The Music Festival shall be under the working management of the Music Festival Committee.  The Music Festival Committee is appointed each year by the Midland Y’s Men’s Club.

The Music Festival Committee has and will continue to refine the syllabus in consultation with teachers, musicians, adjudicators and festival organizers striving for an objective focus.

1.3

Requests for additions, deletions or adjustments to the syllabus must be made in writing and forwarded to the Music Festival Committee for consideration by June 30^th following the current year Music Festival.

Contributions to trophies, scholarships and the Music Festival Patron program are encouraged and appreciated.  The Music Festival Committee must approve such initiatives prior to any commitment made on behalf of the donor to the Midland Music Festival.

1.5

Any matter not dealt with in the Rules and Regulations will be referred to the Music Festival Committee whose decision will be final. 

1.6

Rules and Regulations of the Midland Music Festival are based upon the goals and expectations of the Royal Conservatory of Music (“RCM”) and The Canadian Conservatory (“CC”).

2.1

The Midland Music Festival in co-operation with Huronia Communities Foundation is now able to issue tax receipts for donations. Your donation is made directly to the HCF with instructions to Midland Music Festival. For most donors this means that the net cost of $165 donations is now less than $100, $200 would cost less than $120 after tax. Donations can be made directly online via HCF web. www.huroniacommunities.com or mail your donation to Midland Y’s Men’s Music Festival and receipts will be issued accordingly. For more detail on becoming a Patron contact Festival Director, Tim Dunlop at 705-528-0863 or email the Festival.

3.1

All classes shall be open to amateurs only.  For the purpose of these entries, an amateur shall be defined as one whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the profession or practice of music.

3.2

Classes marked “Open” are open to all aged participants within the guidelines noted for the section or the class.

Piano categories are as per RCM or equivalent grade level. Vocal categories are as per age unless otherwise indicated.
Guitar categories are as follows (unless otherwise indicated): Junior – 12 & under, Intermediate – 15 & under, Senior – 18 & under. In all other disciplines the categories are as follows: Primary – 8 yrs & under, Junior – 9 to 11 yrs, Intermediate 12 to 15 yrs, Senior 16 – 18 yrs.

In all classes in which an age limit is set, performers must be within the prescribed age on the first day of January of the current Music Festival year.  Participants must give date of birth on the Participant’s entry form. 

Photocopying of copyright music for the purpose of performance is illegal.  No photocopies, computer-generated copies or copy derived from computer programmes will be allowed in the Music Festival in any case whatsoever.  Evidence of legal authorization by the publisher is the exception. 

4.2 

The Music Festival Committee reserves the right to disqualify any participant presenting a photocopy, computer-generated copy or copy derived from computer programmes.  Please note that this requirement also applies to accompanists.

4.3 

Accompanists may use photocopies to facilitate page turns, but an original copy of the music must be placed face up on the piano during the performance.

4.3.1 

These rules follow the standards as set out by the Ontario Music Festival Association of which the Music Festival is a member (see rule 6.1 in OMFA’s syllabus at www.omfa.info).

A musical composition is a piece of music designed by its creator for repeated performance (as opposed to strictly improvisational music, in which each performance is unique).  The music may be preserved in memory (i.e. Folk Songs passed on through tradition) or through a written system of notation using the musical elements melody, harmony, time, rhythm and dynamics.  Original Compositions are written songs performed by human voice(s) as well as pieces written in various forms for other musical instruments.

In all “Own Choice” classes, participants must provide a copy of the music selected for the use of the Adjudicator.  Such music must be delivered to the presiding secretary immediately preceding the respective discipline presentation.  Please note that both the accompanist’s copy and the Adjudicator’s copy must be original copies of the music (4.2 above).  Failure to comply with this rule may result in a non-competitive performance.  

Music must be recovered from the presiding secretary by the Participant immediately following the respective discipline presentation.

5.4

Transpositions will be allowed in all vocal classes.  All transpositions must be in the hands of the accompanist one month prior to the first day of the Music Festival.

The music of Foreign Language Classes in the vocal discipline must be in a language other than Canada’s official languages.

5.6

All solo pieces must be performed from memory unless otherwise specified. Failure to do so will result in a loss of 5 marks and the performance will not be eligible for a prize.   Duets, trios, ensembles, improvisation, quick studies, original compositions and solo instrumental presentations are the exception. 

If a participant enters a piece in a class that the adjudicator considers inappropriate, the adjudicator may offer adjudication only and no mark. 

Accompanists playing for schools are paid by the Festival @ $16.00 per hour.  

Copies of the syllabus and entry forms may be obtained from:

• The Midland Music Festival website at:      www.midlandmusicfestival.ca
   

• Johnstone’s Music Land, Midland

Entry forms should be carefully completed online at www.midlandmusicfestival.ca by the deadline date of January 29th in the current festival year. Follow each page until you receive a registration number, until then you are not registered.     Late entries will not be accepted.

An entry will not be considered as being received until fees have been received.

6.4

It is the responsibility of the Participant and Teachers to read all rules and regulations and enter the correct class by CLASS NUMBER.

Entry fees cannot be refunded except when the entry is rejected by the Festival Committee. The Festival Committee reserves the right to reject any entry for any reason at its discretion.

Classes with a single entry may perform and be adjudicated at the same time as another class, but will be evaluated as a distinct class.

Performers must not commence their presentation until the adjudicator gives a signal.

No participant, teacher or member of the public may speak to the Adjudicator. This may result in disqualification.  Necessary questions from anyone must be directed to the Adjudicator’s secretary or Venue Coordinator.

7.4

The marks awarded by the Adjudicator are final.  Marks belong to the Participant and will not be announced or be available to teachers, other parents or other participants.  The Music Festival emphasis is on the adjudication, not the competition.

7.5

The Festival Committee cannot guarantee that the class times that have been assigned to participants can be changed to accommodate conflicts.

7.6

Recording of a Participant’s performance will be allowed. HOWEVER, absolutely NO recording of the adjudicator’s remarks or flash photography during performances will be allowed.

7.7

Participants are asked to be prepared to announce their name, and the title and composer of their selected pieces.

7.8

Participants should be prepared to perform 15 minutes prior to their assigned time.

7.9

Maximum Class sizes will be 6. If more then 6 participates in a class, the class will be split, example 8 participates would split into 2 classes with 4 participates in each class.

7.9.1

The Festival Committee reserve the right to combine age categories if registration numbers are insufficient to warrant separate age categories.

8.0

The official accompanist will be available for chosen pieces in Elementary School vocal classes.  Warm-up music must be in the hands of the official accompanist one month prior to the Music Festival, for information regarding this please contact Anne Wilkes at 527-0480. 

If required for classes other than Elementary School Vocal, the Participant may pay a fee, agreeable to both soloist and accompanist, to the accompanist.

8.2

A tape-recorded accompaniment must be piano/instrumental only, no background vocals.  If a taped accompaniment is used, the Participant is required to provide own tape playback equipment. 

Admission

The Midland Music Festival is open to the public upon payment of the price of admission.  There will be an “all-inclusive” Season Pass to all Music Festival classes.  The Season Pass does not include entry to the “Festival of the Stars".  Performers, accompanists and participating teachers will be admitted free of charge. 

10.1

To receive an Award of Excellence, the Participant’s adjudicated mark must be 85 or higher.

10.2

To receive an Award of Proficiency, the Participant’s adjudicated mark must be 80 to 84.

10.3

To receive an Award of Achievement, the Participant’s adjudicated mark must be 75 to 79.

10.4

All other participants will receive an Award of Participation.

Participants qualifying for any of the Outstanding Solo Junior, Intermediate or Senior Awards must perform and place in at least three solo classes, two of which must be from the Royal Conservatory of Music or Canadian Conservatory Syllabi (except in non-conservatory disciplines). 

10.6

10.7

Where warranted by the adjudicator’s assessment, awards will be presented to a broad base of participants.

10.8

All pieces must be at the competitor’s current level of study or above. (Level of study is determined by the grade level of the majority of pieces played and/or by the last conservatory exam taken) Any piece played below the current level of study will not be included in the average for Awards.  It is strongly recommended that each participant will perform at their current level or above, opposed to a lower level already completed. Competitors must elect which class to enter, subject to grade limits, and shall not be eligible to compete in another class in the same section, but may enter classes of a different type. For example, a competitor may enter Gr. 4 Solo-Conservatory and Gr. 5 Solo-Conservatory List A, but may not enter Gr. 4 Solo-Conservatory and Gr. 5 Solo-Conservatory.)

Placement marks will be averaged and are subject to the adjudicator’s reflections in determining awards.  The adjudicator’s decision is final.

Funds for scholarships and awards are raised within our community and the Midland Music Festival is grateful for the local support of our area. Accordingly, all scholarships will, in return, be awarded to the residents of our community.

11.1

The Music Festival will culminate each season with the “Festival of the Stars” Awards and Concert Evening. If selected as a winner of an award, the winner should be available to perform or to receive their award. The Festival reserves the right to select performers and repertoire for the Festival of the Stars Concert. These selections will be based on adjudicator’s recommendations. Performers selected to play at the Festival of the Stars will be notified by phone and/or email. First place standing in a class does not ensure that a participant will be chosen to play at the Festival of the Stars. Trophies and scholarships will be awarded at the Festival of the Stars. 

12.1

Neither Participants, Teachers nor others are permitted to enter into any discussions or correspondence with the Adjudicators before, during or after the Festival is over.

12.2

Complaints and protests must be made directly to the Administrative Assistant in writing to 338 King Street, Midland, ON L4R 3M8 within 24 hours of the conclusion of the protested class, and must be accompanied by a fee equivalent to the entry fee of the class protested. If a protest is sustained, the fee will be refunded. Such complaints and protest are not to be discussed with the adjudicator.

Revised September 2010