Preparing for the Festival

Whether this is your first time participating or you're a returning performer, we've gathered the tips below to help with preparing for the Festival.

Double check the times and locations of all your classes.
Make sure that you have a legitimate copy for the Adjudicator of all the pieces you are playing/singing in the Festival (original score or digital download with proof of purchase).
Review the rules pertaining to your classes with your teacher to ensure that you are prepared to participate fully.

Give yourself extra time to find parking. Parking at the church venues can be limited.
Prepare to arrive 15 minutes early for each class and be prepared to stay from start to finish.
Bring your family and friends! There is no admission charge to be an audience member.
When you arrive, check in with the session Secretary in the lobby. Hand her your music to the Adjudicator.

When the previous class is completed, there will be a brief time of transition as those performers exit and the next class begins.
The Emcee or Secretary will introduce the class and the Adjudicator.
The Emcee or Secretary will call up the class participants and invite them to sit in the designated row of seats at the front of the audience, in the order of their performances.
The Emcee, Secretary or Adjudicator will ask the first participant to give his/her performance.
Each consecutive participant must wait until invited to perform, as the Adjudicator may need some time between performances to finish writing comments.
The participants will introduce themselves, their piece and its composer, and then perform their selections.
After the performance, bowing during audience applause is expected.
After bowing, the participants will return to the same seat they were sitting in prior to their performances.
After all the performances in the class are completed, the Adjudicator will offer verbal feedback to the group of participants. This part of the class may involve individual comments, a group discussion, demonstrations, trying things again, or anything the Adjudicator deems educationally important to that particular group.
The Adjudicator or the Secretary will hand back your music, the comment sheet and your certificate.

Adjudicators expect competitors to know background information about their pieces and the genres from which they come.
Performers, their parents and teachers must not talk to the adjudicator once the class has begun. This could be construed as an attempt to try to influence the adjudicator’s decision. An infraction of this rule will lead to disqualification.
If a performance is not consistent with the rules of the Festival, the performer will receive adjudication only. No certificate will be awarded.
It is strictly forbidden to take photographs or to make audio or video recordings during any performance.