Addressed to male, female and mixed choirs, vocal groups with max. 12 singers, youth and children choirs, gospel/spiritual choirs, the competition will take place in the enchanting City of Rome. Comprehends categories with and without compulsory piece; a repertoire of both sacred and profane a-cappella music is to be present. Set piece in category A.
For the choirs who do not take part in the competition: SPECIAL FESTIVAL CATEGORY WITHOUT COMPETITION.
Besides the competition, choirs will have the possibility to perform in the wonderful churches and open spaces of the Eternal City, and to sing during the Mass in the most important churches and Basilicas of Rome.
- In this category choirs will perform with a program of their choice (free program). The length of the performance must be of 16 minutes maximum. The choirs will sing in a special and different session than the competition. Choirs will be listened by one or more members of the international jury.
- At the end of each choir’s performance, the jury members will be at the choir and conductor’s disposal for a short meeting and discussion. A written expert analysis will be drafted and sent to the choirs at the end of the Festival together with a diploma attesting their participation in the Festival.
- All choirs (male, female, mixed, youth, vocal groups, gospel/spiritual choirs) can take part in this category. The number of choir members is not restricted.
- Choirs in this category will not be ranked.
- The instrumental accompaniment is permitted during the performance and is not compulsory prior confirmation of the Jury (choirs are kindly asked to communicate the song performed with instruments and the kind of instrument).
- Choirs enrolling in this category will also take part in the other music activities.
2. CATEGORIES WITH COMPETITION
Classification
Class A = mixed choirs, divided in categories A1, A2 Class B = female choirs Class C = male choirs Class D = youth choirs divided in categories D1 (up to 14 years) and D2 (up to 18 years) and D2 Class E = vocal groups (max. 12 singers) Class F = gospel and spirituals choirs
Categories and Repertoire FESTIVAL category (without competition)
Repertoire: works of free choice (see point 1 above)
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Class A: MIXED CHOIRS
Category A1: with one set piece (The set piece is “Ave Maria” by Francesco Paolo Neglia)
Category A2: without set piece
Repertoire (category A1): works of free choice and one set piece
Repertoire (category A2): works of free choice
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Class B: FEMALE CHOIRS
Category B: without set piece
Repertoire: works of free choice
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Class C: MALE CHOIRS
Category C: without set piece
Repertoire: works of free choice
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Class D: CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHOIRS
Category D1: children choirs (up to 14 years)
Category D2: youth choirs (up to 18 years)
Repertoire for both categories: works of free choice
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Class E: VOCAL GROUPS UP TO 12 VOICES
For any type of vocal group
Repertoire: works of free choice
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Class F: GOSPEL AND SPIRITUAL CHOIRS
For any type of choir
Gospel and/or spiritual repertoire.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Each choir may sing in more than one category, but must present a different selection of music in each category.
- The order of the performances in each category will be drawn by lots by the jury.
- The set work “Ave Maria” by Francesco Paolo Neglia, must be sung in the original tonality and must be performed at the beginning of the program. If the choirs don’t have the scores of the set work, they could receive them from the Permanent Festival Secretariat.
- All the works in all categories must be sung a cappella.
- The length of the performance for classes A, B and C must be 15 - 20 minutes, while for classes D, E and F it is 12 - 15 minutes.
3. THE JURY
The decisions of the jury are final and binding. No appeals through the courts may be made. The deliberations of the jury are not public. All the events are public.
4. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
a) technique
b) artistry
5. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
- male, female and mixed choirs, vocal groups, gospel and spiritual choirs, youth choirs and children choirs may take part in the Festival. All choir members except the conductor, must be amateurs.
- when registering, the following documentation must be handed in:
a) a short biography of the choir and the conductor in English (to send by email); b) a JPEG picture of the choir (to send by email);
c) three copies of the scores readable and in Latin fonts (to send by normal mail); d) audio recording of the choir (possibly as an Mp3 file to be sent by email);
e) copy of the bank transfer certifying the payment;
Please note that these documents will be at the Festival Secretariat’s disposal and will not be returned.
Prizes
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded for each category.
Considering a maximum of 100 points, the medals will be awarded as follows: 70,00 - 79,99 points: bronze
80,00 - 89,99 points: silver
90,00 - 100,00 points: gold
One single money prize will be given in each category to the choir awarded the highest marks. The amount of the money prizes - see the tables below - will depend on the type of medal awarded to the choir with the highest marks in its category.
Category A1:
highest mark with gold medal: € 700
highest mark with silver medal: € 500
highest mark with bronze medal: € 300
Categories A2, B, C:
highest mark with gold medal: € 500
highest mark with silver medal: € 350
highest mark with bronze medal: € 200
Categories: D1, D2: highest mark with gold medal: € 300
highest mark with silver medal: € 200
highest mark with bronze medal: € 150
Category E, F: highest mark with gold medal: € 300
highest mark with silver medal: € 200
highest mark with bronze medal: € 150
These prizes will only be awarded if there are at least three choirs in the category concerned. If there are fewer entries, the prize money may be reduced. At the discretion of the jury, the prizes may be divided or reduced.
PLEASE NOTE: the money prizes will be awarded pre-tax
Every choir taking part in the competition will be given a certificate of participation.
Special prizes
"Orlando di Lasso" Cup: the cup will be awarded to the choir with the highest mark over all categories.
Choir Master’s Award: the prize of € 150 may be awarded to the best choir master for a particularly outstanding performance.
Program
I DAY
- Arrival of all participants and check-in in the hotels.
- Afternoon, meeting of all choir directors and the jury members, discussion of the Festival program and selection of the performances' order by lots for each category.
- Evening, inaugural concert with all choirs in the beautiful Basilica of St. Ignazio right in the centre of the Eternal City near the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
II DAY
- Morning: performance of the choirs in the FESTIVAL category (without competition).
- Afternoon: performance of the choirs taking part in the Competition III DAY
- Morning: tour of Rome (walking tour of approx. three hours): one of the highlights of the tour is the Trevi Fountain, Rome’s biggest fountain and an obligatory stop for every visitor who wishes to assure his return to Rome in the future by throwing a coin into the fountain over his shoulder. The Spanish Steps, one of the most picturesque scenes of Rome, are another part of the tour. Next we will visit the Pantheon, Emperor Hadrian’s monumental temple, an impressive and enormous construction from the Roman Empire which has survived almost intact until our days. The tour will finish with the visit of one of the most famous squares of Rome – Piazza Navona where choirs can taste the most famous Italian ice-creams.
- Afternoon: music activities (possibility to sing during the Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica/other Basilicas, open air concerts, etc.);
- Evening: announcement of the winning choirs, prize awarding ceremony and final concert given by the winning choirs;
- After the final concert, dinner party for all choirs.
IV DAY
- During the day: possibility to sing during the Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica/other Basilicas;
- Departures/possibility to extend the stay in Italy visiting Florence, Assisi etc. (prices upon request)
The organizer reserves the right to make any changes required due to technical reasons.
If the minimum number of participants has not been reached within the subscription deadline, the competition may be transformed into a choir review. The choirs that have subscribed will be entitled to take part in the choir festival performing in concerts, choir parade, etc., or to obtain the refund of the deposit.
