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Rules & Regulations

It is the responsibility of every participant and/or Parent/Guardian and/or Teacher to ensure that they read and comply with all the Rules and Regulations of the Newmarket Voice Festival.

Management

  1. The Festival shall be known as the Newmarket Voice Festival, hereinafter called the "Festival".

  2. The Festival shall operate under the direction of the Newmarket Voice Festival Committee, hereinafter called the "Committee".

  3. All matters not dealt with in these rules shall be referred to the Committee whose decisions on such matters shall be final.

  4. All concerns or complaints must be submitted within 48 hours to the Festival Director at newmarketvoicefestival@gmail.com. Under no circumstances are such concerns to be made to the adjudicator.

Eligibility

  1. Amateurs are eligible to compete in all classes as long as age specifications are met.

  2. An "AMATEUR" for the purposes of the Festival is defined as "any person whose principal livelihood is not obtained from the performance or teaching of music." Professionals may enter OPEN classes for purposes of adjudication only and must place ADJ after the code entered on the application form.

  3. In all classes in which an age limit is stated, participants must be no older than the prescribed age on January 15, 2027. Exact date and year of birth must be entered in the space provided on the entry form. Classes marked “OPEN” are open to participants over the age of 21.

  4. All classes shall be open to residents of Ontario. No student of an adjudicator may compete in the Festival.

  5. Participants are urged to exercise caution in entering class information on the entry form. Transfers to other classes will not be possible following the closing date for entries.

Repertoire

  1. All pieces must be performed from memory, except in the case of oratorio arias. Failure to do so will result in a written adjudication only.

  2. Under the provisions of the Copyright Act, photocopying of music is prohibited and participants are reminded that illegal copies will not be accepted.

    Each participant must provide an original score or printed sheet music of purchased digital music with receipt attached for the use of the adjudicator. NO PHOTOCOPIES ARE ALLOWED. Failure to provide an original score will result in disqualification of the participant.

    Digital downloads are acceptable as originals but a receipt or proof of purchase must be attached to the music. (The title page does not count as proof of purchase). The teacher’s name should be covered or not visible anywhere on the music. If music is in the public domain and was downloaded for free (from web sites such as imslp.org), you must provide proof of the legal free download.

    Upon arrival, check-in with the Hall Secretary and turn in your music at least fifteen minutes before your class begins. Each participant is responsible for collecting the music from the Hall Secretary immediately after the class is finished.

    1. Please make sure that the participant’s name, class number and page number of the piece is affixed to the upper right corner of the music submitted to the Hall Secretary.
    2. The owner’s name must be written on all music and it must be turned in to, and retrieved from, the Hall Secretary by the person responsible for it. The Festival is not responsible for any music lost or misplaced should these rules not be followed.

  3. Repertoire which does not coincide with stated categories will result in disqualification. Participants are allowed to perform a selection only once during the course of the festival.

  4. The title and composer must be listed on the entry form as well as the performance time, eg. 2 ½ minutes, which assists us in creating a timeline for the festival schedule.

  5. Foreign language classes must be a foreign language to the participant. For example, a participant whose first or second language is French would not be eligible to sing in French as a foreign language piece. Foreign language should be the original language of the composition.

Entries and Entry Fees

  1. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES – January 15, 2027. Late entries will be subject to a $25 late fee and only be accepted until January 17, 2027. Online payment via e-transfer may be sent to newmarketvoicefestival@gmail.com

    The invoice number provided and the participant’s full name must accompany the e-transfer. Entry fees must be received to make the entry valid. Fees cannot be refunded, except under circumstances where the entry is rejected by the Committee.

    You can register for the festival by creating and account at newmarketvoicefestival.com and clicking on Register for the class in the Syllabus.

    Online payment via e-transfer may be sent to newmarketvoicefestival@gmail.com.

    Any returned cheque that has not been cleared through the festival bank account will require an additional $20 fee which is to be included together with the replacement entry fee to keep the entry eligible.

  2. NEW: Singers may enter any category multiple times with repertoire that has not been previously performed in the festival, but a separate entry fee is required for each entry.

  3. In duets, trios and quartets, ONLY ONE entry is required. All names and dates of birth of each singer must be shown on the form. The age level to enter is that of the oldest singer in the group.

  4. Class changes will not be permitted. It is the responsibility of the participant and teacher to read all rules and enter the correct class by CLASS CODE in the syllabus.

  5. No music substitutions are allowed. No performer substitutions are allowed except in duets, trios or quartets when there is illness or injury. The substituting performer must meet all eligibility requirements for the class. If a substitute performs in his/her own entry in the same class PLUS the substitution entry, only the original group shall be eligible for awards. The group having the substitute performer shall receive adjudication only.

  6. A class schedule will be emailed to each participant.

  7. For those participants wishing to sing for adjudication only, please indicate ADJ on the entry form directly after the class number. These classes will be non-competitive and participants will be ineligible for awards and being recommended to Provincials.

Festival Procedure

  1. Following the closing date for entries, the Festival Committee shall decide the order in which classes will take place and reserves the right to alter the order if necessary.

  2. The Festival reserves the right to divide any class into two or more classes under circumstances where the number of entries justifies such a division.

  3. The Festival reserves the right to substitute or appoint additional adjudicators.

  4. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify any participant who is not ready to perform when called. Disqualification means that no marks or awards will be given. An adjudication may be given at the adjudicator’s discretion.

  5. Accompanist requirements are the responsibility of the performer. No recordings or backtracks are allowed, except in the case of Popular Music classes. Program order will not be changed to accommodate accompanists.

  6. All classes are open to the public.

  7. The NVF does not provide refunds for ANY reason, including inclement weather

  8. The Adjudicator’s decisions are final. No participant may approach the adjudicator. This may result in disqualification. No teacher or member of the public may speak to or correspond with the adjudicator. Necessary questions from the participant must be directed to the Hall Secretary. This is not intended to prevent the adjudicator from initiating conversation as may be required at times during adjudication.

  9. Participants are not allowed to rehearse in the building prior to or during the Festival. Warm-up space is not available at the site so please make other arrangements and plan accordingly.

  10. No one should enter or exit the Auditorium while a performer is singing. Please do so ONLY during applause or in between classes.

  11. All cell phones and pagers must be turned OFF or turned to silent mode.

  12. The Festival will not be responsible for the loss or damage to personal property.

Video/Audio Recording Rules

  1. Videotaping and/or recording performances is strongly discouraged to protect the concentration of the performer and the adjudicator.

    EXCEPTION: For those who plan to enter virtual classes at the OMFA Provincial Finals should they be recommended by the adjudicator. Parent can only record their own child and the following rules apply:

    1. The festival will provide a designated area or chair for one parent for such purposes.
    2. The use of flash or lighting is forbidden during the performance. There must be no noise or movement by the operator during the performance.
    3. All equipment must be SILENT.
    4. ABSOLUTELY NO photography or videotaping is allowed of other participants or of the adjudicator.

    These rules are designed to protect the concentration of the performer and the adjudicator. These rules also apply to any other behaviour that might adversely affect concentration. Anyone who may detract from a performance or adjudication, or who in any way is disruptive, will be asked to leave.

  2. Questions not dealt with in these rules shall be referred to the Committee whose decision on such matters shall be final and binding on all concerned. All written requests for clarification should be sent to the Festival Director at newmarketvoicefestival@gmail.com Where there may be a reason to treat the matter urgently, a written request may be given to the Hall Secretary.

Awards

  1. Each participant will receive a written adjudication and a participation certificate. A seal of achievement will be awarded based on the following guideline which will be used by the adjudicator to determine awards:
    GOLD = 87 or Higher
    SILVER = 83-86
    BRONZE = 80-82
    * Unless these standards are achieved, awards will be withheld regardless of the number of entrants in the class. Placements will be announced and certificates will be given after each class.

  2. Scholarships will be awarded by the festival at the recommendation of the adjudicator and in compliance with donor criteria. Participants are encouraged to enter multiple classes/genres to be eligible for scholarships. Recipients will be contacted by email or phone and be recognized at the Concert of the Stars on February 26, 2027 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall in Newmarket.

  3. Some of our scholarship winners may be invited to perform in the Concert of the Stars. Singers will be invited by email or phone prior to the concert and must secure and pay their own accompanist.

  4. The Newmarket Voice Festival is a member festival of the Ontario Music Festival Association (OMFA) which holds a Provincial competition in June. In 2027, it will be held in Waterloo, dates to TBD.

    The adjudicator may choose up to three singers per category and age level to recommend to advance to this event, based on a minimum mark of 85 on a qualifying piece.

    Competitors must provide their own accompanist and pay entry fees and travel expenses if attending the Live Provincial Finals. Certain classes will be virtual – for singers 10 years and under and all duets.

    Recommended competitors must complete their entry form and pay fees by date TBD - view details at www.omfa.ca

    It is an honour to be invited to attend and perform at the provincial level and to represent our local festival.
    ***Competitors must accept their first offer/recommendation to the Provincial Finals and cannot accept a subsequent offer from another festival in the same discipline.

  5. In accordance with Revenue Canada regulations, T4A forms will be issued to singers who win $500 or more in scholarships.