Festival Rules
Class Rules
Festival rules for classes 2024
Piano
Classes 1 to 4: copies for adjudicators will be provided by the festival.
Classes 5 to 18: please bring a copy for the adjudicator on the day of performance clearly marked with your name and the place of the piece if in a volume. You may not play the same piece in more than one class in the festival unless a final.
Instrumental
Classes 19 to 36: All classes are own choice pieces. Please indicate on the entry form whether or not you require a festival accompanist. Where a festival accompanist is required please send full details of the piece and the instrument and a clearly legible hard copy of the accompaniment to Richard Buxton 34 Fir Road Huddersfield HD1 4JE telephone 01484 301291 Email [email protected] by no later than Friday December 8 2023. You must bring a further copy of the music for the adjudicator on the day marked clearly with your name and the place of the piece if in a volume. You may not play the same piece in more than one class in the festival unless a final. Ensemble groups must enter the ensemble name as the performer and state the number in the group. Groups must provide their own equipment except for music stands which the festival will provide. Large groups (over 10 players) are permitted one professional player to play within the group .
Young Voices
Classes 37 to 63: in the musical theatre and Disney classes the piece must be sung as a concert item i.e. without costume, props or choreography. The festival accompanist will be provided for all entrant but if you wish to bring your own accompanist please let us know. Please send full details of the piece and a clearly legible hard copy of the accompaniment to Richard Buxton 34 Fir Road Huddersfield HD1 4JE Telephone 01484 301291 Email [email protected] by no later than Friday December 8 2023. You must bring a further copy of the music for the adjudicator on the day marked clearly with your name and the place of the piece if in a volume.
Adult Voices
Classes 64 to 80: all classes are own choice pieces and are open to all those in the qualifying age group. In the musical theatre and Disney classes the piece must be sung as a concert item i.e. without costume, props or choreography. The festival accompanist will be provided for all entrants but if you wish to bring your own accompanist please let us know. Please send full details of the piece and a clearly legible hard copy of the accompaniment to Richard Buxton 34 Fir Road Huddersfield HD1 4JE Telephone 01484 301291 email [email protected] by no later than Friday December 8 2023 You must bring a further copy of the music for the adjudicator on the day marked clearly with your name and the place of the piece if in a volume.
Choirs
Classes 81 to 97: all classes are own choice pieces and are open to all those in the qualifying age group. Junior and young people’s choirs are defined by school year group. In adult/mixed age choirs at least 50% of the choir must be aged 17 and over. You may not sing the same piece in more than one class in the festival unless a final. You must bring a further copy of the music for the adjudicator on the day marked clearly with the choir’s name and the place of the piece if in a volume.
Speech and Drama
Classes 98 to 103: you must bring a copy of own choice pieces for the adjudicator on the day marked clearly with your name and the place of the piece if in a volume.
Classes 104 to 106: extracts must be read from a book, not paper or card
A short introduction is expected. Extracts must be completed within the maximum time allowed. Own choice copies for the adjudicator must be brought to the Festival with the title of the book and its writer provided.
Classes 110 to 116: The drama classes will be held in the main hall using the stage. The audience and adjudicator will sit on the risers. This will offer a raked, semi-circular seating area around the performance space. This setting will enhance performance opportunities within a large hall. Own choice copies for the adjudicator must be brought to the festival. All scripts must be clearly legible, unmarked and of suitable content to cause no offence to a mixed audience which may include children. The performer must not change the words or gender of the character. All acting to be performed from memory. Costumes should not be worn but small hand props/small items can be used. A short introduction to the piece should be provided for the audience but this will not be included in the time allowed. The suitability of the monologue or speech from a play will be taken into account by the adjudicator. Mime: no costume or ‘hand props’ are allowed. Table and chairs will be provided. Shoes, if worn, must have soft soles. Sound effects or music may accompany the mime offstage, but equipment must be provided by the entrant.
Classes 117 to 127: Speech and Drama - OPEN classes (all ages) A copy of own choice pieces must be brought for the adjudicator on the day.
Other Festival Rules
1) Amateur Status
A) The Festival is for amateur performers only
i) An amateur is considered to be one who does not derive part of their livelihood from the branch of performance defined by the class title, nor is an Equity card holder. Teachers of the defined discipline of the class are classed as professional
ii) Junior Equity card holders under 18 years of age are deemed as amateur if it is not their sole means of support
B) Conductors and accompanists may be either professional or amateur
2) Age Limits
The age limit shown in a class listing must be adhered to. Performers may be asked for provide proof of age
School year groups: children reach the following age between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024
YR - 5 years Y1 - 6 years Y2 - 7 years Y3 - 8 years Y4 - 9 years Y5 - 10 years Y6 - 11 years Y7- - 12 years Y8 - 13 years Y9 - 14 years Y10 - 15 years Y11 - 16 years Y12 - 17 years Y13 - 18 years.
The school years are given as guidance and do not imply that entrants need to be in education e.g. those aged 16-18 do not need to be in school or college
3) Performance
A) Set Pieces
i) Set pieces must not be altered or edited
ii) Music must be performed in the key given and not transposed
B) Own Choice Pieces
i) Own choice performance items must adhere to the title of the class and any other criteria given in the class listing
ii) Own choice pieces should not be the same piece with which the entrant has been placed first in a class in a previous five years of the festival
iii) The same item cannot be performed in more than one class, except in a final, Rosebowl class or the choirs’ prize-winners’ challenge
4) Timings
A) All performances in time-limited classes are timed from the start to the end of the performance. A short introduction to the piece(s) should be provided for the audience but this will not be included in the time allowed. Time between pieces will not be included in the timings
B) If a time limit is exceeded the performer will not be allowed to take 1st, 2nd or 3rd place but will receive verbal and written adjudication
5) Dress Code
Although concert dress is not essential, all performers are advised to dress appropriately for a concert performance
6) Copyright Regulations
A) Performers must adhere to copyright regulations (Copyright Act 1956)
B) The Committee accepts entries on the understanding that requisite permissions have been granted
C) Works must not be photocopied without the permission of the copyright holder
i) Except photocopies may be made for the use of the adjudicator and/or accompanist at the festival, provided that the performer has already purchased his/her own copy which must be presented at the festival. All photocopies will be retained after the event and destroyed
D) Music Theatre classes
i) All performances using music from shows in current production are subject to copyright law
ii) Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item (i.e. without costume, props or choreography), without the need for copyright permission
E) Own Choice Speech & Drama classes
i) The Festival has an agreement with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society. This means that entrants do not have to seek copyright permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic items performed, to a time limit of 10 minutes
ii) Acting is not covered by this agreement, and copyright for these items should be sought by performers at the time of entry. If you are unsure what is needed, you should call 01625 428297 (http://www.federationoffestivals.org.uk) for more, individual, information
iii) Solo dramatic items must be announced with title and author at the time of performance to qualify for copyright indemnity, and the performer must not change the words or gender of the character
7) Accompanists & Music
A) It is expected that the festival accompanists will be used for all performances except choirs and ensembles. Where a performance does not require the services of the festival’s professional accompanist details of any accompanist must be provided to the festival administrator. (This excludes those classes where you are expected to bring your own accompanist )
B). Clearly legible accompanist music on A4/foolscap sized paper and in black ink must be clearly marked with the Name of the Entrant, Class Number and Class Name, and Title of the piece. If the accompanist music is not clear it will be returned to the entrant and a better copy will be required. A good, legible photocopy of the piece to be performed for the use of the accompanist and which will be destroyed after use must be sent as outlined in the classes by Friday 8 December 2023. to: Richard Buxton 34 Fir Road, Huddersfield HD1 4JE 01484 301291
8) Adjudicators and Music/Scripts
A) Music
i) A copy of own choice items must be brought to the festival marked on the front with the performer’s name, class and any page numbers
Except: Piano classes 1 to 4. It is not necessary to bring music from specified ABRSM books as they will be provided by the festival
B) Speech and Drama
i) A copy of own choice poetry / prose or original writing must be brought to the Festival for the Adjudicator. All scripts must be clearly legible and of suitable content to cause no offence to a mixed audience which may include children. The title, author and publisher must be included with the name of the performer and class number
9) Entries
A) On-line entries should be made via the web-site www.mrssunderlandfestival.com
B) Postal entries must be sent to the appropriate Entries Administrator and received by the stated closing date
C) Fees are to be paid online via PayPal or via bank transfer to the festival - providing a clear reference number
D) If you are entering a large number of entrants (e.g. a music teacher entering over 20 pupils) please contact the festival administrator via email to discuss the most appropriate form of entry. Contact [email protected]
E) In the event of withdrawal for whatever reason entry fees will not be refunded
F) In the event of a class being poorly supported it may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Committee and entry fees returned
