Rules

Eligibility to compete
1. No singer may be a member of more than one choir in each competition.

Repertoire
1. No choir may sing the same repertoire in two different competitions.
2. Adjudicators will award marks for the technical and artistic  quality of the chosen programme and the overall quality of its performance. They will also take into account how well the choir communicates with the
audience in a performance situation.
3. Change/s to submitted programme/s is/are not permitted.
4. In competitions A, the combined performance time of the chosen programmes must not exceed 12 minutes. In all other competitions, the combined time of the chosen programme must not exceed 8 minutes.
5. The adjudicators will penalise choirs whose programmes exceed the prescribed limits.
6. The use of any pitched instrument is not permitted in competition A.
7. Sheet music is not necessary for Gospel or Barbershop Competitions.

Entry procedure

1. Entry fee of Q50 per choir and per competition must accompany each  entry - fees are not refundable.  
2. Only original sheet music may be submitted with the application - photocopies are not acceptable.
(a)  Choirs entering competition A should submit 4 original copies of each piece. Each piece of music should be identified to comply with criteria (1), (11), (111).
(b)  Choir entering all other competitions should submit 2 original copies of each piece.

n.b Competitors are reminded that it is illegal to photocopy (or copy by any other means) works which are copyright, without the permission of the copyright holder. The festival and/or adjudicator/s may refuse  photocopied items where competitors cannot produce proof of permission to copy. Should a choir do so, the Committee will accept no responsibility for any action taken later by the publishers.

3. Choirs requiring the services of the festival accompanist must submit an extra copy of sheet music marked  “Official Accompanist Copy”
4. Each entry must be made on a separate official entry form  - photocopy if necessary.
5. Translations should be submitted where appropriate.
6. Incomplete entries will be returned.
7. Late entries will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
8. Our bankers are - Bank of Ireland, Stephen Street, Sligo, Ireland.
Acccount No.: 2644 7302, Sort Code: 905440

General

1. The decisions of the adjudicators will be final in all competitions and no correspondence will be entered
into regarding any aspect of their work.
2. The committee reserves the right to refuse entries.
3. The committee reserves the right to cancel a competition if it is of the opinion that -
a. sufficient entries have not been received.
b. the submitted programme does not, in the opinion of the music subcommittee, reach the desired standard.

4. The committee reserves the right to restrict the number of entries in any class where the maximum
number, which can be adequately dealt with, has been reached.
5. The time shown on the programme will be the time at which the particular session commences. The committee reserves the right to change the order of events at its discretion.
6. The decisions of the committee in all matters arising out of, or not specifically  covered in these rules, are final.
7. The committee accepts no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect of anything  pertaining to a choir's
participation in the festival and its associated activities.
8. Please book your accommodation as soon as possible.
9. Please submit all items as per CHECK LIST on ENTRY FORM
10. Choirs should bring their own keyboards for practice/warm-up.
11. Choirs competing in competition G - Gospel Choirs - may only use piano or keyboard and no other instruments.
12. Choirs will not be allowed to practice on stage before competition.
13. All choirs must provide their own transport.
14. Schools competitions L, M, N, O and P are open only to School based choirs. Members of individual choirs must  be members of the same School and in the intererests of fairness, these competitions are not open to privately-run choirs e.g. Schools of Music, Stage Schools etc. There is a Youth Choir Competion for such choirs.
15. ALL CHOIRS SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 12  VOICES