church Woodstock
65 Lansdowne Avenue
Woodstock, ON N4T 1S8

Chorus Rehearsals & Evaluations

Woodstock Christian School
800 Juliana Dr, Woodstock
ON N4S 0A8

Registration

All attendees must register for the convention, regardless of whether they are competing or not. Competitors may require additional entry steps depending on which competitions they are competing in.

For more information about convention registration, contact the Convention Registrar, Hayley Sziklasi – registrar@ontariosings.com

Full Registrations

Full registrations are available by following the link in the sidebar or by clicking one of the links below.

The price for full registrations is as follows:

  • Adults: $85/person ($75 early bird registration)
  • Students (19+): $45/person ($40 early bird registration)
  • Youth (18 and under): Free
Register Online Download PDF form Download Word form

Partial Registrations​

Partial registrations for a single session will be sold for all 3 contest sessions at the convention registration desk. Friday night partial registrations for a single session will be available starting at 5:00 Friday evening. Saturday afternoon and evening single-session partial registrations will be available starting at 10:00 Saturday morning. Saturday evening partial registrations will also be available at 5:00 Saturday evening.

The price for partial registrations is as follows:
  • Adults: $35/person/session
  • Students (19+): $17/person/session
  • Youth (18 and under): Free

Hotel

Joint HQ Hotels

Home2 Suites by Hilton
527 Lampman Place
Woodstock
519-290-4116
Convention Rate: $195 per night.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
510 Norwich Ave.
Woodstock
519-539-9828
Convention Rate: $185 per night.

Despite the different addresses, the hotels are co-located with a shared parking lot. Home2 Suites is brand new and the Holiday Inn has also undergone significant renos recently. When calling to book please give them the block booking code BHS. If you have any difficulties please notify Bill Vermue directly: billvermue@gmail.com

The judges and committee members will be mostly in the Home2 Suites however, the afterglows for both Friday and Saturday evening will be in the Holiday Inn.

Other Info

  • While the map doesn’t show it clearly the Home2 Suites and the Holiday Inn share a parking lot and there are 8 EV parking spots available.
  • Friday and Saturday night hospitality rooms will be in the Holiday Inn. Both hotels have pools and workout rooms.
  • The closest alternative hotels are Spark by Hilton – walking distance and a minute or so west on Juliana St. is a Best Western, however we do not have a contract with either of them.
  • A map with the best route from the school to the venue will be provided (avoids railway tracks and potential delay). The drive takes 5-8 minutes depending on traffic lights.
  • For choruses, the school will be available from 8 a.m on Sat. morning but as early as 7 a.m if desired. Chorus contacts advise Alex Beamish and Dan Locke if you wish to get in earlier than 8 a.m.
  • Classrooms at the school must be left the way they are found i.e. tables chairs, etc. Dan Locke will coordinate that but we will expect the cooperation of chorus members to help ensure that this is the case.
  • Both the Home2 and Holiday Inn include a hot breakfast from 06:00 – 10:00. They have been warned that chorus members will likely be at breakfast earlier rather than later.
  • Directly across the road from the hotels is a Montana’s and a Kelsey’s. Both will give you a 10% discount if you show your room key. There are numerous other restaurants such as East Side Mario’s and the Pancake House as well as fast food eateries in the same area.
    The same area also has a Walmart, Canadian Tire and a Staples.
  • Weather and time permitting, everything other than the venue is within walking distance.

 

Competitors

It is that time again to enter your Chorus and/or Quartet for the Ontario District contest to be held this fall in Woodstock ON.

As a reminder we want to see as many groups perform this fall so, please remember that Performing for Eval Only is a great option to get some stage experience and coaching without having your scores be published. 

The entry system is open and the final day for entries is September 20, 2026.

Please note that due to restrictions at the contest venue the schedule on Saturday will be the same as last year (both Fall and this past Spring).

So far, we have the following entries:

Chorus (International Prelim, Seniors Chorus Qualifier, Plateau, Most Improved, Chorus Encouragement, and Perform for Eval only)

  • Men Of Accord
  • Undercover Mix
  • Harmony Kings

Quartet (District Quartet Championship, Seniors Prelim for Midwinter, Novice, Perform for Eval Only)

  • In Season
  • Sapphire
  • Unlikely Mix
  • The Paris Accord
  • Midnight Sound
  • Quadritics
  • Onyx
  • Constructive Criticism

Competitor Entry

If your chorus is competing in the chorus contest or performing for score only, your chapter secretary must enter your chorus for the competition, and your individual chapter, district, and society dues must be up-to-date. For more information or clarification talk to your chapter secretary.

If you are competing in the quartet contest, your quartet must enter through the BHS Member Center.

Chorus Rehearsal Space

Rehearsal space will be available for performing choruses on Saturday morning before the chorus session. Choruses may choose to use this space for a fee of $125, or they may arrange their own rehearsal location at their own cost and convenience. Payment for District-arranged rehearsal space can be sent at any time via eTransfer to treasurer@ontariosings.com. If payment is not received before the convention, the chorus will be invoiced afterward.

Judging Panel

PC/ADM: Tremper, Laguros
MUS: Pope, Spencer
PER: Devine, Louque
SNG: Bitzer, Tramack

Competitions This Fall

District Title • The Rhythmaires Trophy and the title of District Quartet Champion is awarded to the quartet with the highest score at the Ontario District Fall Convention over two rounds (semifinals and finals). Any quartet comprising more than two members of a past Ontario District Quartet Champion is not eligible for this award.

District Title • The Woodstock Chapter trophy and the title of District Novice Quartet Champion is awarded to the highest scoring novice quartet in the semifinal round of contest (Friday night). A novice quartet is any quartet that has at least two members who have never competed previously in a District (BHS or MBHA), Region (SAI) or Area (HI) contest, unless it was exclusively at the youth or collegiate level. Any quartet placing 1st or 2nd in the main competition is ineligible for this award.

International Qualification • The highest scoring seniors quartet on the Friday night of the fall quartet contests qualifies for the seniors quartet contest at Midwinter Convention the following year. The seniors prelims scores are based on one round of competition. Seniors quartets must have all four members at least 55 years of age, and a combined age of at least 240 years. In addition, other seniors quartets with a sufficiently high score may qualify for a wildcard spot for the international seniors quartet contest.

International Qualification • District choruses earn the right to represent Ontario District at the International Barbershop Convention next July by obtaining the top score among district choruses in the Fall Preliminary Chorus Contest. The top scoring chorus is awarded the George Shields “Go For The Gold” Trophy. In addition, any other choruses scoring at least 80% will also qualify for the contest.

District Title • The Jack Haughie Trophy is awarded to the chorus with the greatest improvement in score over the last time they competed based on raw scores. The winning chorus and any chorus not having competed in the last six contests are ineligible.

District Title • The London Chapter Trophy is awarded to the chorus with the highest score in the competition, subject to eligibility rules. A chorus placing first or second in the current contest is ineligible. Also, any chorus placing first or second in the previous ten contests is ineligible as is any chorus that has won this award in the previous six contests.

District Title • The Syd Pyper Plateau Awards are awarded to the choruses achieving the highest score in each plateau, the contest winner is eligible, plateaus are assigned based on chorus’ score in their last competition, any chorus not competing in last 6 contests or competing for first time is assigned plateau 1

  • Plateau 1 — less than 661 in their last contest,
  • Plateau 2 — greater than 660 and less than 781,
  • Plateau 3 — greater than 780 and less than 901,
  • Plateau 4 — greater than 900 in last contest

Schedule of Events

Updated June 8, 2026. All times are tentative and subject to change.

Friday, October 16, 2026

Time Event Venue
3:00 – 8:30 pm Registration Desk Foyer – Movement Church Woodstock
6:30 pm
Quartet Semi-finals
Presenter: TBA
 Movement Church Woodstock
After the contest Quartet Evaluations Judges Rooms – Home2 Suites
After the contest Hospitality Room Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Host TBA

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Time Event Venue
  Registration Desk opens Foyer – Movement Church Woodstock
8:45 am All-Chapter Chorus Rehearsal
Director: TBA		 Movement Church Woodstock – Green Room
9:30 am
Chorus Competition
Presenter: TBA
 Movement Church Woodstock
After the contest Chorus Evaluations Woodstock Christian School
  Registration Desk opens Foyer – Movement Church Woodstock
3:30pm
Quartet Finals Contest & Show of Champions
Presenter: TBA
Presentation of Awards
Quartet Results Announced
Intermission
Parade of Champions Show
“Keep the Whole World Singing”
 Movement Church Woodstock
After the show Quartet Evaluations Judges Rooms – Home2 Suites
After the show Hospitality / Afterglow Room Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Host TBA

All-Chapter Chorus

Join the All Chapter Chorus (chorus contest mic tester) at the Ontario District Fall Convention in Woodstock on October 16th-17th! Open to all singers attending the convention – competing or not – this is a great opportunity to make music together. This year we welcome Katy Dane to the stage, making her Ontario district directing debut as our All Chapter Chorus Director for 2026. We’ll be singing You’ve Got a Friend in Me (arr. Dan Wessler) and Good Luck Charm (arr. Aaron Dale), two songs featured at the 2026 Ontario Quartet Event. This is a cooperative effort to help support our Ontario events and give more opportunities for performance and participation throughout the year to the singers in our district. Whether you sang them at OQE, learned the songs in your own chorus, or are learning them for the first time, we’d love to have you join us!
Learning materials are available on the Members Only page, under Music Files > All Chapter Chorus.
 
Sign up using this link! https://forms.gle/oNkB8At4oJAxQvmS6
Please bring your registration nametag to rehearsal.

Repertoire: You’ve Got a Friend in Me (arr. Dan Wessler) and Good Luck Charm (arr. Aaron Dale)

Learning materials are available on the Members Only page, under Music Files > All Chapter Chorus.

Director: Katy Dane

Katy Dane is a music educator, chorus director, coach, and 23-year veteran teacher recently relocated to Ontario from Austin, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental and Vocal Music Education from Luther College and a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Texas State University.

In 2022, Katy was named Music Educator of the Year by the National Association for Music Education and the Barbershop Harmony Society, an experience she later shared as a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She served on Harmony University faculty for seven years, including as Dean of Music Education from 2021 to 2024, and is a writer and contributor to the upcoming Barbershop Harmony Society publication Tag Teaching: Fundamentals of Barbershop for the Music Educator. Most recently, she returned to Germany to serve as the SSAA chorus director for 2026 BinG! Harmony College.

In the barbershop community, Katy has spent 14 years directing, coaching, and educating singers. She founded A Cappella Unlimited of SingUnited International in Region 10, leading the chorus to eight first-place small chorus championships and a silver medal at Harmony Classic in 2019. She also directed A Cappella Texas for eight years and made history as the first woman to serve on the Southwestern District Board of Directors as Vice President of Music & Performance. She served on the education teams for both Region 10 and the Southwestern District, designing youth chorus events and Top Gun coaching retreats for education weekends across Texas.

Katy now lives in Ajax with her barbershopper husband, Fraser, and their six-month-old daughter, Lily. She is an active coach and lead section leader with Voices Unlimited, the 2026 World Mixed Barbershop Chorus Champions.

Advertise in the Convention Program!

Advertisement Details Price
Full page 4.25 X 11 inches Greyscale $150
Half page 4.25 X 5.5 inches Greyscale $90
Business card 2 X 4 inches Greyscale $50
Full page back cover  4.25 X 11 inches Colour $250
Full page inside cover 4.25 X 11 inches Colour $195
Half page inside cover 4.25 X 5.5 inches Colour $120

Please submit your ad in​ pdf or jpeg ​format​. Use the highest resolution in your design to ensure the best results in print. The deadline for submitting advertisements is TBA.

Send submissions to srbangham@gmail.com