How to prepare your choir for a competition
A week-by-week plan for choirmasters: reading the rules, choosing two songs, rehearsing to the marks, and running the last week before a choir competition.
On this page
In short
- Read the rules first: time limit, song rules, backing tracks and how you’ll be judged.
- Choose a song that suits your voice today, not the hardest song you know.
- Rehearse it as a performance — standing, with the microphone — not just in your head.
- Protect your voice in the last week: sleep, water, and no shouting.
Read the rules before you choose a song
Every competition is different. Before anything else, find out:
- the time limit, and whether it includes your introduction;
- whether you sing live with a band, to a backing track or unaccompanied;
- any rules on language, style or original songs;
- how you will be judged, and whether marks are published.
Write the answers down. Many singers lose marks — or are disqualified — for something that was in the rules all along.
Choose the right song
The right song is one you can sing well on a bad day.
| Choose | Avoid |
|---|---|
| A song that sits in the middle of your range | A song that lives at the edge of it |
| A song you can sing with feeling, in words you understand | A song chosen only because it’s popular |
| A song that shows control as well as power | Runs and high notes for their own sake |
| A version that fits the time limit with room to spare | Cutting a song down on the day |
Rehearse it as a performance
Learning the song is only the start. Rehearse it the way you will sing it:
- Standing, in the shoes you will wear.
- With a microphone, or something the same size, so your hands know what to do.
- From the walk-on to the bow, without stopping.
- Recorded, then played back. You will hear what the judges will hear.
Then sing it to people — family, friends, your church — at least twice before the day.
Look after your voice
- Sleep properly in the last week.
- Drink water steadily, not all at once on the day.
- Avoid shouting, and long loud rehearsals in the last two days.
- Warm up gently before you sing, every time.
On the day
Arrive early. Find out when you are on and where you wait. Warm up quietly, then stop talking. Before you walk on, plan your first breath and your first line, so you can start without thinking. If something goes wrong, keep going: judges remember how you recovered.
Singing with a choir instead
If you sing with a choir, the same principles apply to the whole group. Our week-by-week plan for preparing your choir takes you from the rules to the day. FSN Voices, our choir championship in Ipaja, Lagos, is on 5 December 2026, with every judge’s mark published the same evening.
Questions singers ask
How do I choose a song for a singing competition?
Choose a song that sits comfortably in your range and lets you show control as well as power. Check the competition’s rules on song length, language and backing tracks first.
How long before a competition should I start preparing?
Give yourself at least four to six weeks with one song: time to learn it, polish it, and perform it in front of people before the day.
What do judges look for in a singing competition?
It varies, so read the competition’s own marking sheet. Most listen for pitch, control, clear words and how you hold the stage.
How do I stop shaking on stage?
Make the stage familiar: rehearse standing, with a microphone, in front of people, and plan your first breath and first line so you can start on autopilot.
Last checked 8 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email info@futurestarnetwork.com.