NOTES AND RULES

Please note that there are some changes for 2006.

Please ensure that you carefully read these General Notes & Rules for these sections of the festival.

SYLLABUS AND ENTRY FORMS obtainable from:

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES
Entry Forms to be returned to Administration by 30th November 2005

Trophies
Trophies must be returned (in a clean condition) by 22nd January 2006 to the Relevant Section Co-ordinator.

NOTES & RULES for MUSIC, SPEECH & DRAMA SECTIONS:
Please read carefully (see separate rules for Dance Section)

AGE is taken as on 1st September IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the Festival. Incorrect age will lead to disqualification.

BEGINNERS Those learning a particular skill for less than two years.

OPEN CLASSES Anyone, of any age, professional or amateur may compete.

CONDUCTORS FOR MUSIC CLASSES (choirs & orchestras) may conduct in more than one class. They must not sing or make any sound. Please bring own music stands.

OWN CHOICE CLASSES Legible scripts/scores/manuscripts must be given to the Adjudicator's Steward with a postcard stating class number, entrant’s name, author, title, & publisher when the competitor is called; please do not send them in advance. No set piece may be used again as an Own Choice. Choices from all recent and current Guildhall, Trinity, LAMDA & ABRSM lists (or equivalent) will be acceptable.

PREVIOUS WINNING SONGS A competitor who has performed a winning song at this festival is not permitted to repeat that same song in any vocal class at this festival within a period of three years.

PHOTOCOPIES When an Own Choice is selected from a publication containing several works and is not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of the Adjudicator provided the competitor has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy made is subsequently destroyed. This permission does not apply to set works. Details of all items performed at this Festival are required by the Performing Rights Society.

USE OF RECORDED MUSIC The Festival is affiliated to the British & International Federation of Festivals and participates in its Group Licence covering fees for the use of recorded music. Teachers using tapes created from commercial recordings must themselves obtain permission to re-record from the record companies concerned.

TIME LIMITS Maximum timings are listed for each class: you may perform in less time if you wish, but marks will be lost for exceeding the time limit.

NON-COMPETITIVE ENTRIES may be accepted for any class. If this is clearly stated on the entry form, only oral and written criticisms will be given (no mark or trophy).

SUBSTITUTION of competitors only under exceptional circumstances, and by prior agreement of the Committee whose decision is final.

MOBILE TELEPHONES must be silenced.

AUDITION CONDITIONS are required throughout.

NO SMOKING in any part of the Festival venue, at any time.

SELECTING DATES & TIMES The Committee does try to accommodate requests for specific performance dates and times, but such requests cannot always be met.

PROGRAMME TIMES - are approximate and competitors may be asked to perform (at the Adjudicator's discretion) up to 15 minutes earlier than scheduled.

ADJUDICATION in all cases, the adjudicator's decision is final, and not open to debate. Adjudicators are highly experienced experts in their field. They advise, encourage and sometimes admonish. Entering the Festival is a rare opportunity to obtain criticism at the highest level as a performer, and although there are inevitably fewer winners than candidates, it is those who act upon the adjudicator's remarks who gain most.

PHOTOGRAPHY - The Festival is bound by copyright law and cannot allow flash photography, tape or video recordings, all of which are absolutely forbidden during performances or adjudication.

TROPHIES will be presented to Winners gaining a minimum of 84 marks. They must be returned in good condition by 15th January to the relevant Section Co-ordinator (see list of Festival Officials). Trophies may be appropriately engraved at the winner's expense. Several trophies are awarded on the strength of performances in more than one class. Claims for these awards must be lodged with Festival officials by the last day of the competitions. No claims can be considered after this. If in any doubt please make a claim.. Some classes have no trophies allocated yet. We invite the donation of trophies for these.

Marking

Fee Codes

In line with rising costs we have been obliged to adjust some entry fees. Please ensure you enter the correct fee on the entry form.

Any competitor who enters six classes or more may deduct £10 from the total fee.

VOLUNTEERS We are constantly seeking 'new blood' to support the Festival's work and future plans. Please telephone or email the Chairman chairman@devonpaf.org.uk if you are interested in becoming involved.

HALL OF FAME We are currently preparing records of the many entrants who have been launched on their performing careers by their early efforts in the Devon Performing Arts Festival. It may be assumed that we know who they all are - we don't. The type of thing we are looking for is “Did you know that X first sang at the Devon Festival in 1981 at the age of 8 and is now an Opera Singer touring with the YZ Opera Company?” Please tell us. Once we are satisfied that we've included as many as we can, we hope to publish the results. We should also welcome information about the history of any of the Devon Festival trophies for our website.

GALA CONCERT will take place in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Exeter. Following the four weeks of the Festival competitions we invite some of the most outstanding acts from each discipline to perform in front of a large public audience. The Lord Mayor will present a small selection of the major awards. The Gala Concert is an impressive showcase of the Region's talent as displayed throughout the Festival, and will be produced and presented by festival entrants.