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The World Federation of International Music Competitions has adopted recommendations for Western classical music competitions which may be of interest also to organisations that plan local competitions or competitions in other musical styles.
1. General
1.1 An international music competition is a celebration dedicated to a particular discipline or disciplines of classical music, held periodically to present aspiring young performers or composers from throughout the world. Usually held in preliminary, semi-final and final stages, an international music competition awards at its completion prizes to the most outstanding competitors chosen by a jury, gaining for the award-winners widespread recognition that helps further their careers.
1.2 In addition, a competition is a forum that brings together musicians, the general public, and the media to heighten the appreciation of the repertory, performance tradition, history, and culture of a particular discipline or disciplines of classical music.
2. Competitors
2.1 Competitors shall be shoe musicians who are recognised as the most promising to attain international stature in the discipline of the competition.
2.2 No applicant to a competition may be barred because of nationality, race, religion or gender. Competitions may, however, establish minimum and maximum age requirements for competitors.
2.3 Any competitor who knowingly falsifies documentation for admittance to a competition will be barred from that competition and be reported to the Federation.
3. Application
3.1 The application brochure shall include eligibility requirements, application procedures, rules and procedures for the competition, including the repertory of each stage, prizes and the conditions of their award.
3.2 The application brochure should be published in both French and English, the official languages of the WFIMC, in addition to any other language chosen by the competition. [MCA Editor's note: this and some other Recommendations obviously arise out of the circumstances of the WFIMC, and may be inappropriate in many parts of the world, or other styles of music.]
4. Jury
4.1 The jury shall be composed of musicians or persons in the music profession recognised internationally for their expertise, competence, integrity and fairness. The majority of jurymembers shall be recognised experts in the discipline of the competition held. A minority of jury members may be experts in related disciplines.
4.2 The jury shall consist of no fewer than seven members, except in the case of a competition for composers, the jury for which shall consist of no fewer than five.
4.3 The majority of jury members shall be nationals of several countries other than that where the competition is held.
5. Repertory List
5.1 The repertory list may reflect the particular characteristics of the host competition though it should also celebrate the highest achievements of the competition's discipline.
5.2 The repertory list should also be broad enough to help reveal the artistic personality and the professional experience of the individuals competing.
5.3 The repertory list should, if possible, include a commissioned work, in order to enlarge the repertory of the competitions discipline.
6. Lodging and Transportation
6.1 The competition shall provide lodging for all competitors during the competition that reflects the highest standard of hospitality that the host city can offer.
6.2 Competitors shall be provided transportation within the host city to enable them to meet the competition schedule in a convenient and timely way.
7. Performance Conditions
7.1 All competitors shall be offered optimum and equal conditions for practice, rehearsal and performance during each stage of the competition.
7.2 Except for the preliminary stage, which in some instances may be considered a pre-selection stage, all stage of performance shall be open to the public.
7.3 No competitor may be excused from any stage of performance.
7.4 The first stage of live performance shall be not less than twenty minutes, except in the case of compeititons for voice and wind instruments in which the duration of the first stage may be shorter.
7.5 The jury may not interrupt a competitoris performance, except if he/she exceeds the allowed time.
7.6 Each competition shall hold a final stage with orchestra, unless its discipline makes this requirement unsuitable.
8. Adjudication
8.1 The rules governing the adjudication process shall be accessible to any interested party.
8.2 The adjudication process may not be changed during the duration of the competition.
8.3 A non-musical consideration may not be a part of the adjudication process.
8.4 All stages of a competition, except for the pre-selection stage, should be adjudicated by the same jury members.
8.5 Any jury member who is a relative or teacher of a competitor may not vote for nor discuss that competitor with other members of the jury.
8.6 All discussion by the jury must be strictly confidential.
8.7 Any decision of the jury must be final.
9. Prizes
9.1 All prizes to be awarded by the competition shall be published prior to the competition.
9.2 All prizes shall be awarded to the winners unless a jury is allowed the discretion to withhold naming any prize, in which case that option shall be clearly stated in the application brochure of the competition.
9.3 In addition to cash prizes, professionally compensated concerts or recitals of artistic merit should be offered to the winner or winners.
10. Internal Organisation
10.1 The competition must show evidence of being of a permanent character and must schedule recurring editions. [WFIMC requirement.]
10.2 The organisation of the competition shall be not-for-profit and pursue artistic and cultural goals. [Ditto]
11. External Impact
11.1 Each competition is encouraged to heighten the impact of its discipline or disciplines on the general public through related programs, such as seminars, symposia or master classes.
11.2 Each competition shall establish positive relations with the media to help sustain a strong profile for the competitors, the winners, the WFIMC and classical music in general.
11.3 Each competition should become an integral part of the cultural life of the community in which it takes place.
11.4 To avoid any confusion of identity, the name of title of each competition shall be distinct from that of any other competition.
For more information, contact the WFIMC at 104, rue de Carouge CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland. Tel (41 22) 321 36 20 Fax (4122)7811418
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