From the Front Row to the Front Table
Lisa Greenough
From the Front Row to the Front Table
My Journey to Becoming a Certified Visual Communication Judge
by Lisa Greenough
Some dreams take shape in an instant. Others, like mine, take decades, countless flights, a handful of lucky pens, and a whole lot of trial scoring. My journey to becoming a Certified Visual Communication Judge in Sweet Adelines International officially began in 2009—but really, it started in 1982 when I was just a wide-eyed nine-year-old in Washington, DC.
My mother, Marlene, sang with Vienna-Falls Chorus, and one evening, she suggested I come along to meet their new director, Betty (Tracey at the time) Clipman. I walked into that rehearsal and was absolutely mesmerized. Betty commanded the room with knowledge and energy, guiding this chorus of women toward a greater version of themselves. It was the first time I thought, Wow, how do I grow up to be THAT?
A few years later, I attended a Sweet Adelines competition and saw the pit—that mysterious front row of judges, intently watching and scribbling away on score sheets. Who were those people? And more importantly, how could I become one of them? I soon learned about judges, score sheets, and categories (oh my!) and set my sights on one goal: I wanted to be one of those people. The category choice was easy—Showmanship (now called Visual Communication) had my name written all over it.
Fast forward to 1989. I officially joined Sweet Adelines in Colorado Springs, CO, and my journey began in earnest. I was a little cheeky as a teenager, asking coaches and seasoned judges how to get into the program. The best advice I received? "Learn everything you can." Challenge accepted! I soaked up knowledge at every event, sat in on coaching sessions, and was lucky enough to travel with my mother, who had become Regional Education Faculty in Region 26. She let me tag along on her visits, and soon I was helping with choreography, staging, characterization, costumes, makeup—you name it. I was fortunate to learn from exceptional choreographers and wise (and patient) mentors who generously shared their expertise.
By 2009, I had become a choreographer and section leader and felt ready for the next step. At 36, I wasn’t getting any younger! I applied to the judging program and was thrilled when my application was accepted. The first hurdle? The category and general knowledge exams. I was lucky to have a supportive boss who allowed my proctor to administer the exam at the school where I worked. I don’t remember much about writing the test, except for one moment—realizing I had fallen for what I thought was a trick question (it wasn’t) and frantically erasing my first answer to scribble in the right one just before time ran out. Thank you, past me, for using a pencil!
In January 2010, I officially entered the Judge Program as a Candidate, finally earning the privilege of trial scoring. My first opportunity? A competition in Region 14, all the way across the country. I specifically chose this one because one of my mentors, Becki Hine, was on the panel, and I wanted to learn everything I could from her. I was beyond green. I didn’t know I could bring resources into the pit. I didn’t even know I needed a pen! I still laugh at how the other judges took me pen shopping that afternoon, schooling me on the merits of gel grips, ink flow, and ballpoints for pressing through score sheet copies.
Over the next few years, I trial-scored as often as possible, eventually advancing to Approved Candidate Judge (ACJ) status. At this stage, ACJs attend an intensive training weekend, complete with workshops, mock sessions, and trial scoring at a live contest. It was overwhelming, exhilarating, and solidified one thing: I was hooked.
Each year, I received a Judge Progress Report, a valuable tool that provided feedback on my scoring, comments, and growth as a judge. By 2015, I felt I was close to reaching the "front table"—the official panel. Then, out of nowhere, I got the call: the Show Judge scheduled for a contest had to cancel, and I was asked to step in. Game on! I kept the news a secret until after the weekend was over, then posted a simple photo of my badge with the caption: "So this happened, for real!" The weekend was everything I had dreamed of, and working with an amazing panel made it even more memorable.
From there, the journey continued with more training, more trial scoring, and more learning. In 2018, I achieved Approved Judge status, which meant I was officially judging contests but still needed to judge at the international level to certify. Timing, however, was tricky. Judges can’t participate in competition and judge at the same event, and between my chorus and quartet, I kept finding myself on the other side of the stage.
Then came the pandemic, followed by my chorus competing in Phoenix, and then—because timing is hilarious—my quartet won our first-ever regional contest after 20 years of trying. It was an incredible experience, but it also meant I had to wait yet again for my shot at international judging. Finally, in the fall of 2024, the stars aligned. No competing commitments. No conflicts. And then—the invitation. I was asked to judge on the Chorus Panel at the International Competition in Kansas City. YES!
Having attended nearly every international contest since 1996, finally sitting at the front table in the International pit was surreal. The energy, the responsibility, the sheer honor of adjudicating some of the best choruses in the world—it was everything I had worked for. The words flowed easily onto my score sheets. The competitors delivered phenomenal performances. It was pure joy.
Then came the wait. The specialists and the Education Direction Committee (EDC) had to review my work and decide my fate. I refreshed my inbox so many times I’m surprised I didn’t break the button. And then, on a snowy day in January, there it was: an email with the subject line "Congratulations."
After 15 years in the Judge Program and a journey that truly began over 40 years ago, I had officially achieved my goal. As of January 29, 2025, I am a Certified Visual Communication Judge in Sweet Adelines International.
From the front row to the front table—it’s been an incredible ride. And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.