Marlow Music Festival

Incorporating Computers in Personnel International Concerto Competition

Concerto Competition Information

The Competition is organised and managed by the Marlow Music Festival Executive Committee, whose decision on all matters except adjudication is final. Submission of a completed entry form implies acceptance of the rules.

1. ENTRIES: Entries must be made on the official entry form and sent with the appropriate fee to the Entry Secretary, Locksley House, High Street, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 5LT, UK to arrive by the closing date. A separate form must be used for each class if more than one is entered. Cheques should be made payable to Marlow Music Festival.

Alternatively entries may be made via the web site in which case the entry fee must be received by the Entry Secretary on or before 5 February 2008. Fees will only be refunded when a class is cancelled by the Committee. The Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry.

2. CLOSING DATE: 31 January 2008 OR EARLIER IF CLASS CAPACITY IS EXCEEDED. Incomplete or late entries will not be accepted. Early submission of entries will be much appreciated and is strongly recommended in order to secure acceptance.

3. ELIGIBILITY: Professionals may enter only the Open Classes, which have no age or status restrictions. All other classes are open to amateur performers only but professional accompanists may be used. An amateur is someone who does not derive his/her livelihood from the branch of performance, defined by the class title, in which he/she seeks to enter the competition. Pupils, or ex-pupils of an Adjudicator may not compete in classes examined by that Adjudicator.

4. AGE: The age of performers shall be taken as at 31 August 2008.

5. CHOICE OF PIECES: Subject to the time limit for each performance in the class, one or more movements from any concerto for soloist(s) and orchestra may be chosen. Prize-winners may exceptionally be requested to perform a different concerto with the orchestra if the orchestration of the chosen piece is beyond the scale of a chamber orchestra.

Title, movement(s), composer and approximate timing of each piece must be submitted on the entry form. Programme changes may be made at the discretion of the Entry Secretary if notified not later than 24 March 2008.

6. REPERTOIRE: The same work cannot be presented by any performer in consecutive years, neither can any work be entered in any one year in more than one class.

7. COPYRIGHT: Performers are reminded that it is illegal to photocopy (or copy by any other means) works which are copyright, without the permission of the copyright holder. The Committee and/or Adjudicators may refuse to allow performers to use photocopied items where proof of ownership of the original or permission to copy cannot be provided.

8. CLASSES: In the case of large numbers of entries in a class, the Committee reserves the right to divide the class.

Each part will then be treated as a separate class for the purposes of awards. Likewise very small classes may be adjudicated together, but for purposes of awards will be treated individually. If a class is oversubscribed acceptances will be on a first come, first served basis.

9. NOTIFICATION: Notification of the times of classes will be forwarded to each performer (and/or teacher). If such notification is not received by 1 March 2008, immediate enquiries should be made to the Concerto Entry Secretary.

10. ATTENDANCE: Performers must be in the hall ten minutes before the class is due to start. However, any absent performer will be called again at the conclusion of the class prior to the adjudication. Only in extenuating circumstances and at the Committee’s discretion will adjudication be delayed owing to the absence of performers.

11. AWARDS:

(a) The Festival adopts the category system developed by the British and International Federation of Festivals.

Certificates are awarded in the following categories: Outstanding, Distinction, Commended, Merit, Moderate and Fair

(b) Medals may be awarded for first, second and third places in each class, at the discretion of the Adjudicators. Gold medals may only be awarded for 1st place when a category of Distinction or Outstanding is achieved.

(c) A cash prize of £250 and The Computers in Personnel Piano, Strings or Wind Trophy will be awarded to the person who, in the view of the Adjudicators, gives the best overall performance from any concerto class within each of the three sections – Piano, Strings and Wind. The Computers in Personnel Trophies and cash prizes will be presented at the prize-winners’ concert in Cadogan Hall, London on 1st July 2008.

(d) The Computers in Personnel Trophies may be kept by the prize-winners.

12. REPORTS: Report Sheets and Certificates will be given to performers at the end of each class. Performers who are unable to remain to collect their report sheets and want them to be posted, may apply to the Entry Secretary - +44 (0)1628 821023 - together with a fee of £0.50 to cover costs.

13. CONCERT: Except where an alternative concerto is requested (see Rule 5 above), each prize-winner will be required to perform the piece for which the prize was awarded with Southbank Sinfonia in its concert at Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, London SW1 on 1st July 2008.

14. ADJUDICATORS: In all classes the Adjudicators’ decision is final. Communication with the Adjudicators by performers or other interested parties is forbidden until the adjudication has been given. Any breach of this rule renders a performer liable to disqualification. The Committee has the right to decide any question or dispute which may arise. Their decision is final on all matters other than adjudication. Any complaint or representation must be made in writing to the Chairman at Locksley House, High Street, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 5LT, UK.

15. ACCOMPANISTS: Performers are responsible for their own arrangements with accompanists. A list of local accompanists will be available on the web site or from the Entry Secretary. Accompanists must have a copy of the music in good time before the performance.

16. REHEARSAL: Rehearsals are not permitted in the Archer Recital Hall. Warm up rooms, one of which has two pianos, are provided nearby.

17. ADMISSION: Performers and performers’ accompanists will be admitted free. The public will be admitted to all classes but will not be allowed to enter or leave during a performance. Audience admission will be by programme price £2

18. LIABILITY: The Committee is not responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings or equipment.

Competition Rules