Festival Rules
1. Please use the entry form for the current year. These may be photocopied – same size as the
original, please.
Use a separate form for each entry.
CASH SHOULD NOT BE SENT. Cheques and postal orders should be crossed and made payable to “Aberdeen and NE Music Festival”. For multiple entries, a single cheque should be used where possible.
LATE ENTRIES – Any entry which is received AFTER 6pm on MONDAY 12 MARCH 2012 will be treated as a LATE ENTRY and ONLY ACCEPTED ON PAYMENT OF A SURCHARGE.
LATE ENTRY SURCHARGE – The entry fee will be doubled. Late entrants will be contacted by telephone. Any entries collected after 6 pm on MONDAY 19 MARCH 2012 will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Please be aware of the NEW POSTAL CHARGES. Rates now vary depending on the size and thickness of the envelope. This is particularly important if you are sending a large batch of entries and/or music for accompanists. Please check at your Post Office to make sure that you use the correct amount in stamps.
In the event of any section being oversubscribed, entries will be accepted in order of receipt.
ALL ENTRIES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE.
Ballot slips will be sent out approximately three weeks before the start of the Festival.
Any other correspondence requiring a reply should be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
3. The Council reserves the right to:
(a) refuse any proposed entry
(b) subdivide classes where the number of entrants or type of classes makes this desirable
(c) cancel any class where the number of entries received makes the running of the class unviable
(d) appoint replacement or additional adjudicators and accompanists, and alter, modify or cancel any of the arrangements detailed in this syllabus.
4. When the entry list is closed, the Council will decide the day and order of the classes, and will conduct a ballot for the order of performing, but reserves the right to make alterations to the order shown in the official programme. Performers not present by the time of the completion of their classes may be heard if time is available, but will not be eligible for any award or placing.
5. Entries may be made in more than one class where the syllabus does not state otherwise, but in ordinary solo classes for any one instrument, entry may be made in not more than two classes, and these must be adjacent age groups. Open classes are considered adjacent to the top age group. (For the purposes of this rule, the different sizes of recorder are regarded as separate instruments). Competitors entering piano classes are referred to the rule regarding Open Piano Classes at the beginning of the piano section of this syllabus.
6. No person will be allowed to take part more than once in any one class, except in a duet or ensemble class, where a second entry is permitted provided that a different part is performed with a different instrument. (For this rule the Recorder is classed as one instrument). This rule does not apply to conductors.
7. NON-COMPETITIVE ENTRIES – It is possible to enter any class on a non-competitive basis. Non-competitive entrants will receive an adjudication only. Anyone wishing to enter on this basis should mark their entry form clearly across the top with “Non-competitive entry”.
B. Test and Own Choice Pieces
(c) In all classes with two set pieces, both will be performed unless the adjudicator requires otherwise.
(d) In all classes, unless otherwise stated, repeats are not to be taken except where they are short and musically necessary.
2. IN OWN CHOICE CLASSES TITLES AND COMPOSERS OF ALL SELECTIONS MUST BE STATED ON THE ENTRY FORM. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL MEAN REJECTION OF THE ENTRY. Classes requiring this information can be recognised by an X at the end of the class number. NO CHANGES WILL BE ACCEPTED. If the performance is not as stated on the entry form, adjudication may be given but no mark, certificate or placing will be awarded.
(a) Speech and Drama – Copies for the adjudicator of own choice pieces (including own compositions, but with the exception of Theme Presentation) must be submitted WITH THE ENTRY FORM. Failure to do this will incur disqualification and forfeiture of the entry fee. Any cuts and omissions must be clearly indicated. Each copy should be labelled with the competitor(s)’s name and the class number.
(b) Music – A copy of the piece to be performed must be made available for the adjudicator
before the start of the class. (Photocopies may be acceptable – see below – rule 6).
If the services of the official accompanist are required, this must be stated on the entry form, and a copy of the music for the accompanist must be sent WITH THE ENTRY FORM. ALL MUSIC should be clearly labelled with the competitor‟s name(s) and the class number. If music is not submitted with the entry form, the official accompanist will not play. (Photocopies may be acceptable – see below – rule 6).
3. The same OWN CHOICE piece must not be performed in the same class in successive years, or in different classes in the same year. It may be a set piece for another class, provided the performer is not taking part in that class.
C. Accompanists
All test pieces with piano accompaniment are to be performed with accompaniment unless otherwise stated. Official accompanists are engaged by the Festival. However, performers may provide their own accompanist. If a request is made for an official accompanist, this shall be a binding agreement. Except where otherwise stated, any competitor who asks the official accompanist to play from an edition other than that prescribed will be disqualified. No official accompanist will be provided for Scottish Instrumental classes or for competitors performing own choice pieces in Open Classes.
1. Adjudicators may stop any performance when the time limit has been reached, and their
decisions shall, in all cases, be final.
2. Adjudicators should not be approached by or on behalf of competitors. Breach of this rule may
result in disqualification.
E. General
1. Copies of the adjudicator‟s remarks are available free to every performer, and should be collected, together with the certificates, at the end of the class, or later during the Festival. Any not collected by the end of the Festival may be obtained by post from the Secretary, by quoting Class and Ballot number, and enclosing a C5 stamped addressed envelope.
2. Marks will not be awarded but gradings will be given and certificates will be issued to performers, with gradings of “O” (Outstanding), “V” (Very Good), “G” (Good) and “M” (More security of performance required). Placings for FIRST only will be given. Trophies/awards will not be presented unless “V” has been gained, and placings will not be given without “G” or better.
3. Fees for entries that have been accepted will not be refunded, except when a class is programmed for a day or time which the entrant has stated on the entry form to be unsuitable or when a class is cancelled for any reason. All claims for refunds must be made in writing to the treasurer within one week of the close of the Festival.
4. Where an entrant is forced to withdraw for any reason, it is permissible for another to substitute in ensemble or group classes. Please give as much notice of this intention as possible, so that a suitable adjudication sheet and certificate can be prepared.
5. Any complaint or objection relating to the Festival will be considered only if submitted in writing to
the General Secretary.
6. Performers are reminded that it is ILLEGAL TO COPY, whether by photocopy or any other means, works which are copyright, without the written permission of the copyright holder. ANY ENTRANTS PERFORMING FROM PHOTOCOPIES (except for awkward page turns) WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. However, Music Festivals have been granted the following special dispensations:
Copies of Own Choice Works for the adjudicator: The Music Publishers’ Association has issued a revised code of practice on copyright works, and the following concession is made for copying own choice pieces from volumes only for the adjudicator. “When an Own Choice work is selected from a publication containing several different works and which is not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of an adjudicator at a competition or festival provided that the competitor or participant has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy made is retained and destroyed by the Administrator of the Competition or Festival immediately after the event. This permission specifically does not apply to set works”.
Competitors are advised that this permission applies only to copyright holders who are members of the Music Publishers’ Association (listed at the back of the Code of Practice leaflet, obtainable from the Association at British Music House, 26 Berners Street, London W1T 3LR telephone 020 7637 4052 www.mpaonline.org.uk. It is the competitor’s own responsibility to seek permission to copy direct from any copyright holder whose name does not appear on the MPA list. Single copies of items may not be photocopied without the prior permission of the copyright holder.
This permission does not apply to making copies for the accompanist, who should always be given a printed copy from which to work.
Photostat and other copies for the adjudicator must be totally legible, or they may be refused.
7. This Festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech, and participates in its Group Licence with the Performing Rights Society, covering live performances, and the Group Licence with the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society for the use of recorded music.
All performances using music from shows in current production are subject to copyright law. Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item, i.e. with no costume or movement without need for copyright permission. Where movement or costume are included in a performance copyright permission is required and the festival committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been sought.
8. The use of TAPE RECORDERS and CAMERAS (including mobile phones) of any kind is NOT PERMITTED in any Festival venue, both because of copyright and other legal restrictions, and to avoid disturbing performers. The Council reserves the right to authorise recordings to be made during the Festival, and the copyright of all performances recorded during the Festival shall be the property of the Association. MOBILE PHONES must be switched OFF before entering any Festival venue.
9. Participation in the Instrumental Challenge class is restricted to the overall winners of the Bowed Strings, Recorder, Woodwind and Brass classes
10. The decision of the Council in all matters is final.