EN-RULES OF THE COMPETITION

PROVISIONS OF INTERNATIONAL BALTIC SEA CHOIR COMPETITION

1. PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION

  • The International Baltic Sea Choir Competition invites mixed, female, and male amateur choirs (16-49 signers).
  • After evaluation of choir submissions, maximum of 15 (fifteen) choirs will be accepted for the competition.
  • Each country will be represented by no more than 3 (three) choirs.
  • The Grand Prix awarded choir in any of the previous International Baltic Sea Choir Competitions cannot participate for the next 3 (three) years.
  • The choirs are obliged to participate in the competition’s opening concert and both competition programs, as well as they should be ready to perform at Grand Prix concert.
  • Participants will be evaluated by an international jury comprising of 5members -choir music professionals. There will be 1 Latvian and 4 foreign representatives.
  • After performances of compositions of the compulsory and free program categories, the jury will establish at least 5 choirs to compete for Grand Prix. The choirs for Grand Prix will be evaluated independently of results of the previous stages.
  • All results, including those of Grand Prix, will be announced during the closing ceremony on Sunday.
  • Decision of the jury is final and cannot be contested.
  • All choirs, for their performance of the compulsory and free programs, will receive evaluation from each of the jury member.
  • By 1 March, 2018 (extended until 25 March, 2018), the choirs must send application materials to competition’s organisers electronically (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or by post, and the materials must include:
    • A fully filled in application form;
    • A record of at least 3 a capella compositions of various styles sung by the choir (as a CD, DVD, or a link on YouTube. The records cannot be made before 2015);
    • A short description about the choir in English (max. 250 words);
    • A quality photo of the choir.
  • All rights to audio and video records, and photos made during the competition are owned by the competition’s organisers. The choirs will not be remunerated for recording of their performance.
  • Participants of the competition approve that they have are aware of the competition’s provisions when sending the application form.
  • By 1 September, 2018, the choirs, which will be accepted for participation in the competition, should send 6 (six) original copies of sheet music of all compositions for needs of the jury and for a competition’s archive. (5 copies of each sheet music will be returned after the competition). The duplicates of the sheet music may be used only with written permission of a publisher or composer.
  • The choirs accepted for the competition must approve their participation by paying a participation fee of 300 EUR as set in an invoice made by the organisers by 15 April, 2018.

 

2. AWARDS

Participants  achieving 3 highest results at the Grand Prix category will be awarded  with monetary prizes:

  • 1st place — winner of Grand Prix — 3500 EUR and a winners’ cup
  • 2nd place— 2000 EUR
  • 3rd place — 1000 EUR

All choirs will receive a diploma for their participation in the 3rd International Baltic Sea Choir Competition.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS:

  • Best conductor’s prize — 500 EUR
  • Best performance of the compulsory composition — 250 EUR

 

3. PROGRAMS OF THE COMPETITION

  • Within the International Baltic Sea Choir Competition, there will be an opening concert (the choirs will not be evaluated) and three competition stages.
  • All programs of the competition should be performed following the indicated sequence.

 

3.1 OPENING CONCERT at Dubulti Church

  • Participation in the opening concert is obligatory.
  • For the opening concert, each choir should present their country-specific program not exceeding 5 minutes. When choosing repertoire, it should be noted that the opening concert will take place at church.
  • Compositions of the opening concert may not be included in the competition’s stages.

 

3.2 COMPULSORY PROGRAM

  • Compulsory composition — a composition. Sheet music of the composition will be available from 1 April, 2018.
  • A composition from the Romantic period of choir’s own choice.
  • A composition, written after 2000, of choir’s own choice.
  • folk song of the participating choir’s country, in unison.

Length of the compulsory program: 12-15 minutes (in case of not observing the time limit, the jury may grant penalty points), and the program should be performed a capella.

 

3.3 FREE PROGRAM

  • The choirs may not repeat the compositions from the compulsory program.
  • The free program should include at least 2 (two) compositions.
  • There may be an instrumental accompaniment to one composition of the free program. (A piano will be available at the venue. Other musical instruments will not be provided.)

Length of the free program: 8-10 minutes (in case of not observing the time limit, the jury may grant penalty points).

 

3.4 GRAND PRIX

  • The program of Grand Prix must include 3 compositions.
  • Only one composition may be repeated from the compulsory or free program.
  • In one composition of the Grand Prix program, both pitched and unpitched musical instruments may be used, while piano in this category may not be used.

Length of Grand Prix competition: 10-12 minutes (in case of not observing the time limit, the jury may grant penalty points).