Festival Rules

Regulations Relating to the Operation of the Festival

The printed syllabus contains the General Rules of the Festival which operate across all sections and activities. In addition there are some specific regulations which relate to particular sections of the Festival and these are set out here for reference.

By entering the Festival you are deemed to have read and understood the General Rules and those relating to the particular section(s) that you are entering. If you have any questions relating to the Rules or their interpretation, please contact the relevant Section Secretary.

All Rules are printed in full in the Syllabus. In the event of any apparent error or difference between the following rules and those printed in the syllabus, the printed copy should be taken as correct.

Important Note - Photocopying of Music
‍
The Music Publisher Association code of practice makes the concession pieces may be copied for use at the festival only. You must perform from an original copy of the solo part. The adjudicator must be provided with the music for every piece.

Please note the following extract from the Music Publishers Association Code of Fair Practice:

“10. Adjudicator or Examiner Copy: A person performing a work in front of an examiner or adjudicator may make one copy per examiner/adjudicator provided that the participant or candidate has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy/copies made is/are retained and destroyed by the adjudicator(s) or examiner(s) immediately after the event. Each copy must be marked with the following: ‘Adjudicator/examiner copy. Destroy after use.”

Rule 2 of the code also states that copies are permitted to facilitate page turns and help with other technical problems, provided the participant has purchased and has a copy of the original music. All photocopies of music will be retained by the Festival and destroyed.

General Competition Rules

These rules cover all sections apart from Stage Dancing which has a separate list of regulations.

  1. The competitive classes are limited to non-professionals, except where otherwise stated. For this purpose,professionals are deemed to be those who receive their main income from that branch of the Arts for which they are proposing to enter.
  2. In all Solo Classes competitors must state their name in full upon entry.
  3. The closing date for entries is 1st May in the year of the Festival.
  4. The Committee reserves the right to cancel or combine classes, refuse any entry and to decide any matter not provided for in the rules.
  5. If it is necessary to limit the size of a class, entries will be considered in the order of receipt. Under no circumstances is the Committee obliged to refund fees.
  6. All age-limited class Competitors must be within the prescribed limit on the first day of May in the year of the Festival. (The exception is Stage Dancing where the age limit is your age on 1st Jan in the festival year). The signature to the declaration at the foot of the entry form or submission of online entry will be accepted as a guarantee in this respect. In duets or groups, competitors should enter in the class appropriate to the oldest member of the group. The Committee reserves the right to request production of Birth Certificates.
  7. Choice of repertoire should be listed upon entry. A copy of own choice repertoire must be handed to the adjudicator’s steward before the commencement of the class. Competitors may not select repertoire which appears as a set piece in this year’s syllabus. No piece may be used in more than one class, or two years in a row, by the same competitor. Players who change to repertoire that differs to the piece appearing in the printed programme may be allowed to perform at the discretion of the section secretary, but this will be on an‘adjudication only’ basis (no mark will be given).
  8. Time limits must be strictly observed. Exceeding the time limit may, at the adjudicator’s discretion, result in the deduction of marks or the stopping of the performance with adjudication to the point reached. No more than two minutes is allowed for tuning in instrumental classes. Time limits in the Speech and Drama section include set up times, which should be minimal (and no third party may remain with the competitors in the wings).
  9. The adjudicator’s decision is final.
  10. A minimum standard of Commended (84 marks) is generally necessary for the award of a Prize or Trophy. No Certificate will be awarded unless a satisfactory standard is reached. Winners of trophies will hold them for one year. They will be responsible for engraving where appropriate and for their care and safe custody. Trophies should be returned to the Section Organiser before 1st May of the year following the Festival.
  11. Photography, filming, video or sound recording is prohibited during any performance.
  12. Competitors are responsible for collecting mark sheets, certificates and music at the end of each class.
  13. Grade classes: Pieces are to be chosen from the current examination syllabus from either the ABRSM, Trinity or LCM and must be stated in full upon entry. Competitors must enter the class most appropriate to their grade. They should not yet have passed a grade higher than the standard of the class.35
  14. Accompanist: Competitors requiring an accompanist are welcome to use the Official Accompanist free of charge. Application should be made upon entry. Music for the Official Accompanist must be sent at least three weeks before the date of the performance. Having engaged the Official Accompanist, the competitor is obliged to use this service for the particular class. This service is not available for choirs.
  15. No repeats are required in instrumental performances, except D.S. or D.C. Exceptions are where repeats are required by an exam board or when repeated sections are short and are important for the structure of the piece.
  16. In all reading classes (Speech and Drama), extracts must be read from the book and not from papers.
  17. Choirs: In classes for choirs the conductor is not considered to be a member of the choir. The conductor may act as accompanist but may not sing with the choir. Choirs’ performances may be accompanied by any instrument or backing track or unaccompanied. A piano is available. An official accompanist will not be available.
  18. Copyright: copyright permission is required for duologues and group dramatic activity and for songs from current shows where costume and movement are used (permission is not required for songs sung without costume and movement). The festival committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been sought. Copyright permission must be obtained by the entrants
Important Note - Photocopying of Music
‍
The Music Publisher Association code of practice makes the concession pieces may be copied for use at the festival only. You must perform from an original copy of the solo part. The adjudicator must be provided with the music for every piece.

Please note the following extract from the Music Publishers Association Code of Fair Practice:

“10. Adjudicator or Examiner Copy: A person performing a work in front of an examiner or adjudicator may make one copy per examiner/adjudicator provided that the participant or candidate has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy/copies made is/are retained and destroyed by the adjudicator(s) or examiner(s) immediately after the event. Each copy must be marked with the following: ‘Adjudicator/examiner copy. Destroy after use.”

Rule 2 of the code also states that copies are permitted to facilitate page turns and help with other technical problems, provided the participant has purchased and has a copy of the original music. All photocopies of music will be retained by the Festival and destroyed.


Section Rules

Instrumental Section Rules

  1. Grade Classes: Pieces are to be chosen from the current examination syllabus from either the Associated Board, Trinity Guildhall or the London College of Music, and must be stated in full on the Entry Form. Competitors must enter the class most appropriate to their grade, ie they should be able to play to that standard but not yet have passed a grade higher that than specified.
  2. Competitors requiring an accompanist are welcome to use our Official Accompanist, free of charge. Application must be made on the entry form. Music for the Official Accompanist must be sent at least three weeks before the date of the performance. Please see this note from the General Rules section about the use of photocopies. Having engaged the Official Accompanist, the competitor is obliged to use this service for the particular class. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
  3. Competitors are responsible for collecting mark sheets, certificates and music at the end of each class. Photocopies of music will be retained and destroyed.
  4. No repeats are required in performance, except D.S. or D.C.
  5. Tuning of instruments: A maximum of 2 minutes is allowed.
  6. Your attention is drawn to Rule 6 of the General Rules of the Festival:
    Own choice, which under no circumstances can be changed, must be stated on the Entry Form. Failure to do so will invalidate the Entry Form. A copy of own choice must be handed to the adjudicator's steward before the commencement of the class. Competitors may not choose as Own Choice any test piece appearing in this year's Festival syllabus. No Own Choice may be used in more than one class, or in any class in the succeeding year, by the same competitor.

Schools' Section Rules

  1. No repeats are required in performance, except D.S. or D.C.
  2. ‍Tuning of instruments: A maximum of 2 minutes is allowed.
  3. In classes for choirs, the conductor is not considered to be a member of the choir – the conductor may act as accompanist but may not sing with the choir.
  4. The Festival reserves the right to limit the number of entries in a class. Entries will be considered in the order of receipt.
  5. An official accompanist will not be available.

Speech and Drama Section Rules

Copyright permission for Duologues and group dramatic activity should be sought by performers at the time of entry.

The Festival Committee accepts entries for these classes on the basis that the appropriate copyright performance has been sought.

  • All entries, except reading, are to be memorised
  • Entrants in duologue classes should enter in the class appropriate to the older competitor (COPYRIGHT PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED BY THE ENTRANTS). Entrants in group classes should go by the average age of the group.
  • For all except public speaking classes, copies of all selections (preferably in book form) must be submitted to the Adjudicator's Steward when entrants are called. THESE MAY NOT BE PHOTOCOPIES.
  • In Drama classes, no marks are awarded for costume or stage make-up and WILL be deducted if facial or bodily expression are obscured. Practice skirts and hand props should be sufficient.
  • The time limits stated include time spent in setting and striking furniture, which should be minimal. Please ensure that the stopwatch is not needed. No-one may remain with competitors in the wings.
  • Own choice or choice of set items MUST be stated on the entry form showing title, author and publisher where known. Forms may not be signed by a minor. In case of difficulties, please contact the Section Secretary.
  • In all reading classes, extracts must be read from the book and not from papers.
  • Should any class exceed thirty entries, the class may be divided or additional entries returned. Should any class have only one entry, it may be returned.

Stage Dancing Section Rules

  1. Official entry forms may be obtained from and must be returned to the Section Secretary by 15th March 2012. The entry form contained in the general Festival Syllabus may not be used for this section.
  2. All entries must be accompanied by a cheque for the full fee. One cheque per school should be made payable to "Leamington Spa Competitive Festival". No post-dated cheques will be accepted.
  3. Entries are taken on a first come first served basis and no entries will be accepted after the closing date. Once the entry reaches capacity, the organisers reserve the right to close the entry.
  4. Stage includes modern, lyrical, tap, and song & dance. Classical includes ballet, national, character, contemporary and Greek. Please note that we no longer offer a Novice section.
  5. Age Groups: All ages are taken as at 1st January - Please note this is different to the rest of the festival due to the earlier date of this section.
    Baby 6 years & under
    Class C 11 + 12 years
    Junior 9 yrs & under
    Class A 7 + 8 yrs
    Class D 13 + 14 yrs
    Inter 12 yrs & under
    Class B 9 + 10 yrs
    Class E 15 yrs & over
    Senior 13 yrs & over
  6. A draft timetable giving times of classes and number of entrants will be sent to every school as soon as possible. Please enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope or email address for this. Due to limited accommodation it will be necessary for schools to share dressing rooms.
  7. Competitors may not dance more than twice in Duets or Trios. Please note that this must be with different partners. The same people are not allowed to dance together more than once, and only twotroupes per school in any one section. The Championship class, sponsored by The Miller Foundation, will be a selection of 15 solo dances chosen by the adjudicator.
  8. No competitor will be allowed to dance out of section.
  9. Teachers using music created from commercial recordings are advised that they should seek copyright permission themselves as the Festival cannot take responsibility for this.
  10. If pre-recorded music is used in any Song and Dance section it must not include any singing or chanting. Pre-recorded music in the tap section must not include any recorded tap or similar sound effects.
  11. The time limits for dances must not be exceeded. Times will be checked from the first note or word of the accompaniment or first movement of the dance up to the dancer's last movement at completion of the dance. An extra ½ minute can be added to the following for all character and song & dance solo sections.
    Baby, A&B Solos 1½ mins
    Duets without song 2½ min
    Trios 3 mins
    C - E solos 2 mins D
    uets with song 3 mins
    Groups 5 mins
  12. The stage and wings are out of bounds to all except authorised persons and competitors about to perform. Authorised persons include one assistant from each school who may accompany competitors for the sole purpose of wardrobe or properties. As we will be using a tap mat, all shoes will be checked for any loose screws etc. before the performance, we reserve the right to refuse a competitor access to the stage.
  13. A  CD and MiniDisc system will be provided and music played. All music must be cued and ready to play at the front desk 30 mins before the section starts. Please note their will be no cassette player.
  14. Sections:
    Solo: Tap, Modern, National, Song and Dance, Ballet, Greek, Character, Contemporary (D & E only)
    Duets/Trios/Quartets: Classical (Ballet and Character), Stage Song and Dance, National, Stage Modern/Tap (one section), Greek
    Groups: Classical (Junior, Inter & Senior), Stage (Junior, Inter and Senior)

Vocal Section Rules

  1. Candidates requiring an accompanist are welcome to use the services of our Official Accompanist, free of charge, but application must be made on the entry form. Music for the Official Accompanist must be sent at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the contest. An Official Accompanist will NOT be available for choirs.
  2. In classes for Choirs, the conductor is not considered to be a member of the choir — the conductor may act as accompanist but may not sing with the choir.
  3. The Festival reserves the right to limit the size of classes. Entries will be considered in the order of receipt.
  4. Competitors are responsible for collecting mark sheets, certificates and music at the end of each class.
  5. All performers using music from shows in current production are subject to copyright law. Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item, ie with no costume or movement, without need for copyright permission. Where movement or costumes are included in a performance, copyright permission is required and the Festival Committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been sought.