The Rush Wyman Award is presented annually to the Illinois District Chorus Champion.  From 2007 through 2012, the chorus championship was awarded at the spring convention, with the champion sitting out the following two years.  The fall convention was the International preliminary qualifying round for choruses.

Prior to 2007, the chorus championship was determined at the fall convention, with the champion representing the Illinois District at the International Chorus Contest the following summer.  From 1965 through 2006, the top ten choruses at the fall contest would automatically qualify to compete the next fall along with the top five choruses at the next spring convention.

Beginning in 2013, the chorus championship is once again awarded at the fall chorus competition.  Under the new format, however, the district champion chorus is ineligible to repeat as champion for the two years following, the same restriction used at the International contest.  The champion chorus may compete in the years immediately following its victory to qualify for the International competition, but its score and rank are not considered in the tally for the district championship.

YEARWHERE HELDCHAMPIONDIRECTOR2nd PLACE
3rd PLACE
2014BloomingtonChi. West SuburbanCarrie MarcotteBellevilleRockford Metro
2013BloomingtonNorthbrookJay GiallombardoBellevilleLake County
2012PeoriaBloomingtonTerry LudwigColes CountyBelleville
2011BloomingtonChi. West SuburbanBruce HallBellevilleColes County
2010PeoriaNorthbrookBryan HardenBellevilleColes County
2009PeoriaBloomingtonTerry LudwigBellevilleLake County
2008PeoriaChicagoland W. S.Joe KronesBloomingtonLake County
# 2007PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoChicagoland W.S.Lake County
2006PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoChicagoland W.S.Bloomington
2005PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLake CountyChicagoland W.S.
2004PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLake CountyBloomington
2003PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoBloomingtonChicagoland W.S.
2002PeoriaLake CountyGreg LyneChicagoland W.S.West Peoria Metro
2001PeoriaLake CountyGreg LyneLombardBloomington
2000PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLake CountyBloomington
1999PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLake CountyBloomington
1998PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLake CountyRockford Metro
1997PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1996PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1995PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1994PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1993PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1992PeoriaLombardJoe CaulkinsNorthbrookBloomington
1991PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1990PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardBloomington
1989PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoLombardArlington Heights
1988PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoBloomingtonArlington Heights
1987PeoriaNorthbrookJay GiallombardoBloomingtonChampaign-Urbana
1986PeoriaLombardGreg LyneNorthbrookChampaign-Urbana
1985PeoriaLombardGreg LyneNorthbrookChampaign-Urbana
1984PeoriaLombardGreg LyneNorthbrookArlington Heights
1983PeoriaLombardGreg LyneNorthbrookArlington Heights
1982PeoriaLombardGreg LyneArlington HeightsOak Lawn
1981SpringfieldLombardGreg LyneBloomingtonDuPage Valley
1980Rock IslandArlington HeightsJay GiallombardoBloomingtonDuPage Valley
1979PeoriaArlington HeightsJay GiallombardoBloomingtonLombard
1978WaukeganArlington HeightsJay GiallombardoBloomingtonChampaign-Urbana
1977BellevilleArlington HeightsJay GiallombardoBloomingtonLombard
1976CharlestonBloomingtonSam AnlikerArlington HeightsDuPage Valley
1975PeoriaArlington HeightsDoug MillerLombardBloomington
1974BloomingtonArlington HeightsDoug MillerLombardBloominton
1973BellevilleArlington HeightsDoug MillerLombardElgin
1972ChicagoArlington HeightsDoug MillerElginBloomington
1971PeoriaLombardEarl AugeArlington HeightsElgin
1970Rock IslandLombardEarl AugeArlington HeightsBloomington
1969ElginLombardEarl AugeArlington HeightsBloomington
1968QuincyArlington HeightsEarl AugeLombardBloomington
1967PeoriaPekinJim MosesArlington HeightsLombard
1966ChicagoPeoriaGlenn PurdueIllinois ValleyLombard
* 1965BloomingtonArlington HeightsEarl AugePekinLombard
1964Rock IslandArlington HeightsEarl AugeLombardPeoria
1963ChicagoArlington HeightsEarl AugeLombardPeoria
1962PeoriaPekinJim MosesBloomingtonPeoria
1961RockfordPekinJim MosesBloomingtonLombard
1960BloomingtonLombardDoc RugglesPeoriaArlington Heights
1959Rock IslandBloomingtonGlenn PurdueRockfordSouthwest Suburban
1958SkokiePekinJim MosesBloomingtonSouthwest Suburban
1957PeoriaPekinJim MosesSouthwest SuburbanDecatur
1956JolietBloomingtonGlenn PurdueSkokie ValleyQ-Suburban
1955DecaturOak ParkBob HaegerSkokie ValleyQ-Suburban
1955Bloomington (Fall)PekinJim MosesOak ParkSkokie
1954Jacksonville (Spring)Q-SuburbanDick SvanoeSkokieOak Park
1953LaSalle (Unofficial)Q-SuburbanDick SvanoePrinceton?

# District chorus championship becomes open contest and moved to Spring. Champion gets two year bye.

* Top 10 choruses from previous fall get byes. Joined by top five from past spring contest.