The International Choir Festival of Jersey
A Biennial Festival
9th–12th October 2008   register your interest today!

Competition rules and regulations

1 Classes

A Ladies Voice

B Male Voice

C Mixed Voice

D Youth (open to all under the age of 16)

E Chamber (open to ladies, male, mixed and youth entries of between 6 and 15 voices)

F Choir of Choirs Competition (the winners and runners up from each of the classes, A, B, C, and D must be prepared to compete in this class)

2 Prizes

Class A, B, C, D and E
First prize £300 Second prize £150

Class F
First prize £1000; Sponsors Trophy; Audience Choice Trophy.

The jury can award a maximum of 100 points for each choir
95-100 Outstanding
90-95 Excellent
85-90 Very Good
80-85 Good
79-80 Moderate

3 Repertoire

(I) Choirs will be judged according the following criteria, and in this order of priority: MUSICIANSHIP, TECHNIQUE, PROGRAMME CHOICE, PRESENTATION.

(II) Classes A, B, C, D and E will consist of an own choice programme of contrasting pieces, periods and styles the duration of which will not exceed 12 minutes. The choir may sing accompanied or unaccompanied and the range of musical styles, technical difficulty, aesthetic quality, audience communication and audience entertainment value will be taken into account by the Jury.

(III) Class F will consist of an own choice programme of contrasting pieces, periods and styles the duration of which will not exceed 10 minutes The choir may sing accompanied or unaccompanied and the range of musical styles, technical difficulty, aesthetic quality, audience communication and audience entertainment value will be taken into account by the Jury.

(IV) Choirs will be penalised for exceeding the time limits set out in rule 3(ii) and (iii) above.

(V) Accompaniment may be provided by a piano or other instrument / instruments. Recorded accompaniment is allowed

(VI) The winners and runners-up from classes A, B, C, D and E must be prepared to compete in class F and may use one piece from an earlier class.

(VII) 4 consecutive Festivals must elapse before a choir can repeat any piece of music in its competition repertoire.

(VIII) Subsequent to repertoire entry a choir may not change its repertoire nor the order in which it will be sung.

(IV) Four original copies of each piece of music must be enclosed with the repertoire entry form.

4 Entry Procedure

(I) When submitting an entry form you must include a recent CD or tape recording of the choir to the Musical Director (see (iv) following) and a photograph of the Choir.
*Photographs must be sent in the following formats:
By Email or CD-ROM:  High resolution JPEG minimum size 500 pixels x 300 pixels
Hard Copy By Post: Colour print minimum 7" x 5" (17cm x 12cm)
Computer printed images, photocopies and printed brochure images NOT ACCEPTABLE

(II) The closing date for class entry is 30 June 2008

(III) The closing date for repertoire entry is 31 August 2008

(IV) All entry forms must be submitted to:
Mr. N P Cabot, Le Catel Farm, La Rue de La Falaise, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5BQ. Channel Islands
Tel: +44 (0) 1534 864014
Email: nickcabot@localdial.com

5 General

(I) A choir must consist of a minimum of sixteen voices.

(II) A choir must have been organised at least one calendar year prior to the Festival and must be able to substantiate that fact.

(III) Ninety per cent of all members of a choir, except the conductor, must be amateurs (ie people who do not earn their main livelihood as singers).

(IV) No person may compete as a member of more than one choir in the same class.

(V) The Musical Director reserves the right to limit the number of entries for each class.

(VI) The Musical Director reserves the right to cancel a class if he feels that there are insufficient entries.

(VII) The Musical Director reserves the right to refuse entry to any choir to any class.

(VIII) The Musical Director reserves the right to add to or alter these rules.

(IX) The Jury's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding any aspect of its work.

(X) Order of appearance will be drawn by the Musical Director after entries are closed and notified to each participating choir by 1 October 2008.

(XI) In no circumstances will any person (other than authorised officials) be allowed at the side of the stage during any class.

(XII) It is contrary to law to perform music which has been reproduced illegally. Should a choir do so the Festival accepts no responsibility for any action taken by publishers.

(XIII) The Festival organisers and the Musical Director accept no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect of anything pertaining to a choirs participation in the Festival.

(XIV) Submission of an entry form and participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the Competition Rules and Regulations.

6 Broadcasting and Recording Rights

It is a condition of participation that any choir agrees:

(I) that any performance it gives during the Festival may be broadcast live and/or recorded for subsequent broadcast on radio and/or television without payment to the choir. All broadcasting rights to any performance at the Festival shall belong to the Festival which will be free to dispose of them as it sees fit.

(II) that any performance it gives during the Festival may, without payment, be recorded and the Festival shall be entitled to possession of any such recording and shall further be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, let for hire, offer or exposure for sale or hire, distribute or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any manner that it sees fit.