1 Competitions are not open to professionals. The term ‘professional’ is defined as a person earning his/her living in that particular art; the amateur who receives an occasional fee or stipend is therefore eligible to compete. A conductor may be either amateur or professional and is not classed as a performer.
2 Each entry must be made on a separate official entry form and must be accompanied by all fees. They must be fully completed (NB Details of ‘own choice’ test piece(s) MUST be given in full on the entry form, or the entry form will not be accepted) and should be sent to the Entries Secretary, with a large SAE (C5) if a programme is required. Performers will need to consult the official programme for details of the order of classes and performances. Performers may enter only once in each class: in this regulation the term ‘performer’ in relation to choirs, ensembles and duets, refers to the group and not to its individual members.
3 The Committee reserves the right to refuse or accept entries at their discretion. Classes may be cancelled if there are insufficient entries, when fees will be returned. Under no circumstances is the Committee obliged to refund fees. If the number of entries would make a class unduly large, the class may be divided.
4 Age limits are based on the age of the performer on the first of May of the year of the Festival.
5 Adjudicators’ awards and decisions are final. No performer may approach an adjudicator during the session.
6 Where time limits are stated, these will be strictly applied. Any entry which exceeds the time limit will not be marked, though the adjudicator, if he/she wishes, may comment on the performance.
7 The adjudicator will not award marks to any entry for which he/she does not have a copy to refer to during the performance. He/she may or may not be willing to give an adjudication on any such performance.
8 In KEYBOARD CLASSES the use of discs is permissible for the storage of Registration data and sequencing drum patterns. Any other pre-recorded material must be the work of the competitor (not commercial or teacher) Any performance which the adjudicator considers does not conform to this rule will be disqualified.
9 Any protest against infringement of regulations must be made in writing to the Festival Secretary BEFORE the result is announced.
10 Performers should refer to the appropriate note on the back of the entry form in relation to photo-copies. Details of ‘own choice’ test piece(s) MUST be given in full on the entry form, or the entry form will not be accepted. A copy for the adjudicator must be handed to the adjudicator’s steward before the class commences and must be clearly marked with name, address and class number.
11 The draft programme goes to the printer on 1st March each year, and no alterations to own choice items will be accepted unless the Programme Secretary has received written notice of the change before 25th February. Performers failing to give such written notice or offering a different piece on the day of the performance will be adjudicated but not marked. The only exception to this will be in the case of a printing error in the programme.
12 OFFICIAL ACCOMPANISTS On payment of the prescribed fee (not refundable unless the class is cancelled), official accompanists will be provided, except for choir, ensemble and lieder classes, where entrants must provide their own if required. Official accompanists must be requested on the entry form. In classes 73, 74, and 76 where there is an age limit, this also applies to the accompanist. In family ensembles the accompanist must be part of the family group.
Where the official accompanist is required, copies of own choice pieces must be received by Mrs A Needham, 27 Meadow Lane, Coalville LE67 4DN, 01530 459387, not later than 1st April, otherwise the services of the official accompanist will not be available and the entrant must provide his or her own accompanist. Note: Except for pre-festival practice, photocopies are not permissible for the accompanist, who must be provided with a printed copy.
13 OWN ACCOMPANIST Entrants providing their own accompanists must ensure that their accompanist is present in the appropriate venue when their performance is due to begin: otherwise their entry will be withdrawn.
14 Certificates will be awarded to the first three places in each class. Trophies will be awarded to the winners of each class. Certificates and trophies may be withheld if, in the opinion of the adjudicator, the standard is not sufficiently high.
15 All TROPHIES are held for one year and cannot be won outright; they are the property of Coalville Festival of Music. Winners of trophies, or responsible persons, must sign a receipt before taking away the trophy. In accepting a trophy the signatory undertakes to keep it safely and return it in good, clean condition by the date given, to the Trophies Secretary. A trophy may be engraved with the winner’s name and year at his/her expense. If required, this should be done as soon as possible and not left until the end of the year.
16 Youth choirs under 18 years may be accompanied into the festival, free of charge, by up to four adults besides those involved in the performance. All groups must consist of genuine members only.
17 Although every effort will be made to keep to the provisional scheduling of classes, the final order of the programme must depend on the entries received.
18 The decision of the Committee on any matter not covered by these regulations shall be final.