General Rules for the 2024 Festival
Eligibility
- Performers, unless otherwise stated, must be amateurs. An amateur shall be defined as a music student, performer or any person who does not earn significant income during the calendar year from performance or teaching in the discipline in which they are registering.
A professional shall be defined as an individual performing in a professional show or earning significant income (over $5000 for adults and over $1000 for children up to 18 years) from performing or teaching music, privately or in the school system. Musicians who are full members of Actra, Equity or the Musician’s Union are considered to be professional. A competitor who qualifies as a professional in one class (i.e. strings) may qualify as an amateur in other classes (i.e. voice or piano).
2. Performers in Choirs, Orchestras and Bands must be bona fide members of their respective organizations.
3. Conductors may be either professionals or amateurs. Conductors may not sing with their choirs or play with their orchestras or bands.
4. Place of residence does not affect eligibility to perform in the Kingston Kiwanis Music Festival and all performers will receive adjudications.
5. Eligibility for awards and to perform in the Highlights concert will be restricted to those who reside or attend school, in the townships and municipalities in the counties of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Leeds, Grenville, Hastings, and Prince Edward.
6. The maximum age for performers is 28 years as of December 31, 2023, for all levels except Adult. There are separate classes for amateur adults 29 years and over.
Registration and Fees
7. Entries must be submitted online when you register for classes on Music Festival Suite.
8. Accompaniment for most classes is by piano unless otherwise stated in the individual classes. Pop vocal classes may use purchased back-tracks without background vocals. Tracks can be purchased from www.karaoke-version.com. Performers are responsible to arrange for their own accompanists.
9. Registrants may log into their account to change and update their registration information until the closing of registration on January 31st, 2024.
10. Class fees are stated by class in the syllabus. Entry fees are not refundable except under circumstances when an entry is refused by the Board. Some financial assistance may be available. Please contact the festival registrar Joan Knox at: joan.kkmf@gmail.com to inquire.
Selection of Music and Classes
11. Performers may enter only once in any class unless otherwise indicated in the online notes for that class. In all classes where an age limit is indicated, the performer’s age shall be taken as of December 31st, 2023.
12. In Family Ensembles only members of the immediate family are eligible.
13. For all entries, except where otherwise indicated in the Syllabus, the title, movements, composer, and timing, must be specified on the entry form.
14. In solo, duet, and trio classes the selection must not be a work presented by any one of the performers, all or in part, at a previous Kingston Kiwanis Music Festival, nor in another class at the same Festival.
15. Performers who have taken an RCM or Conservatory Canada Exam in the preceding year are not eligible to enter that grade level in the current festival year (e.g. If a performer took the level 4 piano exam in 2023, they may not enter grade 4 classes in the 2024 festival.)
16. Repeats in the music are not to be observed unless specified in the Syllabus (da capo and dal segno passages should be observed).
17. Performers may enter only ONE class in each Section, unless specified in notes for individual classes.
18. Performers must not exceed the time limit stated in the syllabus. The adjudicator may stop any performer who exceeds the time limit.
Performance
19. Performers should arrive at their venue at least ten minutes before their class time to hand in their music and be seated in order of performance.
20. One original score of the music or purchased digital music for each selection must be given to the Greeter/Music Coordinator prior to the beginning of the class for use by the adjudicator. No photocopies are accepted. Please provide receipts for digitally purchased music. Cover pages are NOT receipts – please print the legal receipt. The music will be returned at the end of the class.
IMDB copies are permitted, but please indicate that you have downloaded from this site by attaching a cover sheet explaining this.
21. Performers in solo classes are encouraged to memorize their music. Music performed at Provincial Finals must be memorized except for Brass, Winds, Percussion, and Popular Voice with Self Accompaniment which is not required but is recommended.
22. Performers may enter only once within a competitive discipline, but may enter other Competitive Disciplines, e.g., Competitive Strings, Competitive Piano, Competitive Winds/Brass or Competitive Voice.
Adjudication
23. Adjudication is based on musicality and technical and interpretive qualities of each performance. The suitability of musical content and style will be considered in the evaluation. The adjudicator’s decision is final.
24. All performances will be judged against a set standard as follows:
Platinum (90 and above) – an exceptional performance that demonstrates musical maturity and skill beyond that normally found at this level.
Gold (85-89) – an excellent performance demonstrating a high standard of musical accomplishment and strong skills for this level.
Silver (80-84) – a commendable performance demonstrating solid skills and musicality for this level.
Bronze (75-79) – a good performance that demonstrates developing skills and musicality for this level.
Merit (74 and below) – a performance which, with further refinement, has the potential to reach a bronze level or higher.
25. Each performer will receive a written report from the adjudicator. While individual performances will be discussed in the oral adjudication at the end of the class, the levels awarded to each performer will not be announced.
26. Performers in Competitive Classes will receive ribbons from first to sixth place.
Awards
27. Awards are available to competitors in all classes and are chosen by the adjudicators. To be eligible for an award, solo performers must perform in two or more classes in the same instrument, but bands, choirs, Suzuki Strings, Suzuki Piano and all ensembles need only enter one class to be eligible.
Provincials
28. Each year our adjudicators recommend competitors for the Provincial Finals of the Ontario Music Festivals Association. This year, 2024, the Provincial Finals will be held in Oakville and Burlington from June 10th to 15th.
See “OMFA Provincials” www.omfa.ca for further details.
Appeals and Clarifications
29. The Festival relies on the integrity of entrants to comply with all rules regarding age, membership etc. in entering specific classes.
30. No competitor, teacher or parent may contact the adjudicator. This will result in disqualification.
31. Recommendations, clarifications, or requests should be sent to the registrar, Joan Knox at joan.kkmf@gmail.com. As necessary, they will be referred to the Festival Board.
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