Rules

1      TROPHIES & MEDALS      

a)    Medals, which are awarded to the winner of the children’s classes, may be retained.

b)    Cups, or other trophies which are awarded, may only be retained until the next Festival.  The recipient must agree to keep it safe and return it in good condition and return to relevant section secretary before the following year’s festival.

c)    The recipient is to pay for any loss or damage caused to trophies whilst in his/her possession or in transit.

d)    Cup Winners may have their names engraved on trophies in keeping with any existing engraving at their own expense.

2      ENTERING AND PERFORMING

2.1   Your entry

a)    Entry to the festival must be via RunMyFestival. Paper entries are not supported.

b)    Entries will be accepted only if the appropriate entry fee is received before the closing date.

c)    Entry fees can be refunded only in exceptional circumstances.

d)    Any entry may be rejected without giving a reason.

e)     Confirmation of entries will be generated at the time of your order by the on line entry system.

f)    At least 2 weeks before the festival you will receive an email notifying you of the class times and schedule.

g)    If you have not received confirmation of your entries or class schedules please contact the festival IT     Manager.

h)      In the Speech, Vocal and Dance classes you may not enter more than once in the same class unless you are in a group class with different partners.

i)      In the Piano, Strings and Wind classes you may enter up to twice in the age group and grade classes, but you must play a different piece each time.

j)    The same piece may not be performed in more than one class in the same Festival year, or repeated within three years of entry.

k)      Own choice music must be stated as part of your entry.

l)    Any changes must be notified by email to enquiries@suffolk-festival.org.uk

m)     Changes made after the closing date must be notified by email to the section secretary and labels will need to be filled out when you get to the festival, so the correct details are available for the adjudicator etc. Please do this as soon as you arrive at the festival.

n)     Committee members are not allowed to enter the festival on a competitive basis.

o)     Professionals and experienced performers are eligible to enter only the Vocal Open championship all other classes are for amateurs only.

Professionals defined as: those whose income is wholly or in part derived from teaching or performing the particular branch of the performing art in which they are intending to compete. 
Experienced performer defined as: anyone over 21 sufficiently experienced to have been asked to perform as a soloist in a major work, for a society with more than 50 performers, or previous winner of the Suffolk Festival Vocal Championship. 

2.2   Age Limits

The qualifying age for entrants will be calculated as on 1st January prior to Festival. Adults are defined as anybody 18 yrs and over, unless otherwise stated.

2.3   Time Limits

You must observe all relevant time limits for performances. The “Performance time” shown is the total time and entrants should note that spoken introductions are included within the quoted timings.  If you do not keep to the time limit you may be penalised and may not be placed.

2.4   Own Choice Pieces

You must provide a copy of what you are performing for the adjudicator. No responsibility is accepted for loss or damage to originals, which should be collected immediately following the class adjudication. Teachers should inform the Speech Secretary of what will be performed by each competitor no later than the closing date for entries. This is for copyright regulations.

2.5  Announcing Your Performance

Performers are encouraged to announce their performance.

3     ADJUDICATOR CONNECTIONS

No one who is or was a pupil of an adjudicator in the last twelve months may enter a class judged by that adjudicator without the consent of the Chairperson to whom full disclosure of that connection has been made.

4     COPYRIGHT

The Festival will have the necessary copyright performance permissions provided that the identity of any work to be performed has been provided in advance, and that the piece has not been re-arranged without the composer/author’s consent. Photocopies may be used for adjudicator’s copies only.