Davis, California • March 28-30, 2025
Tickets go on sale October 17, 2024 • Early-Bird pricing until February 28 • Advance sales end March 19
About
Join us for the 2025 FWD Northern Divisions Convention at the Richard Brunelle Performance Hall in Davis, California on March 28-30, 2024. Get ready for a weekend filled with singing, entertainment, fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Our convention brings together the best of Northern California & Nevada choruses and quartets, showcasing talent, creativity, and passion. Whether you're a fan, enthusiast, or simply curious, the FWD Northern Divisions Convention is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of excitement. We can’t wait to see you there!
We will award Quartet and Chorus champions, Novice and Senior Quartet champions, Plateau A/AA/AAA Chorus champions; Youth and Super Seniors Quartets can compete at this event, but awards for these classifications will not be given until all five FWD division contests have completed. Additionally, this event will be used to qualify quartets and choruses for the Fall District contests coming up in October.
All events are open to men's, women's, & mixed quartets/choruses.
ALL EVENTS ARE RESERVED SEATING
*** ADA Seating ***
ADA Compliant wheelchair spaces (labeled 'WC') are available for those with special needs as well as adjacent companion seats. Use Promo Code "ADA" to unlock those seats for selection.
Advance Registration will close at 11:59 PM on March 19.
Hotel
Rotate your phone for best viewing| Hotel | Distance to venue | Convention rates/night | Parking | Breakfast | WiFi | Ammenities |
 |
13.3 mi |
|
Free |
Free | Free |
|
Contest Venue
Brunelle Performing Arts Center
Davis Senior High School
315 W 14th St #1914, Davis, CA 95616
Davis Senior High School is one of two high schools located in Davis, California. DHS is a WASC accredited, 3-year, public comprehensive high school covering grades 10–12. The campus opened its current location in 1961; the previous high school location is now Davis City Hall.
One unique architectural item on the Davis High School campus is the performing arts facility. Completed in 2005, the building cost around 9.3 million dollars to build. It features an auditorium for shows, side rooms for class rooms, and other features. In addition to the 515-seat theatre, two music rooms are located next door. One is used as an instrumental rehearsal room and the other is for vocal music.
Convention Registration Rates
All Chorus and Quartet contestants must register at the Competitor rate.
"Non-Competitor" includes non-competing members, family, and guests twelve years and older.
If you are only singing in the "Everyone Welcome Chorus" you can register as a "Non-Competitor".
| All Events Registration (plus ticket fees) | Early-Bird Order by Feb 28 |
Regular Mar 1-Mar 20* |
On-Site Mar 29 |
| Competitor Chorus or Quartet Competitor |
$47.50 | $65.00 | $90.00 |
| Non-Competitor Non-Competing Member or Guest, 12+ years |
$32.50 | $50.00 | $75.00 |
| Child Non-Member Child under 12 years |
Free | Free | $25.00 |
Single-Event Tickets for non-competitors will be available On-Site for $40.00 each event:
Chorus Contest • Quartet Contest & Encore Performances
* Advance Registration will close at 11:59 PM on March 20.
Important Dates & Deadlines
| 28-Feb-2025 (Fri) |
|
| 20-Mar-2025 (Thu) |
|
| 29-Mar-2025 (Sat) |
|
High School Quartet Contest
High School Quartet Contest
Male, female, and mixed high school quartets in the Far Western District of the Barbershop Harmony Society are invited to compete in this year's High School Quartet Contest. The contest will be held in conjunction with the district’s divisional conventions – Northern CA, Southern CA, and Arizona – in the spring of each year. A cash prize will be awarded to the school that has the highest scoring quartet. Founded in 1991 by, and perpetuated in the memory of Lloyd Steinkamp, the Far Western District High School Quartet Contest continues to be fun-filled and exciting for all the participants.
Announcing the 31st Annual Far Western District
High School Barbershop Quartet Contests 2025
Dates and Locations
- Riverside, California • March 13-16, 2025 - Spring Prelims & Southern Divisions Convention
- Davis, California • March 28-30, 2025 - Northern Divisions Convention
- Phoenix, Arizona • May 2-4, 2025 - Arizona Division Convention
CONTEST RULES:
- The contests are open to male, female and mixed high school quartets in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, and Southern Utah.
- Each quartet member must be currently attending a high school.
- Each quartet is to sing two barbershop songs in good taste in the contest.
- All competing high school quartet members receive complimentary convention registrations*.
- There is no fee to participate, but the students are responsible for their travel, lodging, and meal expenses. In some cases, quartets can obtain sponsorships from local chapters to help offset these costs.
* High school quartet members who are ALSO competing with a chorus or quartet in the regular BHS contest must purchase their convention registration at the COMPETITOR rate.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- You should arrive on Friday if at all possible, or early Saturday morning at the latest.
- After the contest, you will have an opportunity to have a feedback session with some of the judges.
- There will be a Pizza/Tag Party following the contest.
- Results won’t be announced until after the final division contest (Phoenix, AZ)
WHAT TO DO:
- Ask your local barbershop chapter to help you with music and coaching.
- Fill out the form, or send an email to Antwun Pucket if you need help filling out the form.
- Make travel and hotel arrangements**.
- Practice, practice, practice.
- Get there and sing your heart out.
** For contest & hotel location information, please see the dates and locations links above.
We will take care of the complementary convention registrations for your quartet members and one music educator or chaperone and send you your tickets via email.
Everyone Welcome Chorus
While some choruses may not be planning to compete, we know that many of our members would enjoy singing a couple of songs from Polecat songbooks on stage before a welcoming audience. To facilitate that we are organizing an "Everyone Welcome Chorus" to perform as the Mic Testers for the chorus contest.
As the name implies, everyone is welcome to participate – Far Western District members and friends of Far Western District members whether or not your chorus is performing. There will be no evaluation of the chorus. We will sing, simply because it is enjoyable to sing before an enthusiastic audience.
There will be an all-chorus practice on Saturday morning before the chorus contest. See the convention program/schedule for time and location.
Note: If you are ONLY singing in the "Everyone Welcome Chorus" you can register for the convention as a "Non-Competitor".
Where To Get Help
Convention Registration
We are using Eventbrite for ticketing this event, and you will find answers to most questions on their website.
Please take care when making your registration, as the information you provide will be used to print your convention name badge.
After making your purchase, to edit order information like your name or email address, go to “Tickets” in your Eventbrite account. Choose the order you want to update and click “Edit”.
- Login to your Eventbrite account. Then go to "Tickets".
- Select your order.
- Click “Edit”.
- Save your changes.
TIP: You can also use this method to transfer a ticket to someone else. If you sell a non-competitor ticket to a competitor they can "upgrade" it on-site at the registration desk for a $35 fee.
IMPORTANT: All changes/transfers must me made PRIOR to the close of advance registration. Once the name badges have been printed, any correrctions must be made manually on-site and are subject to a $10 badge re-print fee.
By the way, you can also go to "Tickets" to print your tickets (in case you lost the email).
For further help and questions related to event/convention registration, please contact the REGISTRAR.
Contest Entry
How do I enter my quartet or my chorus in the CONTEST?
Contest entry is handled on the BHS Member Center website:
- Go to the BHS Member Center (members.barbershop.org)
- Login to your account
- We recommend you watch the instructional video on contest entry available on the main dashboard
- Click 'Manage My SCs' from the top menu-bar
- Select your Quartet or CHORUS (not chapter) from the list
- Under 'Officer Management Actions', click 'Enter Contest'
- Follow the guided instructions.
FAQs, Walkthroughs, and How-To Videos
Some key points:
- All competitors must be dues-paid members of the Society.
- Quartets must be registered with the Society before they are eligible to compete, and be current with their annual quartet registration fee.
- Quartet registration and renewal is done through the BHS Member Center. Login and look for 'Register or Reinstate a Quartet'.
- All competitors must purchase an All-Events Registration to the convention in which they are competing (done HERE on this website).
Where to get Help:
- For help and non-technical questions related to the Contest, please contact the DRCJ.
- For technical help with the BHS Member Center and Contest Entry, please contact the Society at:
- Phone: (800) 876-7464
- Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- For help with Registering (tickets) for the CONVENTION, please contact the Registrar.
Hotel Reservations
Hotel reservations are made directly with the hotel, either on their website or by phone.
For help related to HOTEL RESERVATIONS, please contact the hotel directly.
Far Western District Events