1 Entry Forms  Entries should arrive on or before Saturday 29 November 2008.  Music entries must be sent to Laura McEwan, speech entries to Gillian Provan and dance entries to Pam Gillies at Glasgow Music Festival, PO Box 7057, Glasgow, G44 9AU.  A separate entry form must be used for each entry.  Extra forms may be photocopied, downloaded from www.glasgowmusicfestival.org, or obtained from the Secretary.  Where a form is not fully completed, the entry may be refused.

2 Performers' eligibility  All performers, other than conductors, must be amateurs.  Amateurs are people for whom participation in the branch of the art in which they have entered is incidental to their normal occupation.  Those ineligible under this regulation may, however, perform as part of a group provided that they receive no remuneration for their work with the group.  All performers in a group must have been bona fide regular members of that group for not less than two months prior to the opening date of the Festival.

3 Child protection policy  It is the policy of Glasgow Music Festival Association to inform and involve parents, guardians, carers and teachers in partnership to create, as far as is reasonably practicable, a safe environment at the Festival.  Responsibility for the supervision of children attending the Festival in any capacity lies with parents/guardians/carers who should ensure that their children are accompanied and supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf at all times.  The Association has published a Child Protection Policy which may be obtained from the Secretary.  Click here to view the policy.

4 School groups  Groups performing in classes which are specifically for schools must comprise children and young people from a single day school or boarding school.

5 Ages and grades  Where an age limit is specified, the date at which the age is to be taken is 1 March 2009.  "Open" Classes are of an advanced standard.  Within a range of similar classes, an "A" Class is intended to be more advanced than a "B" Class, etc.

6 Progression  A performer or group which has gained the first award in the same class of any section for two years in succession must move on in the following year to a higher class in the section, unless no such class is provided.

7 Multiple entries  Performers may enter more than one class unless the syllabus states otherwise.  Only conductors may take part with more than one group in any one class.  In choral, orchestral and band classes a performer may take part with more than one group provided that the groups are unconnected and have entered the Festival independently.

8 Assisting performers  Conductors must not sing with their choirs.  Members of the audience must not prompt or direct performers during a performance.

9 Accompaniment  Test pieces having a piano accompaniment are to be performed with accompaniment unless the syllabus states otherwise.  An official accompanist is available unless the syllabus states otherwise, but performers may bring their own accompanist if they so prefer.  Performers requiring the services of the official accompanist must indicate their requirements on the entry form.  Pre-recorded accompaniments may not be used.  See also regulation 18 concerning "Own choice" pieces.

10 Key, pitch and tuning  Except in unaccompanied choral classes, where the raising or lowering of pitch by a semitone is permitted, test pieces must be performed in the key used in the prescribed edition, unless the syllabus states otherwise.  Solo or semi-chorus passages in a choral test piece may be sung by any number of voices at the conductor's discretion.  Where permitted in the syllabus, performers who elect to sing a test piece in a key other than that specified in the syllabus must provide a legible copy in that key for the accompanist.  British Standard Pitch will be used in all events. Where possible, the main tuning of instruments must be undertaken outside the hall.

11 How much to play  In instrumental classes, only short repeats should be played.  In classes with two or more test pieces, each performer may be asked to play only piece (a), the adjudicator then selecting performers to play any further test pieces.

12 Set test pieces  Where a test piece is prescribed in the syllabus it is to be performed from the edition specified unless the syllabus states otherwise.

13 Solo and Group verse  Poems in these classes must be performed from memory.

14 Own Choice test pieces - selection  Any "Own Choice" test piece selected by a performer in any class should provide a definite contrast in mood, rhythm and key to the other piece(s) in the same class.  Performers are advised not to select a piece which takes longer to perform than the average piece set in similar classes in the syllabus; otherwise the adjudicator may require a cut to be made.  Performers may not select a piece which they have performed at either of the two previous Glasgow Music Festivals or which they are performing in another class at the current Festival.  Audiences at the Festival comprise people of all ages including children.  Performers must ensure that all works being performed are suitable for this audience and, in particular, do not include material that is inappropriate for children.

15 Own Choice test pieces - time limit and duration  Performers must ensure that Own Choice test piece(s) do not exceed the time limit prescribed for the class.  Should the time limit stated in the syllabus be exceeded during a performance, the performer may still receive an adjudication but no mark will be awarded.  The duration of each Own Choice piece must be stated on the entry form to enable the time-table to be prepared accurately.

16 Own Choice test pieces - programme particulars  On every entry form, full particulars of each Own Choice test piece must be given.  This must include: title, movements (where applicable), composer/author and  publisher.  If the piece is to be performed in a key which is different from the one printed, this must also be stated.  In Speech and Drama classes where an extract from a work is to be performed, the boundaries of the extract must be given.

17 Own Choice test pieces - change of programme  There may occasionally be circumstances which make changing the stated Own Choice test piece unavoidable.  When this is the case, a piece of similar duration may be substituted and should be advised to the Secretary, and confirmed in writing, before the typesetting of the programme is completed.  Where a change occurs after this date, the performer may still perform and receive an adjudication (providing the piece takes no longer to play than the stated piece) but no mark will be awarded.

18 Own Choice test pieces - use of Official Accompanist  Where the Official Accompanist is required, a printed copy, not a photocopy, must be submitted along with the entry form, not later than Saturday 29 November 2008.  Music must be clearly labelled with name and class number.  If this is not done, the services of the Official Accompanist will not be available.  These copies are forwarded to the accompanists to enable them to prepare for the performance.

19 Own Choice test pieces - copy for use of the adjudicator  In all classes where an Own Choice piece is to be performed, a copy for the use of the adjudicator must be submitted on the day of the performance.  Such copy must be in the same edition and key as that used by the performer.  The name of the performer must be shown and the piece clearly marked.  Ensembles must submit a score of the chosen piece, NOT individual parts, for the use of the adjudicator on the day of the performance.  Copies of "Own Choice" pieces must be collected after the performance from the Registration Steward or from the Secretary's office.

20 Own Choice test pieces - photocopying  The Music Publishers Association has issued a revised Code of Practice on the copying of copyright works, and the following concession is made for copying "Own Choice" pieces from volumes only for the adjudicator.  Other items must not be photocopied without the permission of the copyright holder in each case.
"When an Own Choice piece is selected from a publication containing several different works and which is not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of an Adjudicator at a Competition or Festival provided that the competitor or participant has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy made is retained and destroyed by the Administrator of the Competition or Festival immediately after the event.  This permission specifically does not apply to prescribed pieces".
Performers are advised that this permission applies only to copyright holders who are Members of the Music Publishers Association (listed at the back of the Code of Practice leaflet, obtainable from the Association at 103 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6QX).  It is the performer's own responsibility to ensure that he/she seeks permission to copy direct from any copyright holder whose name does not appear in the MPA list.  Single copies of items may not be photocopied without the prior permission of the copyright holder.  The permission does not apply to making copies for the accompanist, who should always be given a printed copy from which to work.  Photocopies for the adjudicator must be totally legible and properly bound or they may be refused.

21 Songs from the shows  Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item, ie with no costume or movement, without the need for copyright permission.  Where a performance utilises costume and/or movement, copyright permission is required and entries are accepted strictly on the basis that the performer has sought and obtained the appropriate permission.  Further information may be obtained from the Secretary.

22 Adjudication, marks and certificates All performers will receive an adjudication and a Performance Certificate.  In addition to making a technical and artistic assessment of the performance, the adjudicator will take account of the participant's platform manner and general appearance.  Performers gaining the first three places in a class will be awarded certificates according to the following scale of marks:
  Honours  -  90% or more of the possible marks
  First Class - 85% to 89% of the possible marks
  Merit  - 80% to 84% of the possible marks
Where a trophy, award or prize is available, it may be awarded provided 85% or more of the possible mark has been gained.  Additionally, certificates may be given for performances which, in the opinion of the adjudicator(s) or the Committee, are of special merit.
Performers may take part in any class and elect to receive an adjudication but without marks.  If this is required, performers must advise the secretary in advance.

23 Premier classes  Winners of appropriate classes must gain at least 85% of the possible marks in order to qualify for participation.  Performers may enter as many "Open" classes as they wish, but may not take part more than twice in one Premier Class.

24 Judgement  The adjudicator's artistic judgement is final.  In other matters the Committee's decision is final.

25 Adjudicator's notes  These are normally distributed after a class.  Otherwise they may be had from the Secretary during the Festival, or by post on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope.

26 Failing to appear  Performers failing to appear when called upon will forfeit their, or their group's, right to take part in that event, subject to a right of appeal to the Secretary who may, if an opportunity can be found, allow them to participate.

27 Photography, audio and video recording  Members of the audience are not permitted to take any form of photograph or make any type of video or audio recording in performance areas.  Appointed press photography will be permitted in designated areas by prior arrangement with the Festival Secretary.

28 Trophies  Winners of trophies are requested to insure them while they have them.  Trophies awarded at the 2009 Festival should be returned in February 2010.  Holders will be notified of the arrangements.

29 Syllabus changes  In exceptional circumstances, the Committee may alter or cancel any of the arrangements detailed in the syllabus.

30 Festival Programme  The Committee will decide on the order of the classes and arrange the order of performance.  It may refuse any entry without assigning any reason.  Performers are responsible for ensuring that entries meet the requirements of the class and comply with these regulations.  Although the Secretaries will endeavour to identify difficulties in advance, the acceptance of an entry is not confirmation that these requirements have been met.

31 Comments and suggestions  All enquiries, suggestions or criticisms about the organisation of the Festival should be made in writing through the Secretary, and should be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope if a reply is required.