RULES
1. ENTRY FEES
ENTRY FEES MUST BE PAID WITH THE ENTRIES
Entry Fees cannot be refunded.
Entry Fees cannot be refunded.
2. CLOSING DATE
Entry Forms, along with the appropriate fee, must be submitted online at www.playandperform.co.uk/lochaber on or before Wednesday 31st January 2024. Entries received after the closing date may not be accepted.
3. ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS
Entries for all competitions are confined to pupils of Schools in Lochaber District and adults resident in Lochaber District. Any queries regarding this should be made to the chairperson.
4. ACCOMPANIST
The services of the official accompanists are available to all competitors, but competitors may bring their own accompanist if they so desire, except at Lundavra Primary School, 2024.
5. AGE QUALIFICATIONS
In all competitions where an AGE QUALIFICATION is stated, the governing date shall be the 31st December 2023.
6. CHOIRS
Permission has been granted to allow school choirs to compete in the Festival within school hours.
7. DUETS
Where two entrants are at different levels of performance, adjudication will be at the level of the more advanced player.
8. OPEN CLASS
Open classes are for entrants of Advanced level and above.
9. COPYRIGHT REGULATIONS FOR “Own Choice” WORKS.
The Music Publishers Association has issued a revised “Code of Practice” on copyright works, and the following concession is made for copying “Own Choice” pieces from VOLUMES only for the adjudicator. Other items must not be copied without permission of the copyright holder in each case. When an “Own Choice” work is selected from a volume containing several different works and which is not published separately, one copy may be made for the adjudicator and the copy made is retained and destroyed by the administrator of the Competition immediately after the event. Original copies ONLY of "Own Choice" works must be made available for an accompanist. "A Code of Fair Practices" is obtainable free on application to Music Publishers Association – 103 Kingsway, London. WC28 6QX
10. OWN CHOICE
Where “Own Choice” is specified, this means one piece only, unless otherwise stated or a time limit is given. Title(s) of selected pieces, must appear in the programme, except where indicated. If titles of "Own Choice" items are altered, or do not appear in the programme, an adjudication will be given but marks may not be awarded. If details of "Own Choice" items and entry fees are not received with the entry forms, they may not be accepted.
To avoid having entries rejected, please also ensure that a copy of "Own Choice" music or poetry, INCLUDING TRANSLATIONS if not in English, for adjudicator and accompanist (where required), is delivered to the Programme Secretary by the 7thFebruary 2024.
11. SET PIECES
Competitors who have difficulty in obtaining any of the Set Pieces should communicate with the Secretary. In the event of a Set Piece still being unobtainable on 1st February 2024 competitors may substitute an “Own Choice” (see Rules “Own Choice…” and “Copyright…” above). The Secretary must be notified if any change is made.
12. SET PIECES/OWN CHOICE
A Set Piece in the Syllabus cannot be given as an “Own Choice” piece in another class at this Festival. Competitors cannot perform the same piece in more than one class at this Festival. The only exception to this rule is where competitors are invited to appear in a Premier competition.
13. ADJUDICATORS' DECISIONS ARE FINALand adjudicators may not be approached with queries on their decisions. If this happens the committee reserves the right to refuse further entries from the performer, performer’s representative or teacher who makes the query. If the query disrupts or holds up the proceedings in any way, then the performer or teacher may not be allowed to make entries for a period of up to three years.
14. MARKS AND CERTIFICATES
Marks may be announced for the first THREE places only, at the discretion of the Adjudicator. Mark Sheets should be collected by sponsors after the close of each competition.
A new scale of marks has been adopted generally by Festivalsthroughout the Federation. A note of the new scale is given at theend of the Syllabus.
A new scale of marks has been adopted generally by Festivalsthroughout the Federation. A note of the new scale is given at theend of the Syllabus.
15. PREMIER AWARDS COMPETITION
In the event of a competitor qualifying, and being invited by the adjudicators to compete in any one of the Premier Vocal,Instrumental or Scots Traditional Award Competitions, the competitor must choose and perform ONE piece only. This rule also applies in qualifying competitions which have two set or own choice pieces. For the Traditional Award Competition, competitors may perform a programme of up to 5 minutes of music already played.
A COMPETITOR CANNOT COMPETE AGAINST HIM/HERSELF.
16. TROPHIES
Trophies awarded one year MUST be returned for the following year as soon as they are requested. We would like to emphasise that trophies should be taken good care of and cleaned before they are returned for presentation.
PLEASE RETURN ALL TROPHIES NO LATER THAN 7th MARCH 2024.
PLEASE RETURN ALL TROPHIES NO LATER THAN 7th MARCH 2024.
17. CONCERT
A limited number of competitors, chosen by the adjudicators, will be invited to appear in the evening concert. To secure a balanced programme, it may be that all the first place trophy and award winners cannot be invited.
18. JUNIOR COMPETITIONS
Junior competitors must be accompanied by adults (at least one adult per team) who will be responsible for the conduct of thechildren attending the Festival.