The Armidale Eisteddfod

Entry Rules

Late Entries

1. Late entries will not be accepted. Posted entries must be postmarked no later than the closing date for entries.

Definitions

2. For the purposes of the Eisteddfod, a competitor's age shall mean their age on the advertised opening date of the Eisteddfod. Competitors in age-limited events must be prepared to submit proof of age by Birth Certificate or other means if required to do so.

3. "Open" means open to all competitors of any age.

4. " Restricted" events are open only to competitors who have not won a solo event for that category of instrument or speech/drama in a previous eisteddfod at Armidale or elsewhere.

5. "Novice" events are open only to competitors who have been learning that category of instrument (including voice) for 18 months or less prior to close of entries.

6. "Small country school" events are open only to school groups from schools outside Armidale having a school population of fewer than 70 pupils.

7. School groups must consist only of members of that school.

Duet and Trio Events

8. In duet or trio items the names of the individual partners must be stated on the entry form.

9. In the event of one partner being unable to perform due to a genuine change in circumstance, the Committee may allow a substitute provided that two weeks notice is given to the Entry Co-ordinator

10. An individual may enter a duet or trio event with different partners and/or different instruments. The maximum number of times an individual can enter the same duet or trio event is two (2).

Other Entry Rules

11. A competitor may enter a particular solo event twice provided a different instrument is played for each performance (e.g. trumpet, trombone).

12. A group, duet or trio may not enter more than once in a single event.

13. The Committee reserves the right to cancel or combine any event where insufficient entries are received.

14. All special requests must be made at the time of entry.

Event Rules

Before the Event

1. Music or scripts for the Adjudicator must be handed to the Music/Script Supervisor at least 15 minutes before the start of the event. Competitors who fail to do so may be disqualified.

2. The TITLE, COMPOSER/AUTHOR and the COMPETITOR:S NAME, EVENT NUMBER and COMPETITOR'S NUMBER must be clearly visible on the music or script.

3. Adjudicator copies must be accompanied by a completed Copyright Form No. 2. Copies made for the accompanist must have a completed Copyright Form No. 5 attached to the music during the competition performance.

4. Unless stated otherwise the competitor shall select pieces to be performed.

5. A competitor shall not perform the same item in more than one event during the Eisteddfod.

6. A competitor must not repeat any item performed in a previous Armidale Eisteddfod until three years have passed.

During the Event

7. Unless performing from memory, all competitors must perform from the original copy.

8. The order of events may be changed at the discretion of the Committee or Co-ordinator.

9. The order of competitors within an event may be changed at the discretion of the Committee or Co-ordinator.

10. Competitors not answering their names when it is their turn to perform in an event may be disqualified.

11. Under special circumstances, the Co-ordinator may allow a competitor to perform out of the event. He or she will receive adjudication but no placing.

Time Limits

12. Where there is no stated time limit, the adjudicator reserves the right to terminate a competitor's performance at any stage. This does not mean disqualification or disapproval.

13. Time limits in all events must be strictly observed. A warning bell may be rung when the time limit is reached. A further bell may be rung 15 seconds after the finishing time. At this point the competitor must leave the stage.

Section Rules

14. Conductors must not sing or speak when conducting choral speech, choral singing or instrumental groups. In speech and drama events, teachers are not to prompt, direct or coach behind stage.

15. All props for Speech and Drama events are to be provided by competitors. There will be no specialist lighting and lighting is limited to on and blackout.

16. A competitor is permitted to use another person (other than his/her teacher) as prompt, if necessary, in the following Speech and Drama events: Solo character sketch; Dramatic extract or short play; Verse speaking; Prose recital; Humorous prose or verse. Prompts must have their own copies of the scripts and be seated inconspicuously to the left or right of the performing space. Prompting will, of course, result in lower marks.

Judging and Disputes

1. The award of first or any place will be left to the discretion of the Adjudicator.

2. Where equal places are awarded any prizes for that place are to be shared between award winners.

3. The Adjudicator has the authority of the Committee to terminate a performance if it is considered offensive in any way.

4. At all times, only authorised persons may approach the Adjudicator.

5 Protests shall be lodged with the Committee and/or Co-ordinator in writing within 30 minutes of the cause of complaint and must be accompanied by a deposit of $10 which shall be forfeited if the protest is deemed frivolous.

6. The Committee shall be the sole judge of disputes and its decision shall be final.

Copyright Rules

Teachers and competitors are requested to familiarise themselves with the requirements under the current copyright laws by perusing and/or downloading the booklet Music Copyright for Eisteddfods produced by APRA/AMCOS and available at www.apra.com.au. Refer to Part C on pages 6 and 7 of this booklet.

The Armidale Eisteddfod Society does not condone any breach of copyright and competitors will only be allowed to perform if they have the necessary forms completed prior to their performance. No exceptions will be made on the grounds of ignorance.

The required forms for music competitors are at the back of the Syllabus and may be copied. Copies will also be available at the venue each day for competitors to use. Alternatively, the forms may be downloaded from the APRA website noted above.

Instructions

Prior to each event, all competitors must be able to show the Music/Script Supervisor the original music or script from which photocopies have been made. Failure to produce the original may result in disqualification.

Copyright Form 1 needs to be completed once for the whole the Eisteddfod and is handed in at your first performance and filed.

For music events.

Competitors must use original music for the performance unless performing from memory.

If performing from memory, hand in the original music to the Music Supervisor to be passed on to the adjudicator. There is no requirement to complete any forms. Collect the original copy after the event.

If a photocopy is required for the accompanist, the original music must still be shown to the Music Supervisor. Form 5 must be completed and attached to the photocopy being used by the accompanist.

If a photocopy is required for the adjudicator, the original music must still be shown to the Music Supervisor. Forms 2 must be completed and attached to the photocopy being used by the adjudicator.

All photocopies must be destroyed immediately after a performance.

Forms 1, 2 and 5 may be copied and are at the back of the Syllabus or available online at www.armidale-eisteddfod.org.au/downloads.

Forms may be completed by you, your parent, guardian or teacher.

For Speech and Drama events.

As the Armidale Eisteddfod Society has a CAL (The Copyright Agency Limited) licence, you may photocopy, for use in the eisteddfod, a work or edition that is protected by copyright provided this work is included in CAL’s Directory of Authors and Publishers. You are not required to complete any forms.

If the work is not covered by the CAL licence you will need to seek direct permission from the copyright owner of the material. In most cases this will be the publisher of the work. For further advice or information on the Directory of Authors and Publishers, contact CAL by phone (02 8569 1111), fax (02 8569 1183) or email services@copyright.com.au.

If you are performing an extract of a reasonable length of a literary or dramatic work, such as an excerpt from a poem, novel or play, then your performance will not require the permission of the copyright owner and is covered by an exception (Section 45) in the Copyright Act.