Marlow Music Festival

Affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Speech and Drama

Festival Rules

The organisation and management of the Festival is in the hands of the Executive Committee, whose decision on all matters, except adjudication, is final. Submission of a completed entry form implies acceptance of the rules. Special additional rules relating to each section of the Festival are found in the appropriate section.

 

ELIGIBILITY

1. 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 and choirs and ensembles may have professional conductors. An amateur is defined as someone who does not derive more than out of pocket expenses for teaching and performing.

2. Pupils or ex-pupils of an Adjudicator may not compete in classes examined by that Adjudicator.

3. Age must be stated as at 1st November 2011. In the case of duets, ensembles and groups the age of the oldest performer determines the class.

4. Entrants may perform once only in each class, except in duet, trio or ensemble classes where an entrant may perform more than once provided a different part is performed.

 

ENTRIES

5. The closing date for entries is 7 October. This is an update from 1 October.. Incomplete or late entries, or entries for which the fee is not paid, will not be accepted.

6. On-line entries must be made by the deadline via the relevant pages on the Website. Please ensure that all the relevant boxes are completed, and that information on performer name, composer name, and title and duration of the piece(s) to be performed are all provided in addition to ‘buyer’ details.

7. Postal entry forms may be downloaded from the web site and sent together with a stamped addressed envelope and the appropriate fee to the address given on page 4. An Individual entry form is available for parents/individual entrants. Multiple entry forms are also available for the use of teachers in two formats.

8. The title, composer and performance time for each piece must be stated on the Entry Form.

9. The Entry Fee for each Class is shown in the Syllabus by that Class.

10. Cheques should be made payable to “Marlow Music Festival”.

11. Entry Fees, when received, are not refundable unless the Class is withdrawn.

12. Conditional Entries cannot be accepted.

 

COPYRIGHT AND OTHER LEGAL RESTRICTIONS

13. To comply with the Copyright Act, competitors are reminded that it is illegal to photocopy (or copy by any other means) copyright works without the permission of the copyright holder.

14. When an “Own Choice” piece is selected from a publication containing several different works and is not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of the Adjudicator, which will be destroyed after the event. This permission specifically does not apply to set works.

15. The taking of photographs and the making of sound and/or video recordings during a competition is not permitted both because of Copyright and Child Protection rules and to avoid disturbing performers.

16. The Marlow Music Festival will hold data submitted on the entry form on a computer, solely for the purpose of running the Festival. The data will not be made available or communicated to any third party. However, winners’ names may be published in the local press or on our website. If any individual wishes to opt out of this, they should inform the Chairman before the commencement of the Festival.

17. The Marlow Music Festival is not a child care organisation in the full meaning of the Children’s Act 1999. Parents, guardians and teachers are reminded that the safety of young people and their belongings is their responsibility during the Festival.

 

PERFORMANCE

18. Performers must be available ten minutes before the class is due to start.

19. In all “Own Choice” Classes a separate clean copy of the music must be provided for the Adjudicator. The entrant may supply a photocopy which will be retained by the Festival organiser and destroyed after the event.

20. Any work presented by a performer in previous years may not be presented again at the current Festival; neither can any work be entered in any one year in more than one class.

21. Repeats may be played only in own choice or recital classes as long as the time limit (where specified) is not exceeded.

22. Time limits must be strictly observed. The Adjudicator may penalise anyone who overruns.

23. The Committee has the right to alter the order of performers in a Class and amalgamate Classes on the day for the purposes of adjudication if deemed necessary.

24. 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.

25. Closed Classes are only open to those who have not won a first place on the same instrument in any solo Class in this or any other Festival in the last five years.

26. In non-competitive Classes the Adjudicator’s report will be given with constructive criticisms only and no marks.

27. Performers are responsible for their own arrangements with Accompanists. A list of local accompanists is available on Page 9 and on the web site.

28. Rehearsal is not permitted in the Class venue. A vocal and instrumental warm up room, without a piano, is provided at Court Garden.

 

ADJUDICATION

29. The Adjudicators’ decision on all musical matters of a class is final.

30. Communication with Adjudicators by performers, parents, teachers or other interested parties is forbidden and renders the performer liable to disqualification.

31. Every performance will receive a written adjudication sheet and every performer will receive a Certificate after each Class. The Festival cannot undertake to forward these by post if unclaimed.

32. The Adjudicator may decide to withhold an award if the standard is not sufficiently high.

33. The Festival reserves the right to replace or engage additional Adjudicators, if necessary, and to alter, modify or cancel any arrangements detailed in this Syllabus, if circumstances change.

 

MARKING SYSTEM

34. Festival Classes are not examinations and participants come for enjoyment and to learn from their peers and the Adjudicators.

The Festival adopts the marking system developed by the British and International Federation of Festivals:

90+            OUTSTANDING

An exceptional performance, technically and artistically.

87 – 89      DISTINCTION

An excellent performance, technically and artistically.

84 – 86      COMMENDED

A convincing performance, technically and artistically.

81 – 83      MERIT

A capable performance showing some artistic appreciation

and/or technical ability.

78 - 80       MODERATE

A performance showing development of technique and/or communication.

75 - 77       FAIR

A performance limited in its communication.

 

35. Medals may be awarded for first, second and third places, at the discretion of the Adjudicator. Gold medals may only be awarded for first place when a mark of 87 or more is achieved.

36. Trophies will be awarded at the discretion of the Adjudicator. All trophies awarded during the Festival will be presented at the Festival Concert.

37. Cups and Trophies are held for one year and remain the property of the Festival. They must be carefully preserved, cleaned and returned, not later than the first day of the next Festival, to Mrs Rachel Bartlett (01628 891507). Winners of trophies are responsible for the cost if they wish to have their names inscribed, in similar size and style to existing engraving. This must be done by a professional engraver. Damage or loss must be made good by the holder.

 

NOTIFICATION

38. Notification will be forwarded to each competitor or teacher by email, or by post if a stamped addressed envelope is supplied. If notification has not been received by 30th October please contact the Festival Chairman or consult the web site for information on class times.

39. Performers must accept the times and dates allocated to them by the Festival Chairman.

 

FESTIVAL CONCERT

40. Those invited by the Festival Committee are required to perform in the Festival Concert on Thursday, 17th November, 2011.

 

ADMISSION TO CLASSES

41. 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 CHARGES

Per session (morning, afternoon or evening) £1.00;

Children under 12 and OAPs £0.50

Per day £2.00; Children under 12 and OAPs  £1.00

Season ticket for all classes £5.00;

Children under 12 and OAPs £3.00

 

SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

42. Any suggestions, comments or complaints about the Festival should be submitted in writing to the Festival Chairman.