Music: Best in the Northwest Choir Festival- Rules

Rules of Entry, Best in the Northwest Choir Festival, 2013

Eligibility: Entries will be limited to the first 12 high school choirs and the first 15 junior high/middle school choirs from which we receive applications with fee enclosed. The immediate past winners of first place trophies will be eligible to enter without fee. Middle schools and junior high schools are required to bring their largest concert choir to the Festival. High schools may enter choirs larger than 25 students.

Performance Time: Each high school choir will be allotted 30 minutes (20 minute minimum performance); each junior/middle school choir will be allotted 25 minutes (15 minute minimum performance). The allotted time will include entry to and exit from the performance area. Choirs may be penalized for exceeding this time limit!

Repertoire: Each choir will sing a program entirely of the director’s choosing. A variety of styles and textures is encouraged. No style or type of music is expressly encouraged or discouraged, but we encourage the use of bonafide concert material. The repertoire will be judged on its variety and suitability to the choir. No instruments or sound equipment are provided except a grand piano and one solo microphone.

Ratings and Prizes: The judges will use the Oregon School Activities Association adjudication system for evaluating quality of sound, technique and musicality. For high schools, scores are weighted based on the official size of the school; junior high and middle school scores are not weighted. See www.osaa.org/choir for the rubric. The choir with the highest composite point total will win the trophy and title of “Best in the Northwest.” Scores will be posted only after results are announced. The winning choirs will be awarded a plaque to be retained by the choir and a trophy that must be returned prior to the next festival. No photocopied music will be allowed – either held by performers or provided for the adjudicators. Any adjudicator may prohibit the performance of photocopied music and/or may penalize any choir guilty of using it.

Entry Fee: No application will be accepted without an accompanying check in the amount of $225.00 payable to “University of Portland Choir Festival.” No entry fee will be refunded after April 19th, 2013 unless there is a replacement choir. The 2012 winning choirs will be entered without fee but application must be made in the usual manner.

Direct applications and fees to: University of Portland, Michael Connolly – MSC 152, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203-5798. Phone: (503) 943–7228, Fax: (503) 943–7805, Email: pfa@up.edu

Performance Recordings: Each choir will receive a professionally recorded CD of their performance at no additional charge.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Warm-up Room: Located in Buckley Center room 103. It is tiered and equipped with an upright piano. Each choir will have use of this room only for the time slot immediately preceding its performance. Neither clothes nor valuables can be left in this room. A festival worker will notify the choir director and lead the choir to the stage entrance for its performance.

Coat Room: Located in Buckley Center Room 106. You should not leave valuables in this room unless you provide your own security. Choirs may use this room for a morning OR afternoon period.

Food: On campus, The Commons, will be open during the festival.

Crowd Control: To reduce confusion and noise, NO ONE will be admitted to the auditorium or its lobby until the choir on stage has finished its program. OUTSIDE DOORS WILL BE LOCKED. Doors will open for five minute intervals between choirs. Students must be adequately chaperoned.