Marlow Music Festival

Incorporating Computers in Personnel International Concerto Competition

Music Festival Information

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 application form implies acceptance of the rules.

SPECIAL ADDITIONAL RULES RELATING TO EACH SECTION OF THE FESTIVAL ARE FOUND IN THE APPROPRIATE SECTION.

1         ENTRIES

Entries must be made on the official entry forms and sent with the appropriate fee to the Entry Secretary to arrive by the closing date (see below).  A separate form must be used for each class.  Cheques should be made payable to Marlow Music Festival. Fees will only be refunded when a class is cancelled by the Committee.  The Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry without assigning a reason.

2         CLOSING DATE

Wednesday 1st October 2008.  Incomplete or late entries, or entries for which the fee is not paid, 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 and choirs and ensembles may have professional conductors.  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 festival.  A choir or ensemble may be classed as amateur only if all members are amateur.  Pupils, or ex-pupils of an Adjudicator may not compete in classes examined by that Adjudicator.  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.

4         AGE

The age of performers shall be taken as at 1st November 2008.  The age of the eldest performer in a group or ensemble determines the age group in which they will perform.

5         SET PIECES

Set pieces must be performed from the edition specified.

6         OWN CHOICE PIECES

Title, 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 two weeks before the start of the Festival.

7         REPERTOIRE

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. 

8         ADJUDICATOR’S COPY

A copy of own choice music must be provided for the use of the Adjudicator on the day of the Festival.  The entrant may supply a photocopy which will be retained by the Festival organiser and destroyed after the event.

9         COPYRIGHT

The Festival is bound by Copyright Law and therefore, the use of any type of recording equipment, including photography, audio tape/CD recorders and video cameras during the Festival is strictly forbidden.

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 festival and/or the Adjudicator may refuse to allow performers to use photocopied items where proof of ownership of the original or permission to copy cannot be provided.  When an own choice work 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, provided that the performer already has his/her own copy. This permission specifically does not apply to set works.

10       TIME LIMIT

In all classes performers are timed from the first note of the presented piece and may be penalised if they exceed the time limit.

11       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, and for purposes of awards may be merged or treated individually. If a class is oversubscribed acceptances will be on a first come, first served basis.

12       SIZE OF GROUPS

Unless stated to the contrary for any specific class, an Ensemble must have no more than 10 players.

13       CLOSED CLASSES

These classes are open only to those who have not won a first prize on the same instrument in any solo class in this or any other Festival in the last five years.

14       NON-COMPETITIVE CLASSES

An Adjudicator’s report will be given with constructive criticisms only and no marks. These classes are included to give Practical Assessment Candidates preparing for GCSE and A Level examinations a performance platform and young performers an opportunity to gain experience.

15       NOTIFICATION

Notification of the dates and times of classes will be forwarded to each performer (or Teacher). If such notification is not received by 26th October 2008, immediate enquiries should be made to the Festival Entry Secretary.

16       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.

17       AWARDS

(a)       The Festival adopts the marking/category system developed by the British and International Federation of Festivals. The Adjudicator gives a mark for each performance (except in non-competitive classes) and certificates are awarded in the following  categories:

· 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.

((b) Medals may be awarded for first, second and third places, at the discretion of the Adjudicator.  Gold medals may only be awarded for 1st place when a mark of 87 or more is achieved.

(c) Trophies will be awarded at the discretion of the Adjudicator. All trophies awarded during the festival will be presented at the Festival Concert.

(d) All Trophies are Challenge Trophies held for one year and remain the property of the Festival. They must be carefully preserved and returned, not later than the first day of the next Festival, to the Festival Trophies Secretary. Winners of trophies are responsible for the cost if they wish to have their names inscribed, in similar size and style to existing engraving. Damage or loss must be made good by the holder.

18       REPORTS

The Adjudicator writes a report about each performance.  Report Sheets and Certificates will be available by the entrance to the venue at the end of each class.  Performers who do not or are unable to collect these should arrange for them to be collected either by someone else or at a later time.  We will retain them but are not able to post them.

19       FESTIVAL CONCERT

Those invited are required to perform at the Festival Concert.

20       ADJUDICATORS

In all sections Adjudicators’ decisions are final.  Communication with Adjudicators by performers or other interested parties is forbidden.  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.

21       ACCOMPANISTS

Performers are responsible for their own arrangements with accompanists.  A list of local accompanists is available below and on the web site.  Accompanists must have a copy of music in good time before the performance.

22       REHEARSAL

Rehearsal is not permitted in the class venue.  A vocal and instrumental warm up room without a piano is provided at Court Garden and Royal Grammar School. 

23       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 CHARGES        

Adults and Children over 12    

Per session (morning/afternoon/evening)      £1.00  

Per day                                                                £1.50  

Season ticket for all classes                             £5.00  

 

Children under 12  and OAPs

Per session (morning/afternoon/evening)      £0.50

Per day                                                                £0.75

Season ticket for all classes                             £2.50

 

Admission to the Festival Concert costs £5 (£2.50 concessions). 

 

24       LIABILITY

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

or equipment.