Rules and Regulations Fest 2012

Management Program Procedures
Eligibilty Awards and Trophies
Test Pieces Scholarships/Awards
Entries Competitive Classes
Complaints and Protests

Notices

Entry Form Music
Programs Admission
General Guidelines for Choirs, Bands and Orchestras

Management

  1. The competitions shall be under the management of The Board of Directors of The Kiwanis Music Festival of London Inc. hereafter called "The Board".

  2. All matters not dealt with in these rules shall be submitted to "The Board" whose decisions on such matters shall be final and binding on all concerned.

Eligibility

  1. All competitions shall be open to non-professionals only. For the purpose of these competitions, a non-professional shall be defined as: "any person whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the professional practice or teaching of music, even though he/she may from time to time accept remuneration for musical services rendered."

  2. Where age limits are specified, competitors must be of the prescribed age on the first day of January in the year of the festival to be entered.

  3. University music performance majors must only enter classes at the open level.

  4. Competitors may enter as many classes as they wish, providing that age restrictions are strictly observed.

  5. Competitors may not appear more than once in any one class. (i.e. perform as a part in two duets or ensembles in the same class). This rule does not apply to accompanists or conductors.

  6. Competitors in choral groups, bands and orchestras must be bona fide members of their respective organizations and where applicable must be enrolled as students in the school represented.

  7. Conductors may be either professional or non-professional, and may conduct any number of organizations in the same class or otherwise. Conductors/coaches must not sing with their choral groups, or play with their band, orchestra, or ensemble.

Test Pieces

  1. "The Board" recommends that test pieces in all solo classes be played or sung from memory. This will give the impression of superior preparation and provide a more polished performance. However all competitors must perform solo pieces by memory in Open Classes and Rose Bowl Competition.

  2. Individual performers and ensembles must provide their own music stands. Conductors of large ensembles would be wise to check with "The Board".

  3. All competitors selected to represent our festival at the Provincial Finals will be required to perform from memory as required by the provincial rules.

  4. All test pieces in solo classes must be performed in the prescribed key except where stated. In vocal classes where candidates are 20 years and under, the keys may be transposed up or down one tone, provided the adjudicator is advised before the class begins. However, in classes where any standard editions are used, only the printed key may be used. Folk songs and Broadway songs may be performed in any key suitable to the candidate's vocal range.

  5. Choral and vocal numbers may be sung in either the original language or English, as long as the adjudicator is advised before the start of the class.

  6. On the entry form the class number, title, composer, and playing time must be indicated for all OWN CHOICE selections to ensure processing. Playing times are crucial for scheduling.

  7. Competitors must not exceed the time limit stated in the syllabus. The adjudicator may stop any competitor who exceeds such limit.

  8. In ALL classes, the competitor must provide a copy of the music (conductor's score where applicable) for the adjudicator's use. This will be given to the adjudicator's secretary immediately preceding the respective competition and received from the secretary immediately following the competition.

  9. For bands in Section 93, two copies of the conductor's score must be provided by the competitor for the two adjudicators.

  10. A piece that has been selected as a test piece may be used only in that class.

  11. A competitor may not perform the same test piece in more than one class at the same festival.

Entries

 

  1. Each contestant must submit a separate entry form for each class entered. We suggest filling in common information on the entry form, then making photocopies, before completing the different information. Correct spelling of the teacher's name, address and phone number and accompanist, if any, is also important.
    HOWEVER, IF YOU MAKE AN ELECTRONIC ENTRY, ONE OR MORE CLASSES FOR AN ENTRANT MAY BE SUBMITTED ON THE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION ENTRY FORM.

  2. All entries must be completely filled in, on the prescribed form, accompanied by the entry fee and received on or before the entry closing date. The conductor or other qualified official, may sign on behalf of the choral group, band, orchestra or ensemble. In small ensembles (duets, trios) only one form is required showing names and addresses, and only one admission form will be mailed in return.
    N.B. Privacy Legislation requires a signature in the shaded area on the Entry Form.

  3. Entry fees will not be refunded, except where the entry is rejected by "The Board". Competitors desiring to withdraw their entry should contact the Festival Office as early as possible. Failure to participate in all classes entered and programmed will influence the awarding of Awards.

  4. Entries must reach the festival office on or before Saturday, December 3, 2011. Forms that are illegible or incomplete will be returned to the applicant. An additional processing fee of $5.00 will be charged. Payment must accompany changes and be resubmitted by the date specified. N.S.F. cheques will incur a $15.00 fee. Mail early. Entry fees will not be refunded, except where the entry is rejected by "The Board". Competitors desiring to withdraw their entry should contact the Festival Office as early as possible. Failure to participate in all classes entered and programmed will influence the awarding of Awards.

Program Procedures

  1. A competitor's Admission Form showing the date(s) and time(s) of the entrant's competitions will be sent to every competitor in care of your teacher. This form serves two functions:

  • * it serves as the admission ticket for the competitor and their accompanist, ONLY!

  • * it notifies the contestant of possible conflicts, and provides them the time to notify the festival office to seek a solution.

  1. Each Competitor Must Supply His/Her Own Accompanist.

  2. A competitor may be disqualified if he/she is not ready to compete within 10 minutes of being called. A class will not be delayed to accommodate latecomers, but the adjudicator's secretary may change the order of performance in a class to accommodate those who have been competing at other locations.

  3. A chord may be given on the piano at the beginning of each piece of unaccompanied music.

  4. At the discretion of the adjudicator, two or more competitors awarded the highest marks in their class may be selected to compete in a final test.

  5. "The Board" may split any class into two or more groups of approximately equal numbers. Awards and certificates will be issued for each group as a separate class. However, for Special Trophy Classes, the competitor with the highest mark (and ties) only will compete in the trophy class.

  6. "The Board" reserves the right to appoint additional or substitute adjudicators.

Awards and Trophies

  1. All competitors in Elementary and Secondary school ensembles of TWO or more, soloists in first, second and third year of playing and soloists in the school section, defined by school grade level, will be judged against an international standard, rather than compete against the other participants in the class.

Gold, Silver Bronze and Merit Awards will be given, rather than first, second and third certificates. There could be several gold, silver, bronze or merit awards, or none, presented in each category, as the level of each group is recognized independent from the level of competition on that particular day.
  1. In non-competitive classes each contestant will receive a certificate of participation to recognize their achievement in the festival.

  2. Awards will be presented in accordance with the following minimum marks:

Competitive Classes

 
  • 1st place certificate - minimum 80 marks 2nd place certificate - minimum 77 marks
  • 3rd place certificate - minimum 75 marks
SPECIAL SCHOOLS SECTION - World Standard
Criteria for Gold, Silver, Bronze & Merit Certicates

Criteria for Gold, Silver, Bronze & Merit Certificates - It is important to notice that the awards in this section are related to an external standard, reflecting the accomplishments of all groups at their particular level of development. An award does not represent a comparison between the groups that are present in any one particular class in this festival.

* Gold Award - Outstanding musically and technically
This award recognizes a performance that is well prepared and musical, with some aspect of the performance that elevates it beyond mere technical mastery of the selection. It should be a memorable event in the artistic life of both the audience and performer, recognizing the developmental level of the group and the repertoire.
* Silver Award - Strong performance, technically solid
This award recognizes a performance that is technically well prepared, with few minor flaws. It reflects a solid performance that demonstrates mastery of the technique, with a basic understanding of the musical materials contained in the selection, recognizing the developmental level of the group and the repertoire.
* Bronze Award - Good performance, few noticeable flaws
This award recognizes a performance that has a solid technical foundation with few major deficiencies in technique or musicianship, recognizing the developmental level of the group and the repertoire.
* Merit Award - Some noticeable difficulties


This award recognizes a performance that demonstrates a basic level of technical preparation, with a sense of preparation and technical development, recognizing the developmental level of the group and the repertoire.

In trophy competitions within the schools sections, the adjudicator will award the trophy to the “Best in Class” for that class. The trophies will be presented during the Stars of the Festival Concert, Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Centennial Hall. 550 Wellington Street, London.

  1. Each competitor will receive the adjudicator's written report at the end of his/her oral comments to the class.

    Certificates will be presented to winners immediately following the oral adjudication of each class. Only one of each of the above certificates will be issued to competitors in any one class except where tied marks have been awarded by the adjudicator. Certificates will be withheld if the above mark standards have not been met.

    Competitors in the Solo Trophy Classes will be required to pay a $10.00 cash entry fee just prior to the beginning of the class.

    Trophies and plaques are the property of The Kiwanis Music Festival of London Inc. They will be awarded for specific classes, throughout this syllabus. In trophy competitions within the schools section, after adjudications and awards have been given, the adjudicator will declare the "Best in Class" for that class. The Trophy will be awarded during Stars of the Festival Awards Concert, Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Centennial Hall. Presentation to a winning individual/group will be acknowledged by a receipt signed by the individual or by a responsible representative (i.e. the conductor) of the group. Trophies and plaques will be held by the winners until one month prior to the next festival, and no longer than 12 months in all.

  2. The winner of a trophy or plaque shall be responsible for the cost of an appropriate shield, its engraving and mounting on the trophy or plaque, and shall be responsible for repairs in the event of damage while the trophy or plaque is in their care.

Awards

 

  1. Awards will be made in accordance with the Official Scholarship List, subject to revision at the discretion of "The Board".

    Adjudicators will recommend awarding Awards to those who compete successfully in several classes.

    Awards are presented to competitors who, in the opinion of the adjudicators, show the most potential for future musical development.

    Awards are not necessarily awarded to class winners and will not be awarded to groups.

    Award payments will be made by cheque directly to the Award winners.

    All Awards are presented at the absolute discretion of the adjudicators and "The Board".

  2. A competitor will be eligible for only ONE Award per discipline in each festival, except for the Special Competitions.



Complaints and Protests

All teachers, parents and students are forbidden from approaching any adjudicator at any time during or following the festival with the intent to debate an outcome or an award.  Anyone violating this directive will be removed from the class and forbidden from attending any other classes for the duration of the festival.  All complaints must be submitted in writing to “The Board” which will deal with the complaint.  All decisions by “The Board” will be final and not open to further debate.  It must be accepted that the appeal of the festival is found in the “spirit” of the event and not necessarily the detailed analysis of all outcomes.  Award choices by adjudicators can be motivated by potential and a perceived need for encouragement and not necessarily on marks and placements alone.  There must be a place for the subjective in the arts.

  1. Decisions of the adjudicator are final.

  2. Any complaint or protest must be made in writing, during the festival, to "The Board".

  3. Competitors are not permitted to discuss the adjudicator's comments unless invited to do so by the adjudicator.

  4. Failure to comply with the rules and regulations shall disqualify the competitor.

  5. At the discretion of "The Board", any competitor may be invited to perform at a concert without remuneration or payment for incidental expenses.

NOTICES

Entry Form

An official entry form is included in each copy of the printed Festival Syllabus. You will note that a separate entry form must be used for each class entered. You can photocopy the blank Entry Form. Additional Entry Forms are available at Belle Air Music stores and Walters Music or by calling the Festival Secretary at 519- 432-5183. Please ensure that all details on the entry form are correct and complete prior to mailing. Keep a copy of your entry/s for your records.

An electronic Entry Form is available online. Online entries close Saturday, December 3, 2011.
Print and sign the electronic registration form. Mail it, along with your cheque or money order postmarked no later than December 10, 2011. COMPETITORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENTERING THE CORRECT CLASS(ES).

Programs

Programs may be purchased in advance by checking the appropriate box on the Entry Form and enclosing the prepayment fee. A prepayment voucher will be enclosed with the admission form received by all competitors. This voucher can be presented at Belle Air Music (now Long & McQuade), 364 Richmond Streetand and Masonville Plaza, OR at Walters Music Centres, Masonville Place, Entrance #5, lower level, in London, Ontario, in exchange for the program(s). Programs will also be sold during the Festival at each hall location.

Music

When ordering music, please allow at least 6-8 weeks for delivery, as music is frequently out of stock and may need to be specially ordered. It is unlawful to copy any portion of music or text without authorization from the copyright holder. To do so is a violation of the Canadian Copyright Act. It is unfair to deny the author/composer just recompense for work that may represent years of effort. Please refrain from the use of copied music, as it will result in disqualification.

General Guidelines for Choirs, Bands and Orchestras

 

  1. The conductor or delegated member of the teaching staff must be directly responsible for their students from the time of arrival to departure.

    A room will be assigned to each choir, band or orchestra for warm-up practice. Adult supervision must be present at all times when students are in the warm-up rooms.

    After the warm-up session, choirs, bands or orchestras will proceed to an assigned area in the concert hall.

    Students are expected to stay in the concert hall with their group until their class has been adjudicated and dismissed.

    Students may not travel back and forth between practice rooms and the concert hall.

  2. Bands and Orchestras
    The host school will automatically provide the following heavy percussion equipment - three tympani and one bass drum. Further equipment may be provided UPON EARLIER REQUEST to Mark Enns at Saunders Secondary School (519-452-2770) such as additional tympani (up to 7), chimes, gong, and mallett keyboards. Beyond that, all participating schools MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT such as: snare drums, all cymbals, all sticks, small specialty equiment, etc. RISERS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.

Admission

A special series of evening competitions will be held, featuring the most advanced Bands, Orchestras and Choirs, as well as the Kiwanis Music Festival of London Piano Competition, and the Rose Bowl Competition for soloists.

Admission: is $3.00 cash (debit and credit card facility not available), for each event
OR
$10.00 for a FESTIVAL V.I.P. PASS for admission to all events during the Festival.

(The V.I.P. Pass does not include admission to the Stars of the Festival Concert, May 23 2012.)

Children 12 years and under are admitted at no charge.


VIDEOS, FLASH CAMERAS, INTERVIEWS
RECORDING DEVICES:
 Due to the privacy act:
. photography or recording of any kind,  using any type of camera or other eletronic  equipment, is not permitted during performances.
. no video or audio recording of adjudicator's remarks
. failure to comply with the above rule will result in the person being asked to leave the session immediately


Entry fees cover approximately HALF of the costs of producing this Festival. The remainder must be covered by donations, admission fees, program and advertising sales. Volunteers handle all of the activities. We ask that you join with our volunteers, through these event fees, in making the festival possible for the youth of our city.  

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Awards, Trophies and most Cash Prizes are awarded based on adjudicators' recommendations

- School Trophies are awarded in designated classes during the festival.
- In absence of specific marks for school classes (gold, silver, bronze certificates) the adjudicator(s) declare "Best in the Class" to award the trophy for designated Secondary School classes.

- Solo Trophies are available to first place winners of classes listed with the letter "T" in the Syllabus i.e. T2436, T3601. Solo Trophies are awarded during the festival to performers at the end of each solo trophy class.

- Trophies for categories (i.e. best choir, band, piano duet, string ensemble etc.) are awarded after the festival.

- Gold Prizes - Class numbers listed with the letter "P" in the syllabus are specifically designed for school competitions. (i.e., P8202).

- Participation awards must be applied for by School Music programs based on a point system.
See Entry Info, click on Participation Awards.