Rules and Regulations SPG Festival

STUDENT PERFORMERS' GUILD FESTIVAL

2024 Rules and Regulation

 

ELIGIBILITY 

  1. Participating teachers must be members of the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers’ Association (BCRMTA) in good standing from:

    1. the BCRMTA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch, or

    2. the BCRMTA Vancouver/Burnaby Student Teacher Auxiliary.

  2. The Festival is open to piano students 18 years or younger as of December 31, 2023 who are studying with an eligible teacher. Students who are 19 years or older as of January 1, 2024 may enter the Adult Division.

  3. Participants who register for the Festival but who are studying with an ineligible teacher will forfeit their entry fee and will be disqualified from the Festival.

 

FESTIVAL ENTRIES

  1. Registration

    1. Registration is open from December 1, 2023 to January 23, 2024 at 10:00PM

    2. No changes to repertoire will be allowed once entries have been submitted.

    3. No refunds will be given after the entry deadline.

    4. Refunds before the entry deadline: As the Festival is charged for each online transaction, a fee of $5 or 3% of the total to be refunded (whichever is greater) will be subtracted from each request.

    5. It is the responsibility of the teacher/participant to ensure all entry information is correct. While the festival committee makes every effort to ensure all entries are in the correct class, we accept no responsibility if an entry has been made incorrectly. Teachers are expected to check the confirmation emails sent to them by the SPG once their student has registered. If a piece is entered in the wrong level or category, the performance will be heard and adjudicated but no mark or rank will be awarded.

    6. Teacher Volunteer Requirement: The SPG is a community effort and the support of the branch members is both appreciated and essential. In order for the Festival to run effectively, volunteer assistants are required for each 2-3 hour session. Teachers will be notified when the schedule is posted in early February with an email and a link to the volunteer sign-up sheet. The students of teachers who do not volunteer, do not provide an alternate, or are absent from their assisting session without providing a replacement, will be ineligible for scholarships, awards and trophies.

      1. 1-10 festival entries: teachers will be responsible for assisting (or supplying an assistant) for one session.

      2. 11-20 festival entries: teachers will be responsible for one afternoon or evening session and may also be required to assist at a second session.

    7. Teachers should ensure their students’ entries are correct including that teacher’s email is correct. Teachers are reminded to look out for confirmation emails from the SPG Festival registration system. 

 

  1. Program

    1. The Program will be posted on the website by February 6, 2024.

    2. Spelling corrections will be accepted until February 12, 2024. Please email corrections to SPG@bcrmta.org.

    3. There is no rescheduling of classes for any reason.

    4. For all Mini Lessons, there will be no changes to the time or day of the lessons. Classes are scheduled at the sole discretion of the SPG Festival.

 

CLASS INFORMATION

  1. Division

  • Preparatory: pre-Level 1 (non-competitive)

  • Elementary: Level 1-3

  • Junior: Level 4-6

  • Intermediate: Level 7-9

  • Senior: Level 10-12

  • Adult: participants 19 years and older as of January 1, 2024 (non competitive)

 

  1. Class Categories

  • Solo - Levels 1 to 12:

    • Baroque (BA)

    • Classical (CL)

    • Romantic (RO)

    • Post-Romantic/Impressionistic (PR)

    • 20th-21st Century (TC)

    • Canadian (CA)

    • Own Choice (OC)

    • Technical Study (TS)

  • Concert Group (CG)

    • Preparatory to Level 12

    • Students entering the Preparatory CG may enter 2 or 3 pieces

  • Mini Lesson (ML)

    • Levels 1 to 12

    • Can choose between 15 minutes or 30 minutes lessons

  • Ensemble (EN)

    • Levels 1 to 12

  1. Student Level: Preparatory through Level 12 (post-diploma or licentiate)

  2. 2024 Fees and Time Limits: CLICK HERE for details.

 

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

  1. Repertoire Requirements

    1. Pieces may be chosen from any recognized Canadian examination syllabus, however, the SPG Festival will use the current RCM Syllabus (2022 edition) as a guide to grading. Where a piece is graded at a different level by another syllabus, the RCM Syllabus will take precedence.

    2. If the most recent RCM Syllabus requires 2 or more selections/movements to be performed as a group, participants must perform all the required parts; should fewer than required be played, the performance will not be eligible for a rank or award. Any participant who performs a selection with more than one part must state this in the entry form with the total performance time given.

    3. Technical Studies: Where a piece is in the Etudes list of the current RCM Syllabus, it must be entered in the Technical Study Class or in a Concert Group Class.

    4. Canadian Class: all Canadian works must be entered in the Canadian Class, and not in the 20th/20st Century Class. The only exception is where a Canadian piece is in the Etude list of the current RCM Syllabus, then it must be entered in the Technical Study Class. 

    5. Concert Group: For Preparatory Level: two or three contrasting selections. For Level 1 to 12: three contrasting selections (one of which could be a Technical Study) are required, pieces must be played as listed in the RCM syllabus, except "Classical" pieces which are ONE movement only. One of the selections may be chosen from the next grade higher. Pieces may not be entered in any other class.

    6. Own Choice: For repertoire not listed in any current syllabus, incomplete sections, or when students wish to play more than one piece in a specific style/class. If the piece is not in a current syllabus, it must be of comparable length, difficulty and musical quality to selections in the level in which it is entered. The Committee reserves the right to deem a piece ineligible for entry should it view the choice of level to be inappropriate. Own Choice entries are not eligible for scholarships, awards or trophies.

    7. To be eligible for scholarships and awards pieces in a given category must follow the above regulations. Exceptions will be arbitrated by the Committee.

 

  1. Participant Levels

    1. Participants are allowed to enter one entry per class.

    2. Participants may enter only one grade level in all classes. In Ensemble Classes, one member of the group may be one grade above or below the stated level; in Concert Group Classes, one of the selections may be chosen from the next grade higher. 

    3. Participants who have passed the practical examination of the Royal Conservatory of Music (or equivalent) by August 31 of the previous year must proceed to the next grade or higher. 

    4. Scholarship/award winners from the previous SPG Festival are not eligible to compete again in a class in which they have obtained first place standing. 

    5. Students who have obtained a first place standing in a class from a previous SPG Festival are not eligible to compete again in the same class.

    6. Level 11 is for participants who have passed their Grade 10 Practical Examination and are working towards their ARCT Examination.  Level 12 is for participants who have passed their ARCT Examination and wish to participate in a post ARCT level.

    7. Participants 19 years or older as of January 1, 2024 must enter the Festival in the ADULT Category.  No trophies or scholarships are awarded in this division.

 

PROGRAM PROCEDURE

  1. It is the responsibility of the teacher/participant to ensure all entry information is correct. If a piece is entered in the wrong level or category, the performance will be heard and adjudicated but no mark or rank will be awarded.

  2. There are no try outs and/or warm ups on the pianos at the Festival venue.

  3. Music Requirements:

    1. Memory is compulsory except in the case of Mini Lessons.

    2. Three (3) marks will be deducted if the score is used at any time during a performance.

    3. Measure/bar numbers must be written on the score if they are not already printed on it.

    4. Original music must be presented to the adjudicator. Alternatively, an authorized copy of the score from the publisher with proof of authorization would also be accepted.

    5. Photocopied music will not be permitted. Please note the following exceptions:

      1. Out of print music: Written notice of permission to copy from the publisher, must be provided at the time of performance.

      2. Downloaded sheet music from internet sources will only be permissible when accompanied by a receipt indicating proof of purchase or proof of public domain status. Music downloaded from imslp.org is permitted. Please include the full URL of the work being performed on the first page of all parts and copies being used.

    6. Participants who bring either no music or unauthorized photocopied music will receive no marks but will receive a verbal and written adjudication and participation certificate.

    7. Suitable dress and stage deportment are expected and required.

    8. Participants, teachers and parents are not permitted to contact the adjudicators anytime during the Festival.

    9. Photography and videography are strictly prohibited during the Festival.  

 

MARKING PROCEDURES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

  1. Marks and Certificates

    1. All classes will receive marks, certificates with seals along with a written adjudication at the end of each class.

    2. First, second, and third ranking will be awarded in competitive classes. First place winners will be announced at the end of each class. Festival results will be posted without reference to marks or seals in early March 2023. There will be no ties for first place.

      1. Gold - 88 and higher

      2.  Silver - 84 to 87

      3.  Bronze - 80 to 83

    3. For Classical 10-12, should fewer than the required number of movements listed in the current RCM syllabus be played, the performance will not be eligible for a rank or award.

    4. For Mini-Lessons, the performance should take no more than 25% of the time allotted. There are no medals, marks, written adjudications or certificates awarded in the Mini-Lesson category. Pieces may be "in progress" or partially complete. Memory is not required.

    5. For Concert Groups, participants will receive one mark for the class even though multiple pieces are played.

  2. Scholarships and Trophies

    1. Scholarships - To be eligible for scholarships, participants must have:

      1. performed in three (3) solo classes one of which must be in a Baroque or a Classical category

        1. Concert Group is considered as one class.

        2. Own Choice entries are not eligible for awards, scholarships or trophies.

      2. AND received an average mark of 88 or higher from the above three (3) solo classes

 

  1. First place and runner up scholarships will be awarded in the divisions as follows:

    1. Elementary: 1st place - $100.00 /  2nd place - $75.00

    2. Junior

      1. 1st place: BCRMTA Scholarship of $200.00 plus scholarship from sponsor

      2. 2nd place: $150.00

    3. Intermediate

      1. 1st place: $300.00 plus scholarship from sponsor

      2. 2nd place: $250.00

    4. Senior

      1. 1st place: $500.00 plus scholarship from sponsor

      2. 2nd place: $400.00

 

  1. Trophies: To be eligible for a trophy, participants must have received a mark of 88 or higher. Trophies will be awarded to division winners of each category.

  2. Beverley Kagnoff Award: Each year, the Committee will select a class category in which $40.00 will be given to the highest mark for each level, 1 to 12. For 2024, the class category will be Baroque Class.

  3. Scholarships, awards and trophies winners will be posted online at the end of the Festival.

 

EMAIL ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS

  1. All festival enquiries must be made by the teacher by email to SPG@bcrmta.org. Emails from participants and/or parents will not be acknowledged.

  2. Every attempt will be made to return emails within 2 business days.

  3. Complaints and protests must be made to the Festival Chair in writing within 7 days of the Festival end, accompanied by a fee of $30.00 to SPG Chair: #1 2668 West Broadway, Vancouver V6K 2G3. Any complaints or protests made by telephone will not be entertained.  All fees will be returned in full should the protest be sustained.  Decisions made by the Committee will be final.

  4. If a Festival class is cancelled for any reason, all entry fees will be fully refunded.

  5. In the unlikely event the Festival is cancelled, the Festival committee accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by participants, parents, or teachers aside from the original entry fee.

  6. The BCRMTA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch assumes no responsibility for any injury to, or damage caused by, the participants or their musical instruments during the Festival.

  7. By clicking “Agree” on the entry form, the applicant has acknowledged that (a) they have read the complete Rules and Regulations and (b) that they agree to comply with the above.