Cariboo Festival Society General  Rules

Cariboo Festival General Rules

1.       The Cariboo Festival Society is open to anyone in B.C.  Students may compete from other festivals, and are eligible for provincials provided a local participant is not eligible to fill the class.

2.       The Cariboo Festival Society is for amateurs only with the exception of the adult adjudication-only classes and family or student teacher classes.  An amateur is defined as one whose principal income is not derived from musical or dramatic sources.  Occasional remuneration for services by a student intended to be used for further study does not contradict the above definition of an amateur.

3.       The Festival Committee reserves the right to create classes as deemed necessary, or to reassign any entry to a more appropriate class.

4.       The appropriate entry form must be used for the discipline (piano, vocal, band and instrumental, speech arts and creative writing). There will be no changes or substitutions after the entry deadline.

5.       As a courtesy, please notify the Festival Committee of withdrawals.

6.       Absolutely no preschool children, except those directly involved with an entry, will be allowed in the hall during performances.

7.       The adjudicator’s decision in all matters of adjudication is final.  No complaint, protest, nor representation of any kind concerning the adjudication will be considered by the Festival Society unless made to the Cariboo Festival Secretary at 1974 Fox Mountain Rd. Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 5B5 in writing within 24 hours after the event in question, either postdated by regular mail or by email.  A letter of complaint must be accompanied by a protest fee of $20 to be returned if the complaint is upheld.

8.       Complaints apart from an adjudicator’s decision must use an official protest form (available at all sessions) stating the nature of the complaint. This must be received by the Cariboo Festival Society no later than one week after said incident.

9.       Violation of rules may result in disciplinary action.  All matters of disciplinary action will be taken under advisement by the Executive Board of the Cariboo Festival Society under Roberts Rules of Order, Art. 60.

10.    The Cariboo Festival Society recommends that adjudicators use the following guidelines:

GOLD (85% and over)        Excellent performance                               

SILVER (80 – 84%)                    Good performance

BRONZE (75- 79%)              Fair performance                         

PARTICIPANT (Below 75%)     Less than fair

11.    A Competitor who is unable to participate due to medical reasons may be refunded for fees over $20.  A request for a refund, along with a doctor’s note, must be submitted to the Festival Committee in a timely manner.

12.    All competitors should be prepared to perform at the Spotlight or Honours Concerts if asked to do so by the Festival Committee.

13.    In order to be recommended for Provincials, a participant must perform in at least two (2) solo classes at their local festival at an appropriate level, and receive Gold Standing in both classes.

14.    In the event of discrepancy of information between this document and other Festival documents, this document (the 2012 Syllabus) will take precedence. Award information is subject to change without notice.

Performance Guidelines

1.       Competitors should be in the hall indicated on their Competitor’s card at least 15 minutes before the start of the class.  Candidates forfeit their competitive status if not present when called upon to perform.  Competitors are expected to be present for the entire class.  Competitors and spectators may enter and leave the hall discreetly between performances but not during adjudications.

2.       Competitors should wait for the adjudicator’s signal before beginning.  After performing, the competitor should sit in the front row of the performance hall in readiness for the class adjudication.  In order to increase the benefits of the Festival experience, a competitor should have some background knowledge of his/her selections, such as the musical period, style, composer and any other pertinent information.  Familiarity of the selections of fellow performers can also enhance a competitor’s experience.

3.       Only authorized personnel are allowed in the performance area.  Audience members are not permitted to speak to the adjudicator.

4.       Anyone with complaints is asked to please refer to the General Rules.

5.       A knowledge of stage decorum, suitable dress and courtesy to fellow performers is all part of the Festival experience.  Teachers and parents are urged to encourage contestants to become acquainted with this knowledge.

6.       Competitors and their accompanist will be allowed admission to their own session free of charge.

7.       Rehearsals will not be allowed in the Festival halls prior to performance.

8.       The use of printed music in performance may affect the adjudication.  Therefore, memorization of selections is recommended except for chamber groups.

9.       Again, the Cariboo Festival committee emphasizes that PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ALLOWED.  The Festival Executive and possibly the individual are liable to very stiff fines under the Copyright Act.  If a selection is out of print the individual must have written permission from the publisher.

10.    When using the Internet to acquire music and speech arts material, the entrant must provide proof of public domain or must show evidence of permission to copy from the Internet or proof of purchase from the Internet site.

11.    For the concert performances, any individual or group may be asked to perform at the Spotlight or Honours Concerts, and must be prepared to remain until the end of the concert or decline to perform, with the exception of young children’s groups where an appropriate intermission will be provided for ease of exit.

Entry Rules 

1.       All Music entries (except School Band- see next) must be postmarked by January 31, 2012.

2.       Band/Large Ensembles, Speech Arts, and Creative entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2012.

3.       Late entries are not accepted.

4.       After the closing date all entries must perform their selection as entered, or withdraw. No substitute performers are allowed.

5.       Incomplete, incorrect or T.B.A. entries will not be accepted.

6.       Age is taken as of December 31^st prior to the festival event.

7.       Entries must specify length of time of selections.

8.       NEW: Entrants wishing to request waiving of entry fees for personal financial reasons must include a note of request with their entry.

9.       A competitor may enter only one selection per class unless otherwise specified.

10.    Competitors must progress to the next highest grade each year that they enter the Festival, with the exception of Grades 9, 10, and ARCT, each of which they may enter for two years.

11.    A competitor is expected to perform the selection indicated on the entry form. Substitutes are not allowed.

12.    Each competitor is responsible for providing the adjudicator with a copy of their selection. Music must be given to the adjudicator’s secretary before the candidate performs and may be picked up immediately following the adjudication.

13.    To assist the adjudicator, competitors should erase all unnecessary markings on the music, number the measures at the beginning of each line, and paper clip or “Post-it” the page for ease of finding.

14.    The competitor must have an original copy of their selection available in the performance hall or they will forfeit their competitive status, with the exception of fiddle classes.

15.    Classes will be conducted in a workshop format as a learning experience. Discussion between the adjudicator and the participant is encouraged.

16.    Performers and teachers are advised that the quality and standard of selections chosen will be reflected in the adjudicator’s comments and marks.

17.    Marks will be indicated on adjudication sheets, but only class winners will be announced.

Rules specific to all Music Disciplines

1.       Selections must be performed in full, as stated in syllabus of candidate’s choice.  Please state on the entry form the syllabus used (Conservatory Canada, Royal Conservatory of Toronto, Victoria Conservatory, etc.).  Please note that classical sonatas are to be one movement only, even when two are required for the grade level.  See Classical section under appropriate grade.

2.       Candidates may also apply to a recognized Conservatory to have a piece graded, and be prepared to supply written documentation of the grading, to satisfy the intent of the above rule (#1) for the Festival Committee, which recognizes that there are many suitable pieces of music not published in a syllabus.  The Festival Committee also wishes to promote a celebration of music.

3.       The use of CD accompaniment is not recommended; however, if there is no other alternative, check with the director of the discipline.

4.       Candidates considering the Provincial Festival are reminded that Canadian works are encouraged.

Rules specific to the Piano Discipline

1.       A competitor may enter a particular selection only once.  A competitor may not enter the same composition for two consecutive years.  For example, a Grade 10 student entering for the second year at that grade level may not perform the same movement from the same sonata as performed the previous year.  However, it would be acceptable to perform another movement from the same sonata.

2.       For introductory level entries, composers must be from a recognized syllabus.

Rules specific to the Band and Instrumental Discipline

1.       Levels refer to the number of years of study.

2.       Ensemble entries must enter at the level of the most advanced member of the group.

Rules Specific to the Vocal Discipline

1.       Children and youth singing pop songs must use age-appropriate lyrics.

Rules specific to the Choral Discipline

1.       For Festival purposes, a school choir is made up of chosen voices and may be from several classrooms.

2.       A school chorus is an entire classroom participating as a group to encourage all class members to sing at the festival.

3.       Choirs should prepare two selections, both own choice contrasting in style and tempo.

4.       Original music must be provided for the adjudicator. Accompanists and Directors must have original music as well. No photocopied music is permitted.

5.       Candidates are reminded that the choice of music will be considered, and may affect the final standing.

6.       A song may be given to each choir to be used in a final mass choir selection the night of the Choir Concert if enough choirs enter to warrant a concert. Each choir will learn this selection on their own. The adjudicator will conduct this selection at the Choral Concert.

7.       Any enquiries are to be directed to the Vocal/Choral Director.

Rules specific to Speech Arts

1.       Entries must be completely filled out with title and author of selected pieces.

2.       A copy of all “Own Choice” selections must be sent with the entry form except where specified in the syllabus.

3.       Competitors must have an original copy of their selection (book or copyright-free Internet material, etc.) available in the performance hall or they will forfeit their competitive status.  Please check with the Speech Arts Director if necessary.

4.       Please indicate on your entry form if you or your group require special arrangements for the time of performance, such as ensuring students are back at school in time to make the bus.

Rules Specific to Creative Writing

1.       The competition is open to any non-professional.

2.       Each entry must be the original work of the individual whose name appears on the entry form attached to the manuscript.  The work must not have been entered in previous festivals.

3.       Each entry must be listed on a separate entry form, along with the appropriate entry fee.

4.       Neither name nor age of the competitor may appear on the manuscript.  The entry form must be securely attached to the manuscript.

5.       The manuscript must be double-spaced.  It may be handwritten by the competitor or it may be typed.  Computer print is acceptable but please refrain from using fancy script. Use page numbers for prose and indicate word count. Poetry entries must have separate pages for each poem.

6.       By entering any class in the Creative Writing section, the entrant grants the Cariboo Festival the right to publish his/her entry in the press or on the radio.

7.       Should an entrant wish to enter for written adjudication only, he/she must indicate this on the entry form.

8.       Adult entries are for adjudication only and are not eligible for awards.  Adult entries are exempt from Creative Writing Rule #6 in that entries will not be published without permission from the entrant.

9.       A writer may enter each class only once.

Cariboo Festival Society 1974 Fox Mt. Rd. Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 5B5

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