Gene McNish Small Chorus Award Winners
This award is named for one of Central Illinois’ most giving and dominant barbershoppers. Gene served the District and local chapters in many capacities and was known for his strong efforts in promoting and encouraging small choruses.

It is presented at the completion of Chorus competition.
It will be presented by the Vice President of Music & Performance.
It is presented to the chorus placing the highest with 30 or fewer members, based on actual chapter membership as of 30 days prior to the District Chorus Contest.
The Contest Administrator(CA) receives the scores for each competitor from the judging panel. The CA enters the scores into the Society Scoring Program. When all scores have been entered, the program sorts the scores and determines placement for each eligible competitor. The OSS (Official Scoring Summary) is then printed.
Typically, one certificate is given to the chorus. There is also a plaque, used for display purposes only, that will have the chorus name and date engraved on it.
| Year | Award Winning Chorus |
|---|---|
2025 Fall | Sounds of Harmony |
2024 Fall | Sounds of Harmony |
2023 Fall | Rock River Valley Chorus |
2022 Fall | Brotherhood of Harmony Chorus |
2021 Fall | Chorus of DuPage |
2019 Fall | Sounds of Harmony |
2017 Fall | Sounds of Harmony |
2016 Fall | Brotherhood of Harmony Chorus |
2015 Fall | Second City Chorus |
2014 Fall | Second City Chorus |
2013 Spring | Brotherhood of Harmony Chorus |
2012 Spring | Brotherhood of Harmony Chorus |
2011 Spring | Second City Chorus |
2010 Spring | Greater Rockford Barbershop Harmony Chorus |
2009 Spring | Greater Rockford Barbershop Harmony Chorus |
2008 Spring | Lamplighter Chorus |
2007 Spring | Covered Bridge Chorus |
2006 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
2005 Spring | Decatur Chordsmen |
2004 Spring | Lamplighter Chorus |
2003 Spring | Second City Chorus |
2002 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
2001 Spring | Illini Statesmen |
2000 Spring | Great Plainsmen Chorus |
1999 Spring | Lamplighter Chorus |
1998 Spring | Great River Barbershop Chorus |
1997 Spring | Decatur Chordsmen |
1996 Spring | Great River Barbershop Chorus |
1995 Spring | Bell Notes Chorus |
1994 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
1993 Spring | Black Hawk Chorus |
1992 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
1991 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
1990 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
1989 Spring | Prairieland Barbershop Chorus |
1988 Spring | Lamplighter Chorus |
1987 Spring | Land of Lincoln Chorus |
1986 Spring | Bend of the River Chorus |
1985 Spring | Land of Lincoln Chorus |
1984 Spring | Rock River Valley Chorus |
1983 Spring | Lakelander Chorus |
1982 Spring | Bend of the River Chorus |
1981 Spring | Greater Rockford Barbershop Harmony Chorus |
1980 Spring | Mississippi Valley Chorus |
