The Suffolk Festival of Music, Dance and Speech.

Festival Rules

Festival Rules

A.         Your entry

1.                   To be valid the official entry form containing the required information together with the appropriate fee must be received by the Entries Secretary by the closing date. Invalid entries will be returned for completion or correction. Email entries will not be valid unless the fee is received by the Entries Secretary by the closing date.

2.                   Entry fees are not refundable unless the entry is rejected by the Entries Secretary in consultation with the Chairman. Any entry may be rejected without assigning a reason. Entries received after the closing date will only be accepted at the discretion of the Entries Secretary. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the advertised programme, the Festival reserves the right to make modifications.

3.                   i)     A stamped addressed envelope (SAE) enclosed with your application will ensure you receive confirmation of entry details within two weeks.

            ii)     Your SAE will also be used to return incomplete or incorrect entry forms for completion and resubmission

            iii)    Senders of incomplete entries received on the closing date will be contacted by telephone and given one week to comply.

4.                   A month before the Festival you will be sent a notification showing your class times, place of performance and, if you have requested one, the name and address of your official accompanist.

5.                   You may not enter more than once in the same class unless you perform on different instruments or in a group class with different partners. In any event you may not perform more than twice. The same piece may not be performed in more than one class.

6.                   Eligibility: Professionals (those whose main income is from teaching or performing in the relative discipline) and “Experienced performers” (Anyone over 21 sufficiently experienced to have been asked to perform as a soloist in a major work, for a society with more than 50 performers. Please consult the entries secretary if you need clarification on this) may only enter classes marked as Open, except for Adult Vocalists. Adult Vocalists may enter any adult vocal class, placing an X after the class number if they are “Professional”, “Experienced” or have already won the Vocal Championship. Their marks will then go towards the Open Championship. Adult Vocal Class Cups and awards will only go to Experienced Vocalists if no others in the class receive commended or above.

7.                   The qualifying age for entrants will be calculated as on 1^st October.

8.                   No member of the committee may enter a class on a competitive basis. No one who is or was a pupil of an adjudicator may enter a class judged by that adjudicator without the consent of the Entries Secretary to whom full disclosure of that connection has been made.

B.         Own Choice and Set Pieces

1.                   Own choice music must be stated on the entry form.

            i)        Any changes must be notified in writing to the Entries Secretary by 1^st October.

            ii)       Changes made after 20 August will not appear in the Programme

            iii)      Changes made after 15 September will not be on the Adjudication sheets.

2.                   You must provide a copy of what you are performing for the adjudicator, unless it is a specified edition of a set piece. No responsibility is accepted for loss or damage to originals, which should be collected immediately following the class adjudication.

3.                   Time Limits: You must observe all relevant time limits for performances and other rules set out in the syllabus for the relevant class. Entrants should note that spoken introductions must be included within the quoted timings. If you do not keep to the time limit you may be stopped and may not be placed. Repeats should not be played unless otherwise stated in the syllabus.

4.                   Duplication: Performing the same piece twice is not allowed. Different classes require different pieces.

5.                   Two contrasting movements from one work eg. A prelude and a fugue may be counted as one piece.

C.         Accompanists

1.         We strongly recommend you use our official accompanists, but you may, of course, bring your own accompanist. We do not allow you to use a recording

2.         If you have asked for the official accompanist you must send your own choice music to them as soon as you receive your notification.

3.         No provision will be made for rehearsal with the official accompanist on the days of the festival. Any prior rehearsal should have been arranged direct with him/her at least one month before the commencement of the Festival and the appropriate fee paid. Rehearsal Fee: Ł12.50 per ˝ hr session

D.         Adjudication and Awards

1.                   The conduct of classes is the responsibility of the adjudicator’s clerk, whose decision will be final, including any decision to exclude any participant, spectator or cancel any class. At the sole discretion of the adjudicator’s clerk the order of the performances may be altered.

2.                   The adjudicator will provide written comments for every performance and a Festival certificate.

3.                   The adjudicator’s decision as to marking, placings and the award or otherwise of any cup, certificate, medal or other prize will be final. Debate with the adjudicator about the outcome of any class or performance is not permitted.

4.                   The adjudicator will assign marks and/or categories as follows:

90-100 Outstanding: An exceptional performance, both 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.

5.                   The adjudicator may stop a performance when the time allotted has expired, or may ask for a piece or part of a piece to be performed a second time.

6.                   The adjudicator may refuse to mark a competitor who has entered a graded class, which in the adjudicator’s opinion is well below the performer’s actual standard.

7.                   Grades: Some music classes are for certain grades. If you have passed the grade concerned at the date you send in your entry, or you or your teacher think you are that good, please don’t enter a lower graded class. If, between entering and performing you gain a higher grade, that’s fine - we ignore this upgrade.

E.         Trophies

1.         Medals, which are awarded to the winner of the children’s classes, may be retained.

2.         Cups, or other trophies which are awarded, may only be retained until the next Festival. The recipient must sign a receipt for the relevant trophy and agree to keep it safe and return it in good condition by 31^st August the following year.

3.         The recipient is to pay for any loss or damage caused to trophies whilst in his/her possession or in transit.

4.         Cup Winners may have their names engraved on trophies in keeping with any existing engraving at their own expense.

F.         General

1.                   The Festival will have the necessary copyright performance permissions provided that the identity of any work to be performed has been provided in advance, and that the piece has not been re-arranged without the composer/author’s consent. Photocopies may be used for adjudicator’s copies only.

2.                   All music set pieces are in print and available from Music World, Ipswich. If you have difficulty obtaining speech set pieces, please contact Jane de Beer.

3.                   The Festival committee may appoint an additional or replacement adjudicator.

4.                   An entry charge will be made for any persons attending the festival who are not performers or teachers or accompanists of performers for that session. Any steward appointed by the committee for the session has the right to refuse entry.

5.                   The Festival does not accept any liability for loss of or damage to instruments or personal property.

6.                   The decision of the committee on any matters not covered in these rules is final. During the festival any such decision can be made by the Chairman or appointed deputy after consultation with other members of the committee if possible.

7.                  Because of copyright and child protection considerations, it is regretted that recording or photography are prohibited at all times. The Festival’s official photographer may be in attendance and any performer not wishing to be photographed should inform the clerk or photographer beforehand.

8.                   Questions?    If you have any questions, require further information or would like to contact a member of the Committee please visit our website at www.suffolk-festival.org.uk, where you will find answers to Frequently Asked Questions together with contact details.