1. All entries must be received by 4:00 PM on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 either by dropping off your entry into our mail box at Hambleton Hall or by post (203 John Street, Simcoe Ontario N3Y 2Y6). Please note that Hambleton Hall is locked every day at 4:00 pm.
2. The appropriate fee as stated in the Syllabus must accompany all entries. Please note that entry fees will not be refunded. Please do not send cash. Cheques should be made payable to Norfolk Musical Arts Festival.
3. The OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM is enclosed in the Syllabus and is also available on our website http://www.nmaf.ca/
4. It is imperative that you indicate performance time to assist us when timetabling. We ask that you include the names of your partners for duets, trios and quartet classes and complete only one entry form. Teachers, parents and competitors are responsible for entering the correct class(es) and listing group entries from school, church, etc.
5. The entry form must be signed by the competitor or by a person authorized to sign on the competitor's behalf. Should the entry form not be complete a call will be made to the teacher or competitor and the entry will be held pending completion.
6. Due to the Privacy Policy, it is understood that all information collected on the entry form and any photographs taken after competition during the Norfolk Musical Arts Festival or at the Festival Highlights Concert will be used for Festival purposes only. By signing the entry form, you are giving permission for the sharing of personal information and/or photographs for the purposes of media, inclusion on the Norfolk Musical Arts Festival website or to retain historical records. All applications will be destroyed at the end of the Norfolk Musical Arts Festival fiscal year.
7. The Timetabling Committee shall decide the order in which the classes will be scheduled. The Timetabling Committee may divide or combine classes at its discretion.
8. Approximately one month prior to the festival, competitors will receive a letter outlining each class, time and place in which the competitor will perform. Competitors must be prepared to perform any day or time during the festival. Your competitor letter is your admission to all venues and disciplines at which you are competing.
ELIGIBILITY
9. Competitors must not enter a class below their current grade/level of study; however, they may enter one class one grade higher than current level of study.
10. The designation solo "Open" class is intended as competition at the Associate level or above (see specific sections). Adults not at a senior level, please see graded or non-competitive classes.
11. All competitions, unless otherwise stated, shall be open to amateurs only. An amateur shall be defined as follows: "Any person whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the profession or practice of the arts, even if he or she from time to time accepts remuneration for services rendered."
12. Conductors may be either amateur or professional, but must not sing with their choral society or choir, or play with their orchestra or band.
13. In all classes in which an age limit is set, competitors must be under the prescribed age limit on the last day of the Festival (March 5, 2010) and must state age on the entry form.
14. A competitor may not participate in more than one duet or ensemble in the same class. This limitation does not apply to accompanists or conductors.
15. Any substitute competitor will receive adjudication only and no mark or award placement will be given. Any such substitutions are not eligible for scholarships or trophies.
TEST PIECES
16. Please read the notes at the beginning of each section. Any special rules applicable to a particular section or class will be deemed to be part of these official rules.
17. Unless otherwise specified, selections in all classes are own choice.
18. Failure to comply with any rule will result in no marks being awarded, although an adjudicator's report will be issued.
19. Competitors are not allowed to repeat repertoire performed at the previous Festival.
20. A competitor may not perform the same selection in more than one class.
21. Repeats may be omitted at the discretion of the entrant. Da Capo and Dal Segno passages are not considered to be repeats and shall be observed.
22. All participants must supply an original copy of their music for the adjudicator and accompanist. Bars should be numbered for the use of the adjudicator. Music selections obtained from the Internet will be accepted only if the original music piece is accompanied by a receipt and notification of payment. It is a violation of the Canadian Copyright Act to copy any portion of music without the authorization from the copyright owner.
23. Competitors' selections are to be given to the hall manager immediately preceding the respective competition and recovered immediately following the competition.
24. Selections must be performed in the prescribed key; transpositions are not allowed unless specified under the class or section.
25. All soloists competing in piano, strings, speech arts, and vocal must memorize their selections. Competitors using music or cue cards will receive an adjudication and a Certificate of Merit, but no mark or award placement will be given.
26. Quick Studies are chosen by the adjudicator and may be picked up by the performer 48 hours prior to performing. Memory is not a requirement. The Festival Secretary will contact you to advise of pick up time and date.
27. In Quick Study and Sight Reading classes, all competitors, prior to performing, are required to leave the room.
28. If accompaniment is used it must be piano or acoustic guitar only.
29. Accompanists
The following have advised that they are available for accompaniment during Festival. Additional accompanists may be available. Please check our website. Please ensure that you contact your accompanist well in advance of your competition. You must provide music for your accompanists, and you should confirm their fee.
The Norfolk Musical Arts Festival presents this list for your reference only. You must make your own arrangements both for the final performance and any/all rehearsals, and for getting repertoire to the accompanists at the earliest date. While we do our best to make a list of professional musicians available to you, we cannot take responsibility for the quality of their performances, nor for their practices, rates, availability, terms, etc. It is up to you to negotiate any and all terms directly with your accompanist. If you contact one accompanist, then book another, please have the courtesy to call the first back and let him/her know that you have made other arrangements, so that they can free the time for someone else.
Heather Chwastiak - 519-428-5660
Marianne Irvin - 519-426-1865
PROGRAM PROCEDURE
30. We kindly ask that competitors wear clothing suitable for concert hall performance when competing and while in attendance at any awards ceremony.
31. A competitor may be disqualified if he or she is not ready to compete when the class is called.
32. Competitors and accompanists should arrive 10 minutes before scheduled time, choirs 20 minutes. Competitors must arrange their own transportation and not rely on school transportation.
33. Competitors must compete in the order indicated in the program; however, the Festival reserves the right to change the order if necessary.
34. There will be no warm-up rooms available at any of the venues with the exception of limited space at St. James United Church for vocal and choral.
35. There will be no practising allowed during the Festival on any pianos used in performances.
36. Competitors must not commence until the adjudicator gives a signal. It is recommended that competitors announce their selection(s).
37. In order to preserve a high standard of performance in each class it shall be necessary for a competitor placing top in the class to achieve at least 80% to be awarded a first place certificate. Similarly, minimum of 75% for second place and 70% for third place certificates are respectively required. Unless these marks are obtained, the awards will be withheld, regardless of the number of entries. THERE WILL BE NO TIES FOR FIRST PLACE.
38. Selected participants chosen by the Board will be asked to perform at the Festival Highlights.
39. The use of all tape recorders, cameras and video cameras during the festival is prohibited.
40. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during competition.
41. Competitions are open to the public upon payment of the admission price at each venue per session. Accompanists will be admitted free with the entrants.
ADJUDICATION
42. Questions, conflicts or problems should be directed to the Hall Manager, not the adjudicator. Competitors, parents and teachers are not permitted to enter into any discussion or correspondence with the adjudicators prior to or during the festival.
43. Adjudicators may not evaluate their own students.
44. Any competitor who performs a selection that is not eligible will receive an adjudication only.
45. The marks awarded by the adjudicator are final.
46. The adjudicator's report will be given to the competitors at the end of each class. The adjudicator will announce only the marks for the top three competitors in each class.
47. Selected competitors, chosen by the adjudicators, will be asked to compete in the Lions and Rotary Cup Competitions.
48. In all matters connected with awards, the decision of the adjudicator shall be final.
49. The Board reserves the right to appoint additional or substitute adjudicators.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND TROPHIES
50. All scholarships and trophies are given at the absolute discretion of the adjudicators and do not necessarily have to be awarded if the required standard of performance is not met.
51. It is required that anyone wishing to qualify for a scholarship perform in two or more competitive solo classes in the same discipline, not including quick study or sight reading.
52. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the competitor's general ability and promise of success as a performer, rather than on the marks attained in any one class.
53. Trophies are awarded to the highest mark.
54. Some scholarships and trophies are not eligible to be won in consecutive years.
55. Winners of scholarships will be announced at the Festival Highlights. In all matters connected with awards, the decision of the adjudicator shall be final.
56. Trophies that are awarded may be held until one month prior to the commencement of the next Festival. Please contact the Festival Secretary at 519-428-9772 to arrange pick up.
