Sections:

Rules and Regulations

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1. Rotary Music Festival Participation

Participation in Rotary Music Festival is open to all performing groups in the areas of Concert Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Chamber Groups, and Combos. Affiliate Combos are affiliated with a registered group. Non-Affiliate Combos are not affiliated with any registered groups.

2. Registration Fees

Please note the increase in primary groups to $200

Concert Bands	$200.00	Additional Concert Bands	$125.00
Choirs	$200.00	Additional Choirs	$125.00
Orchestras	$200.00	Additional Orchestras	$125.00
Jazz Bands	$200.00	Additional Jazz Bands	$125.00
Combos (Non-Affiliate)	$200.00	Combos (Affiliate)	$125.00
Chamber Group	$90.00

REGISTRATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

Important Note: Registration for the Festival will NOT occur in two phases (i.e., no pre-registration date). There will only be ONE DATE FOR REGISTRATION on November 21, 2008, at which time ALL FEES WILL BE DUE. Late registration will be accepted provided there is space in the schedule.

3. Verification of Status

A nominal roll of ensemble members must accompany registration for participants in classes with age restrictions. All members must meet the age restriction, which apply as of January 1, 2009. In addition, each member must be a bona fide student enrolled in a full time program within the school(s) concerned at the time of Rotary Music Festival. Both the director and the principal of the school(s) concerned must verify this role. This rule does not apply to community ensembles.

College and University ensembles must provide verification of enrolment in the institution concerned. The verification must be signed by the registrar and submitted prior to the beginning of the Festival.

4. Festival Divisions

A. Jazz Festival
B. Concert Band Festival (includes Chamber Groups)
C. Choral Festival
D. Orchestra Festival

See Section on Festival Divisions below

5. Clinic Only

Groups wishing to participate in the Rotary Music Festival but not play against the standard will have no restrictions placed upon them. Instrumentation, age, institutional affiliation and selection of music will depend on the director and the individual circumstances involved.

Groups which opt for a Clinic Only are requested to prepare two or three selections to be performed for the clinicians. These will be adjudicated in the broadest of terms so as to permit the clinicians to focus on the specific needs of the ensemble. Sessions will be as flexible as possible so that the clinicians can cater to the requirements of the group.

6. Standard of Performance

Groups which opt to play to the standard will be required to adhere to all rules and regulations outlined in this document. These rules and regulations have been established to maintain the educational integrity and management effectiveness of the Rotary Music Festival. It should be noted that Concert Bands playing to the standard must select one piece from the syllabus found by clicking here. Please note that the Syllabus is updated every year and must be adhered to in its most current form.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Standards of Performance are recognized by the Rotary Music Festival in various classes.

Gold Standard signifies that a group is demonstrating an exceedingly high standard of musical performance.
Silver Standard signifies an above average quality of performance with the latitude for improvement.
Bronze Standard acknowledges an average quality performance.

Click here to download the Directors Guide to Performance Preparation.

6.1 Participation in MusicFest Canada

For groups intending to participate at Musicfest Canada, it is the responsibility of the Director to be familiar with the Rules and Regulations of MusicFest Canada. We are affiliates with MusicFest Canada and to obtain an invitation your group must receive a gold or silver standard in Rotary Music Festival. Groups participating at Musicfest Canada must perform one piece notated by an asterisks ('*') in the Rotary Music Festival syllabus. For further information, contact Rotary Music Festival.

7. Adjudication to the Standards and Awards

All groups choosing to do so will be adjudicated to the "Standard of Performance" as outlined in section 6. Musical integrity will be the basis of evaluation. Adjudicators will consider stylistic interpretation, intonation, dynamics, attacks, releases, articulations, balance, instrumentation, phrasing, repertoire, and improvisation and diction where they apply.

Adjudicators' comments will reflect a total assessment of the performance selections. Written and/or recorded adjudications will be made available at the conclusion of the Festival. All results will be available the day following individual clinic performances from the Perlin Room at Memorial University School of Music.

The award of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Standard of Performance Awards presented in the class will be at the SOLE DISCRETION OF THE ADJUDICATORS. Adjudicators will issue awards solely on the basis of performance. There will be no ranking of groups, and the number of awards at any standard is not limited. All award decisions are final.

8. Knowing the Rules

It is the responsibility of each ensemble director to be familiar with the Rules and Regulations and all pertinent information. It is the responsibility of each ensemble director to discuss the Rules and Regulations and all pertinent information with all participants in preparation for attending the Rotary Music Festival. Concerns regarding the Rules and Regulations should be discussed with the Rules and Regulations Committee. DIRECTORS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS EVERY YEAR AS IMPORTANT REVISIONS ARE COMMON.

9. Supervision and Conduct

Directors and participating ensembles have the sole responsibility for the conduct of ensemble members during the Rotary Music Festival. Directors must maintain proper order and conduct of their group at the performance venues, the concert venues, and all other Rotary Music Festival sites. Directors must solicit the assistance of sufficient supervisors to ensure orderly behavior.

It is expected that participants will demonstrate respect at all times for the rights of others and conform to the regulations and bylaws of Memorial University and Cochrane Street United Church. Problems and violations brought to the attention of the Management and Operations Committee will be dealt with appropriately and may result in disciplinary action.

Failure to maintain orderly conduct will result in dismissal. (See Section 11)

10. Enforcement of Rules

THE ROTARY MUSIC FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE WILL ENFORCE ALL FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER ALL DISPUTES. THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION WILL BE FINAL.

11. Suspension, Dismissal and Appeals

Rotary Music Festival reserves the right to enact the following sanctions for violation of the Rules and Regulations:

SUSPENSION: Suspension will result from flagrant time violations, age infractions, illegal substitution, and other rule infractions deemed by the Rules and Regulations Committee to constitute grounds for suspension. An ensemble which has been suspended shall be deemed ineligible for all Festival awards.
DISMISSAL: Dismissal will result from conduct which is perceived to be detrimental to the aims of Rotary Music Festival. An ensemble which has been dismissed will have all rights and privileges of participating in the Rotary Music Festival revoked.
APPEAL OF SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL: Appeal will be made in writing to the Chair of the Rules and Regulations Committee who, in consultation with the committee members, will review the sanction and notify the Director of the ensemble of the decision. All such decisions will be final.

12. Use of Festival Equipment and Liability Disclaimer

Participants of the Rotary Music Festival will be provided the use of various equipment for their performance(s). Click here for a comprehensive list of Festival-provided equipment. Percussionists and drummers may ADD BUT NOT SUBSTITUTE drums, cymbals, or other hardware / instruments to the setup.

While the Festival will provide rooms for participants to place instruments, coats, and other belongings during their performance(s), the Festival is not liable for lost items at any of the Festival venues. A lost and found bin will be located in the Festival office at Memorial University School of Music, which is the Perlin Room found just outside the main entrance to the D. F. Cook Recital Hall. Upon conclusion of the Festival all lost and found items will be held for 30 days only, after which time unclaimed items will be discarded.

13. Scheduling

To facilitate scheduling, please inform the Rotary Music Festival committee of any school or community conflicts that will occur during the Festival. Scheduling is done on a first come, first serve basis. Once the master schedule has been printed there will be no alterations except under the following circumstances:

In exceptional circumstances ensembles may, in consultation with Management and Operations Committee, change scheduled slots if in the opinion of the Rules and Regulations committee sufficient notice has been given to accommodate the change. Schedule alterations will also depend on mutual agreement between directors in the slots involved unless there is an open slot available. The ruling of the Rules and Regulations Committee will be final.
Alterations may also result from delays and unforeseen circumstances experienced during the Festival which will be dealt with as efficiently as possible so as not to interfere with the master schedule. In no case will an extension be given beyond the assigned time unless it is the fault of Rotary Music Festival, and then only at the discretion of the Rules and Regulations Committee.

14. Permission to Use Recorded Visual Media

The Rotary Music Festival committee and/or others authorized by the committee may be photographing or taping various segments of the Festival for future use in publications, websites, or broadcasts. Participation in the publications, websites, or broadcasts is at the option of the Rotary Music Festival committee or the producers. All ensembles, UNLESS THEY HAVE NOTIFIED THE FESTIVAL IN WRITING THAT THEY DO NO WISH TO PARTICIPATE, will be considered for participation. Registration for the Festival constitutes the granting by the ensemble of permission for such photographing or taping and constitutes a waiver of all fees and royalties unless the Festival is notified in advance in writing.

FESTIVAL DIVISIONS

A. Jazz Festival

CATEGORIES OF ENSEMBLES:

Jazz Band: Minimum standard instrumentation recommended is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, and 4 rhythm with no fewer than 10, nor more that 24, on stage at one time.
Jazz Combo: No fewer than 2 or more than 9, plus two vocalists.
Dixieland Combo: Suggested instrumentation is trumpet/cornet, trombone, clarinet, sax, and rhythm.

PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE:

All groups should present a program of three contrasting selections with the opportunity for solo work.
Two scores and/or three lead sheets of each selection to be performed (with numbered measures) are required by the Festival.
Jazz repertoire is encouraged, pop music is inappropriate.
In combo classes, it is highly recommended that each member improvise.
It is recommended that performance time not exceed 20 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble's time with the clinicians.
Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time and thus deducted from the overall length of the clinic.

B. Concert Band / Chamber Ensemble Festival

CATEGORIES OF ENSEMBLES:

Chamber Group: 3 to 9 performers of brass, woodwind and/or percussion instruments
Concert Band: Minimum group size should be able to reflect the musical intentions of the composer/arranger of the selections performed.

PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE:

Chamber Groups: Ensembles are required to perform two contrasting selections of their own choice. Two copies of each score are required.
Concert Bands: Bands are required to perform 2 selections at their class level. One selection must be from the Festival syllabus and the other a selection of contrasting style. Bands opting for a clinic only may play 2 or 3 selections of their own choice. Bands may perform a short warm up which will not be adjudicated. Two copies of each score are required. Pop material is inappropriate.
It is recommended that performance time not exceed 20 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble's time with the clinicians.
Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time and thus deducted from the overall length of the clinic.

C. Choral Festival

CATEGORIES OF ENSEMBLES:

Concert Choir: singers performing in traditional style.
Chamber Choir: singers performing in traditional style.

PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE:

A group will perform a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of four (4) contrasting selections.
A cappella singing is encouraged in all categories.
Each group must provide two (2) copies of the score for each performance selection.
The accompanist need not comply with the age and institutional restrictions of the class entered.
It is recommended that performance time not exceed 20 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble's time with the clinicians.
Time taken for onstage warm-ups, etc. will be considered performance time and thus deducted from the overall length of the clinic.

D. Orchestra Festival

PRESENTATION AND PERFORMANCE:

Orchestras are required to perform two selections of their choice for playing to the standard or for clinic only.
Orchestras may perform a short warm up piece which will not be adjudicated.
Each group must provide two (2) copies of the score for each performance selection.
It is recommended that performance time not exceed 20 minutes in order to maximize the ensemble's time with the clinicians.
Time taken for onstage tuning will be considered performance time and thus deducted from the overall length of the clinic.