This year, to promote transparency about scores, the Office of Student Productions released each act’s scores for every category.
Director of Student Productions, Nick Tatum, said they wanted to be transparent, because a lot of people leave Sing Song with questions, specifically about why they placed where they did in a certain category. Tatum said they waited to release the scores so people would have time to take a step back and settle back into their normal routine.
“We want people to look at them with a fresh perspective that is not passionate or emotional,” Tatum said. “It’s a learning experience for participants next year.”
The men of Galaxy swept the men’s division, Ko Jo Kai won the women’s division for the second year in a row and the senior class won with their theme of Adam and Eve.
Though scoring was updated again this year, Tatum said sometimes people don’t understand the depth of a category.
Costumes (15 percent) are judged on how well-made they are and how professional they look. Acts are also ranked based on their cohesion and whether their costumes are visually appealing. The subcategories are quality, recognizability/cohesion, color and creativity.
Set/Props (15 percent) are judged on how visually appealing and professional they look, as well as how proportional they are in sizing (not too small). The subcategories are design, recognizability/cohesion, engineering and creativity.
Choreography (15 percent) is judged on whether the group was “together” in their movements with good timing and rhythm. Judges also rank based on memorability, impact and creativity. The subcategories of choreography are synchronicity, precision, impact and creativity.
Vocals (35 percent) are judged based on how in-tune the group is, whether they blend and the variety of dynamics. Diction is also a determining factor, as it is its own subcategory alongside tuning, musicality/dynamics, tone/blending and tempo.
Entertainment (20 percent) is judged on how interesting the overall idea is, and how enthusiastic the group seemed. The subcategories are concept, lyrics, performance and enjoyment.
Below are the scores from this year’s show.