Copyright

Performers are reminded that it is illegal to reproduce music by any means, without the permission of the owner of the copyright. The prevalence of photocopying without authority has so reduced the sales of music copies that very little new choral and vocal music is being published and much is going out of print. A publisher may give consent to photocopy out of print items or sell them as ‘Archive’ copies. The Music Publishers Association has issued the following Code of Practice on copying Copyright works:-

When an ‘Own Choice’ is selected from a publication containing several different works which are not published separately, one copy may be made for the use of the Adjudicator at a competition or Festival provided that the performer has already purchased his/her own copy and that the copy made is retained and destroyed by the Administrator of the Competition or Festival immediately after the event. The permission specifically does not extend to set works.

Performers are advised that this permission only applies to members of the Music Publishers Association (MPA). It is the performers’ responsibility to ensure that they seek permission to copy direct from any copyright holder who is not a member of the MPA.
The Festival is a member of the British Federation of Music Festivals and participates in its group licence to cover payment of fees for the use of recorded music at its events. Teachers using tapes created from commercial recordings are advised to seek permission to re-record from the record companies concerned as the Festival cannot take responsibility for this. Please see the relevant section for further detail of licensing arrangements (General Regulations No.17)

Back to top

General Regulations

Please examine these carefully. All performers should also study the particular requirements of each subject and class for which they wish to enter. Regulations must be observed. If any rule of the Festival or this syllabus is infringed, disqualification will result.

The Festival is intended mainly for Amateurs, who are defined for this purpose as persons who do not derive their livelihood from the branch of performance, defined by the class title, in which they seek to enter the Festival. In any ensemble, all members must adhere to this principle. Anyone else is deemed ‘professional’ and may only enter OPEN classes.

Past Prize winners in any Medal Class are not eligible to compete in the same class again. If a Solo Challenge Cup is won three years in succession the winner may not compete in that class again until three years have elapsed. They are also entitled to claim a miniature cup.
No competitor may enter a class reserved for older persons. A competitor’s age is reckoned as on the 1st March of the year of the Festival. Please check individual sections for variations of this clause.
No competitor may compete more than once in any class, unless stated in the Syllabus. Please check individual sections for variations of this clause.
No substitution of one name for another in the Programme is permitted except in duet or trio classes, or at the discretion of the Section Secretary.
All entries must be on Official Entry Forms and should be sent in with the Entry fee to reach the Section Secretary before close of entries. After this date late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Committee at double the entry fee. The Executive Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any entry and cannot guarantee late entries will be included in the Programme. Entry fees are not returnable unless the entry is rejected by the Festival. Free tickets are sent automatically to all entrants (and accompanists if requested on the entry form) for the day(s) on which they will compete.
Punctuality is essential for all classes. All competitors must be prepared to arrive at the beginning of the session so that classes may run smoothly and to time. The right to alter times and/or cancel classes is reserved.
No ‘own choice’ piece may be chosen from test pieces set in this syllabus nor may a competitor present any ‘own choice’ piece with which they have won a 1st place in the Hastings Festival in the past three years, except in Dancing Classes, when a piece may be danced when it has been awarded a 1st place in previous years. No competitor may offer the same piece in more than one class, except in Medal dancing classes. ‘Own Choice’ copies, except dancing, must be handed in to the steward when requested. Please collect your music after the adjudication.
In all classes with a time limit, any extra time taken will be penalised.
There is no official accompanist. Performers requiring an accompanist must make their own arrangements.
Communication with the Adjudicator by any unauthorised person before, during or after any class is not permitted. Enquiries during the competition should be addressed to the Section Secretary present whose decision is final.
Trophies will be presented by the adjudicator during the Festival as appropriate and aggregate cups will be presented before the Highlights Concert if the winner is available. Certificates and Adjudicators' notes will be available as soon as possible after the finish of the class, or may be posted by arrangement and on payment of a small fee to cover postage and stationery. All unclaimed certificates and mark sheets will be disposed of one month after the end of the Festival. Winners are responsible for engraving and returning their trophies before January 28th. They should be handed in to the White Rock Office, clearly labelled with the name and address of the winner(s). Late return jeopardises presentation.
The Adjudicator shall have full power to withhold any award in any class. The number of marks required before an award can be made is as follows:- Gold Medal:   90 , Silver Medal (Dancing) 87, Silver Medal (other disciplines) 85.

Bronze Medal, or Trophy, other than aggregate trophies: 85

A ‘1st’ award: In any other class   80


Certificates will be awarded as follows:-

Performance Certificate
75-80
A performance showing development of technique and/or communication.

Merit Certificate
81-83
A capable performance showing some artistic appreciation and/or technical ability.

Special Merit Certificate
84-86
A convincing performance technically and artistically.

Honours Certificate
87+
An excellent performance technically and artistically, with 90+ denoting an exceptional performance.

For an aggregate trophy it is sufficient for a minimum of 85 to be achieved
in only one of the component classes. The adjudicator’s decision is FINAL.

In the Dancing Classes, marks given in Medal Classes do not count towards Aggregate Awards.
The taking of photographs or use of any audio or video equipment is strictly prohibited within the auditoriums of the White Rock Theatre.
A Highlights Concert is held on the last Sunday evening of the Festival. A selection of outstanding items seen during the Festival is presented during this concert. Performances are chosen to give a balanced and entertaining programme and reflect all aspects of the Festival. It is not possible to invite all winners to participate. Before the concert, those aggregate trophies not given during the Festival will be presented.
Copyright. Recording, photography and making videos of performances is forbidden and may lead to prosecution. Photocopies of set pieces are not allowed. Where an ‘own choice’ piece has been taken from an album, a copy may be supplied for the use of the adjudicator provided that the competitor or accompanist uses an original copy and the photocopy is retained and destroyed by the Festival organisers after the class. There are special rules which apply to each discipline. Please refer to the separate sections. N.B. All performances using music from shows in current production are subject to copyright law. Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item i.e. with no costume or movement without need for copyright permission. Where movement or costume is included copyright permission is required and the Festival Committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been sought. Performers or teachers with queries on how to obtain permission for performance items should contact Festivals House on 09063021302 before making their entries.
Dates given in the Syllabus are provisional. Please consult the Programme, available from early February from Hastings Information Centre, White Rock Theatre, B & T Music, Salmons, Chandlers of Rye and Second Spin Bexhill. A timetable of classes will be available on this website during January.
It is necessary for teachers and parents to be aware of their responsibilities in entering any performers with limited physical capabilities or special needs, bearing in mind the limitations of the stage and surrounding environment. There is no wheelchair access possible onto the main stage. It is also necessary for the teacher or parent to pass on to the adjudicator, via the official present, any such information that would impact on the adjudicator’s work.
For Own Choice pieces in any discipline, suitability must be considered with regard to age group. ‘Adult’ or offensive material is not acceptable and Adjudicators will be advised to take this into account when marking. They will also have authority to stop any performance at their discretion, which would lead to disqualification.
The Festival is registered under the Data Protection Act but holds personal data only for the purposes of running the Festival.
Please read the Entry Form very carefully. Every year we have to return entry forms through illegibility or error. PLEASE study the instructions carefully as well as our Child Protection Policy which is printed in full in this Syllabus. It is intended to conform with the law and protect your children. Please note that under the Child Protection Act all chaperones and helpers MUST be over 18 years of age.
The Executive reserve the right to qualify or determine any of these regulations as circumstances require.

Hastings Musical Festival Child Protection Policy

Implemented from 28th February 2004 and reviewed 24th November 2010

VENUE: THE WHITE ROCK THEATRE, HASTINGS

DATES:5th to 25th March 2012
CHAIRMAN – Miss Molly Townson
GENERAL SECRETARY – Mrs Brenda Bailey
TREASURER – Mr Peter Silk

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT: The safety of children and members of other vulnerable groups is paramount and all,
without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken
seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the charity’s trustees, staff and volunteers have a
responsibility to report concerns.
Throughout this policy, where “children” are mentioned, this also includes members of other vulnerable groups

1 PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF ORGANISATION
The Hastings Musical Festival is a charitable organisation whose aim is to provide a platform for amateur
performance in Music, Drama and Dance for both children and adults, combined with an educational element
gained from the input of professional Adjudicators/Performers. The Hastings Musical Festival offers financial
assistance to participants of the Festival in the furtherance of their studies in the Performing Arts.

2 THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT
The Festival is held in both the Main Hall and the Sussex Hall of the White Rock Theatre ,Hastings. This is a
professionally run theatre which is open to the public. The Festival, which is run with the help of Volunteer
Helpers, endeavours to provide a happy and safe environment for all participants, and asks parents/
guardians/carers to share in the implementation of this policy so that the participants may have a happy and
positive experience at the Hastings Musical Festival 2012.

3 TO WHOM DOES THIS POLICY APPLY?
This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and those members of vulnerable groups of any age
who are identified to the organisers prior to their arrival at the Festival. This should be done by contacting the
address or telephone number at the foot of this document.
In recognising the needs of children from all ethnic groups and children who have additional needs, the
Festival seeks to meet needs notified to the Festival by parents/ guardians/carers and/or teachers.

4 FESTIVAL PERSONNEL
Hastings Musical Festival is run by Volunteer Helpers known to the Festival whose names and references are
on Festival records. These volunteers are provided with job descriptions and all jobs are reviewed in order to
ascertain whether the Festival requires the volunteer to undertake an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal
Records Bureau. Our Section Secretaries, Platform Stewards, Adjudicators' Stewards and Time-keepers will
be recognised easily by their identifying badges and are all familiar with the Policy, and its implementation.
They will be ready to help, in a private and discreet environment, whenever needed with participants’ queries
or concerns. Our Child Protection Co-ordinator will be readily available throughout the Festival. Any problems
will be documented and dated and held on confidential and secure Festival files..

5 PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL
This policy is sent to all parents/ guardians/ carers and teachers to remind them that it is their responsibility to
maintain supervision of their children and pupils at all times whilst they are attending the Hastings Musical
Festival 2012. If parents/ guardians/ carers are not personally attending with their children, this policy requires
them to be satisfied that their children will be accompanied to and from the Festival, and adequately
supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf whilst at the Festival.

6 PERFORMANCE AREAS AND CHANGING AREAS
Hastings Musical Festival has ensured that the required number of licensed chaperones is in attendance in the
dressing rooms and backstage at all times. A member of theatre staff is always at the pass door ensuring that
no un-authorised person goes back-stage. Property left unattended in any area is not the responsibility of the
Hastings Musical Festival. Any enquiries concerning lost property should be made to the White Rock Theatre.

7 PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPES AND PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY
This Policy reminds parents/guardians/carers and anyone who attends the Festival, that it is against the
regulations of the Festival to make audio or visual recordings, or to take photographs in either the Main Hall or
the Sussex Hall during performances. Hastings Musical Festival welcomes the Local Press to take pictures in
the Main Foyer of the Theatre only. A professional photographer, known to the Festival for many years, and
with a recent CRB disclosure, is usually available in the designated area, and will only take photographs
requested by parents/guardians/carers of the Participants whose names will be noted at the time the
photograph is requested.

8 THE LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; The Children Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection
Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court
Services Act 2000; The Children Act 2004.The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

9 POLICY REVIEW
The Executive Committee of the Hastings Musical Festival will constantly review their policy, revising and
enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to The British and International Federation of Festivals for
support, and that body, in turn, will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts
Council of England policy guidelines.

(Approved by Liz Whitehead, Chief Executive British and International Federation of Festivals
24th November 2010).

Mrs Mary West
Child Protection Officer
Hastings Musical Festival Ltd
Festival Office
White Rock Theatre
Hastings
East Sussex TN34 1JX
Telephone: 01424 437357

Back to top

Singing

Please read these rules carefully – they may change from year to year. Any variation from these rules may result in disqualification. Also see the General Regulations.

Credit will be given for choice of repertoire, presentation, dress and deportment. No Jeans or Trainers please.
No Costume allowed unless otherwise stated. Props are not allowed (note: a chair is not regarded as a prop).
Singers are expected to memorise their songs including Bach and Oratorio. Copies may only be used in Class 39 (Veterans age 70 and over).
Set songs must be sung in the edition shown in the Syllabus.
The same or similar edition of any set song may not be used in an ‘Own Choice’ class.
For ‘Own Choice’ pieces, suitability must be considered with regard to age group. ‘Adult’ or offensive material is not acceptable and the Adjudicators will be advised to take this into account when marking. They will also have authority to stop any performance at their discretion which would lead to disqualification.
In Junior singing classes age under 18, set pieces or own choices may be sung in any key, and transpositions are allowed.
All singing classes to be accompanied by the piano unless otherwise stated. Please refer to the regulations regarding accompanists.
A winner of a Bronze Medal may enter for the Silver Medal in subsequent years, even if under 15 years old.
A winner of the adult Silver Medal may enter for the Gold Medal in subsequent years even under 21 years old. All other Gold Medal entrants must be over 21 years old.

Instrumental

Suitable dress to be worn – no jeans or trainers

Photocopies may not to be used for performances but only as adjudicator copies to be destroyed at the end of the session

In set pieces, repeats will be optional unless specifically stated but all DC and DS marks to be observed.

Candidates in beginners classes may not enter any other solo classes

In classes 3076 and 3080 ‘Borough’ means resident in Hastings or St.Leonards

In the Piano Section no-one may enter more than one Contemporary class.

The winner of a Bronze Medal may enter for the Silver Medal and the winner of a Silver Medal may enter for a Gold Medal even if under the minimum age for the class but not in the same year.

In the Strings Section candidates need not adhere to the bowing and fingering in the copies, but some change of position should be shown in all classes aged 15 and over.

In the Orchestra classes, competitors must provide their own music stands.

In the Recorder Section, different key recorders are classed as different instruments. Performers may enter twice in any solo recorder class playing different key recorders.

In the Electronic Keyboard Section, intros and endings using the keyboard’s rhythm unit will be included in the timing of the performance. Sequencing is permitted in all classes. All sequencing must be the competitor’s own work and adjudicator’s copies should be marked to show that sequencing has taken place. The use of commercially available midi files is not permitted in any class.

Speech and Drama

N.B. Credit will be given for choice of repertoire, presentation, dress and deportment. No Costume allowed, unless specified.

For Own Choice pieces, suitability must be considered with regard to age group. ‘Adult’ or offensive material is not acceptable and Adjudicators are advised to take this into account when marking. They also have authority to stop any performance at their discretion. This would lead to automatic disqualification.

Several test pieces, as indicated, have been taken from anthologies which have been named in the syllabus in an abbreviated form. A copy of these test pieces will be available for inspection at the Hastings and Bexhill branches of the East Sussex County Library. All speech classes should be learnt.

The Hastings Festival has entered into an agreement with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society. This means that performers do not have to seek permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic items* performed to a time limit of 10 minutes.

Performers and teachers will be delighted to know that their participation in this festival means authors will be directly reimbursed as a consequence of their works being performed at this festival.
Duologues and group dramatic activity are not covered by this agreement and copyright for these items should be sought by performers at the time of entry.

* Dramatic Items must be announced with title and author at the time of performance to qualify for copyright indemnity, and the performer must not change the words or gender of the character. All performers in group work must be within the age range.

Back to top

Dancing

Ballet
No pointe work is permitted for competitors under 13 years.
Character
May be danced in any manner the subject demands.
National
Must be authentic and belong to a recognised country.
Greek
Greek or natural movement.

Medals:
In Medal classes, the ballet and character items must be those danced in the qualifying classes.

Age Limits:
Groups classes 874, 875, 876 - up to 2 competitors aged below 13 years may dance in these classes. These additional competitors will be excluded from dancing in classes 870, 871, 872, and 873.

Mini groups classes 864, 865 - 1 additional competitor below 13 years but over 10 years may dance in these classes. This competitor will be excluded from dancing in classes 862 & 863.

Mini groups classes 866, 867 - 1 additional competitor below 15 but over 13 may dance in these classes. This additional competitor will be excluded from dancing in classes 864 & 865.

Props:
No furniture or properties are allowed, except those that can be carried and quickly set in place by performers or helpers. Construction of scenery or props on the side of the stage is prohibited. No real flowers or leaves will be allowed or confetti, or talcum powder or similar, unless by prior agreement with the Dancing Section Secretary. Disregard for this rule may result in the disqualification of the item.

Timing:
Entries in all classes which exceed the time limit will be penalised.

Classical Classes:
In group dancing, including mini-groups, Tap and Modern are not acceptable.

Re-dance:
No re-dance is allowed at 10 years or over. At under 10 years, when a re-dance is requested, this will be allowed only at the discretion of the adjudicator.

Singing
No singing is allowed except in Song and Dance and Cabaret classes.

Miming
Miming to words is allowed but no lip synchronisation

Performers
Performers of ten years and over may enter both Lyrical and Modern classes.

Changes
If a performer must change classes, 48 hours notice must be given to the Dancing Secretary in writing.

Chaperones
All chaperones must be 18 years old and over.

Suitability
For Own Choice pieces, suitability must be considered with regard to age group. ‘Adult’ or offensive material is not acceptable and adjudicators will take this into account when marking. They also have authority to stop any performance at their discretion. This would lead to automatic disqualification.

Regulations
Please read the general regulation No 15 very carefully if you are entering the Song and Dance classes.
You must complete the name of your dancing school in the place indicated on your Entry Form. No entry will be accepted without this information.

Back to top