Rules

Please read the rules very carefully as they contain all the details necessary regarding the choice of a choir’s programme and the criteria for adjudication. Each choir must be familiar with the rules.

Enrolments and requested documents for the Rimini International Choral Competition must be sent through the Entry e-Form before the 01 April 2023 at the latest.

Enrolments will be registered in order of arrival. Enrolments are subject to the approval of the organizing Committee, whose decision will be confirmed to both selected and non-selected choirs by e-mail no later than one week after receiving the application. The groups selected must confirm their application by e-mail immediately and will then, by email receive information giving all further details.

They shall then:

1. Pay an application fee of 200 Euros for the first category chosen and 100 Euros for every additional category (for each choir and for each category chosen) as described in detail at the bottom of the rules.
2. Send not later than the 01 April 2023 the Repertoire e-Form and, by registered post not later than the 15 April 2023, five copies of each work chosen for the class or the classes entered, included the six further copies of the scores for the class X, the Grand Prix (in the event the Choir achieves the final round). Copies of the scores will not be returned.

No enrolments will be considered complete until all these formalities have been met.

1 – Competition Classes

The Rimini International Competition includes five normal Classes (A, B, C, D, E) and a special Class (X). The same competing Group may participate in not more than three normal Classes, if it wishes.

A – Equal Voices Choirs (The term ‘equal voices’ refers to choirs composed of voices of the same type (e.g. SSAA or TTBB) and does not refer to the gender of the singers).

B – Mixed Voices Choirs

C – Children and Youth Choirs (Male, Female and Mixed. Singers maximum age is 20 years old. It is accepted that not more than 10% of the singers may have more than 20 years but anyway no more than 24 years. The Organizers reserve the right to check the age and to evaluate single cases)

D – Folk or Gospel/Spiritual Choirs (Male, Female or Mixed)

E – Sacred Music (Mixed, Equal Voices, Youth and Children Choirs)

X – “Grand Prix City of Rimini” Competition (the winners and runners-up from each of the classes, A, B, C and E – if their mark is at least 80,01 points or higher – must be prepared to compete in this class). If a choir is a winner of two or more categories, it will participate just once in the class X representing the first category qualification in chronological order and the choir arriving third in the other category will also participate.

Example: The mixed choir Giuseppe Verdi first wins Category E, then it wins Category A participating only with the male singers and arrives second in Category C, reaching a score higher than 80,1 in all cases. Choir Giuseppe Verdi will then participate in the Grand Prix as a mixed choir representing category E together as also the choir arriving 2^nd in that Category. For category A, 2^nd and 3^rd place choirs will sing in the Grand Prix and for category C 1^st and 3^rd place choirs.

2 – Prizes

At the outcome of each competition, the following prizes will be awarded:

The Jury shall not assign any ex-aequo prize.

The first prize-winners of classes A, B, C, E, will receive a gold-plated hand-made medal. The first prize-winners of class D will receive a gold-plated hand-made medal plus a money prize of 1.000 Euros. The second prize-winner of classes A, B, C, D, E will receive a silver-plated hand-made medal. The third prize-winner of classes A, B, C, D, E will receive a bronzed hand-made medal.

The winner of the “Grand Prix” (class X) will receive a special trophy and a money prize of 3.000 Euros.

Other prizes:

Prize “Emilia Romagna Region”: Diploma and trophy to the best Choir Director of the X class.

The Committee reserves the right to add other prizes.

Choirs will be judged according the following criteria:

• INTONATION
• FIDELITY TO THE SCORE
• SOUND QUALITY
• OVERALL ARTISTIC IMPRESSION and PROGRAMME CHOICE 

The jury will award a maximum of 100 points for each choir, as follows:

95,01-100,00:          Outstanding

85,01-95,00:            Excellent

80,01-85,00:            Very Good

75,01-80,00:            Good

65,01-75,00:            Moderate

According to the mark achieved, Bronze, Silver and Gold Diplomas will be awarded. If the choir does not achieve a Diploma (mark under 65.01) it will receive a certificate of participation. Each member of the Jury will write a report containing reviews and impressions about the performed repertoire of the choirs. The reports will be sent to the choirs by email.

3 – Repertoire

CLASSES A (Equal Voices) and B (Mixed Choirs): The programme choice, for Classes A and B, is left to each ensemble, but it must include four works, as follows:

1. One piece by a composer of the Renaissance, Baroque or Classical The Jury will evaluate especially fidelity to style.
2. One piece written after 1900
3. Two pieces chosen freely from any period

The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 11 and 15 minutes of pure singing time (that is, the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage). The choir must sing at least 2 pieces a cappella (i.e. without any instrumental accompaniment).

CLASS C (Youth and Children Choirs): The programme choice for Class C, is left to each ensemble, but it must include four works, as follows:

1. One piece written before 1900, sung in any language, performed a cappella or with instrumental
2. Two pieces written after 1900 by composers of the same Country of the choir. At least one of the two pieces must be sung in the original language of the composer and at least one of the two must be performed a cappella.
3. One piece chosen freely from any period desired and in any language, performed a

The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 11 and 15 minutes of pure singing time (i.e. the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage). The choir must sing at least 2 pieces a cappella (i.e. without any instrumental accompaniment).

CLASS D (Folk, Spiritual, Gospel): The programme choice for Class D, is left to each ensemble, but it must include four works, as follows:

a programme including choral arrangements of folk and traditional songs from the choir’s native country OR spirituals and gospels.

An English translation of the lyrics or a summary of each score must be sent. The use of idiophonic or ethnological or historically justified instruments is allowed. The combination of (stylistically justifiable) choreographic movement together with singing is also permitted and desirable. This may deserve special merits. The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 8 and 12 minutes of pure singing time (i.e. the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage).

CLASS E (Sacred Music): The programme choice, for Class E is left to each ensemble, but it must include four works, as follows:

1. One piece by a composer of the Renaissance, Baroque or Classical The Jury will evaluate especially fidelity to style.
2. One piece written after 1900
3. Two pieces chosen freely from any period

The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 11 and 15 minutes of pure singing time (i.e. the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage). All the repertoire, having entirely sacred text, must be performed a cappella, i.e. without any instrumental accompaniment.

CLASS X: The winners and runners-up (second place) from classes A, B, C and E, if their mark is at least 80,01 points or higher, must be prepared to compete in class X and may not use any piece from an earlier class.

The programme choice for Class X, is left to each ensemble, but it must include three works:

1. One piece written before 1900
2. One piece written after 1900
3. One piece chosen freely from any period

The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 7 and 10 minutes of pure singing time (it is the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage) The choir must sing at least 2 pieces a cappella (i.e. without any instrumental accompaniment).

• No Choir may sing the same repertoire in two or more different classes of competition (A, B, C, D, E, X).
• Choirs will be penalized by two points for not respecting the time limits set out in the above
• Accompaniment may be provided by a piano or other instrument / Recorded accompaniment is not allowed.
• Subsequent to repertoire entry a choir may not change its repertoire nor the order in which it is to be sung.
• Five copies of each piece of music (plus five for the X category) must be enclosed with the repertoire entry Copies of the scores will not be returned.

4 – Adjudicators and Awarding Ceremonies

The competitions will be judged by a jury of nationally and internationally recognised experts. The names of the choirs admitted to the Grand Prix will be announced at the end of each category (after the jury meeting) but the awarding of the prizes and diplomas for each category will take place during the final prize-giving ceremony on Sunday 4 June 2023, in the evening. The award ceremony for category D will also take place during the final award ceremony. Any prizes not collected at any prize- giving ceremony shall be available to the winners for one year following the close of the Competition. Prizes must be collected personally; under no circumstances will prizes be sent. Before the Grand Prix the participating Choirs will have the opportunity to meet the members of the Jury. During this meeting they will have the opportunity to ask the Jury Member’s opinions on technique and about their artistic observations.

5 – Sung Service at the Church of St. Agostino

The first 10 Choirs selecting this option on the entry form may sing together a Mass directed by Andrea Angelini at the beautiful Church of St. Agostino on Saturday afternoon 3 June 2023 at 16:30. The choirs will also say a short prayer in their own languages. All the information and the repertoire will be sent to the participating choirs via email in due time before the event.

6 – Entry Procedures

When submitting an entry form you must include some MP3 recordings of the choir or some links to YouTube videos, a short biography of the choir in discursive way (max. 1200 characters, spaces included) and a high-quality digital picture of the choir.

The closing date for class entry is 01 April 2023.

The closing date for repertoire entry is 01 April 2023.

Everything needs to be electronically submitted through the e-forms available on our website.

The five paper copies of each music scores shall be submitted by post and by 15 April 2023 to the following address:

Rimini International Choral Competition

Viale Pascoli 23-g 47923 RIMINI – Italy

7 – General Rules

• Ninety per cent of all members of a choir, except the conductor, must be amateurs (i.e. those who do not earn their main livelihood as singers).
• In case of changes of the keys printed in the scores the jury must be informed in writing prior to the competition.
• The Musical Director reserves the right to limit the number of entries for each class.
• The Musical Director reserves the right to join two classes or to cancel a class if he feels that there are insufficient entries.
• The Musical Director reserves the right to refuse entry to any choir to any class. The Musical Director reserves the right to add to or alter these rules.
• The Jury’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding any aspect of its decision.
• Order of appearance will be made by the Musical Director after entry to competition is closed and will be notified by e-mail or fax to each participating choir not later than 10 May 2023.
• In no circumstances shall any person (other than authorised officials) be allowed on the stage or backstage during any class.
• It is contrary to law to perform music if the score has been reproduced illegally. Should a choir do so the Festival accepts no responsibility for any action taken by publishers.
• The Festival Organisers and the Musical Director accept no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect of anything pertaining to a choir’s participation in the Festival.
• Submission of an entry form and participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the Competition Rules and Regulations.

8 – Broadcasting and recording rights

All rights regarding the audio and audio-visual recordings of the event (“Recordings”) as well as their exploitation are herewith being granted by the choir/artists exclusively to Musicaficta. All rights granted to Musicaficta hereunder may be exploited by Musicaficta in perpetuity without any limitation as to time, territory and/or manner of exploitation free of any rights of third parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this includes in particular the following exclusive rights in the Recordings which can also be transferred by Musicaficta to a third party at Musicaficta discretion. Musicaficta shall be exclusively entitled to reproduce the Recordings wholly or partly by way of producing vinyl discs, music cassettes, compact discs, DATs, Mini Discs, Digital Compact Cassettes or other sound carriers and by producing video cassettes, picture discs, compact disc videos, DVDs or other audio-visual carriers or other data carriers or by means of other technical devices and to sell or otherwise distribute these reproductions by retail, wholesale or other distribution channels such as clubs, mail order or TV-response. This also includes the right to exploit the Recordings in the context of online and especially internet applications of any kind and of any system, regardless of the way of transmission and business model, and to use, upload and distribute these Recordings in data bases, networks (e.g. internet and all its services) or anything similar of any kind and especially to disseminate and transmit these Recordings to users of databases/networks via cable or other ways of transmission for the purpose of perception and/or reproduction and/ or distribution against payment or free of charge. This also includes the right to publicly perform or broadcast the Recordings by private or public broadcast stations, including digital radio services, via cable, satellite or other technical transmission services either against payment or free of charge (including the right to collect in Musicaficta own name broadcast fees accruing in connection with the public performance or broadcast of the Recordings). Musicaficta rights also include the right to edit and/or alter the Recordings (e.g. by producing mixes or remixes), to couple the Recordings with other recordings (e.g. with recordings of other artists) and the right to release and sell the Recordings on so-called “special product” audio or audio-visual carriers. Furthermore, Musicaficta shall be entitled to grant synchronization rights in the Recordings for movies, videos, TV and/or movie commercials, image films etc., to translate them into other languages, to use them for multimedia purposes of any kind or to rearrange them in any other way (e.g. to create remixes or do sampling). This also includes the exclusive right to use the Recordings in PC software as well as other and also interactive multimedia productions (incl. so called “websites”) for goods, services and advertising purposes of any kind. Finally, this includes the non-exclusive right to use the choir’s/artist’s name as well as images of the choir/artist in the context of the exploitation and the advertising and promotion measures mentioned above. Musicaficta does not pay any money to the artist for the exclusive grant of rights mentioned above. The artist accepts explicitly that the positive promotion effect resulting from an exploitation of the Recordings by Musicaficta represents an adequate return service for this transfer of rights. In case of a commercial release of the Recordings on CD, the parties will negotiate separately in good faith about an adequate royalty to be payable to Artist according to standard business practice.

9 – Accommodation

The participating choirs at the Rimini International Choral Competition shall book their hotel through the Agency authorized by Musicaficta. All the information about prices of the packages is available at the bottom of this page and on our website here https://www.riminichoral.it/package. This is an exclusive condition and integral part of the conditions for participation and there is no exception to this rule. All included services and rates of the event package are described in the agency offer sent to the requesting choir. The purchase of an accommodation package is three (3) nights minimum. The package includes hotel accommodation in B&B, half board or full board, the entrance to all the events organized during the event (concerts, competitions) and the possibility to take advantage of all the discounts offered by our partners (museums, leisure parks, restaurants…) The payment to the authorized agencies for the event package is due on the dates indicated on the invoice. Banking information is also located on the invoice. We would like to draw your attention expressly to the fact that participation in the event is only possible if the costs due have been received net and by the last deadline. Delays in payments may affect the benefits of your participation. Any costs incurred due to such action are to be borne by the group. To ask the price of your package please visit our website.

10 – Other information

The organisers regret that the church does not have suitable spaces for changing or for depositing personal effects. Choirs are therefore requested to arrive at the theatre already dressed for their performance. All participating choirs may attend all the competitions and concerts during the days of the Festival; to not disturb the performances of the choirs it is strictly forbidden to stay in the foyer of the theatre during the competition time. Choirs will be called by the organisers one at a time and will be permitted to wait in the foyer only during the performance of the Choir immediately preceding them in the programme. During the performance of the X class (Grand Prix) all the finalist choirs must wait their turn whilst remaining seated in the theatre Hall.

Piano:

A digital 88 keys Roland piano for accompaniment during the Competitions and Concerts is available on the stage of the Atti Theatre.

Music stands:

Music stands (for conductors and other musicians) will be provided by the Organisers at the Competition venues.

Concerts:

According to the timetable, on Thursday evening 1 June, Friday evening 2 June and Saturday evening 3 June 2023, the Choirs shall perform a non-competitive Concert (at the Church of Servi on Thursday and at the Teatro degli Atti on Friday). The maximum time allowed for each Choir is 20 minutes, pauses between the pieces included. Choirs shall perform a free programme, preferably different from the repertoire chosen for the Competition. If a Group should take part in more than one Class, it will nevertheless perform only one concert.

Festival Fees:

A registration fee of 200 Euros for the first category chosen and 100 Euros for every additional category per choir/ensemble and category shall be paid for the participation at the Rimini International Choral Competition. The participation in a non-competitive concert is also included in the registration fee.

The registration fee shall be made payable to Musicaficta in full, immediately after the choir has been accepted by the Committee, by bank transfer or by PayPal. Any banking costs that arise must be paid by the registrant. In case a choir cancels its participation, the registration fee will not be refunded. In the unlikely event of cancellation of the Competition by the organizers, fees will be refunded in full.

Travel Expenses

The journey to the event including the travel expenses is responsibility of the choir members and additional persons. Sightseeing excursions aside from the event and airport transfers are not inclusive and must be booked separately.

Language of Correspondence

Italian and English are the only languages that are reflected on official documents. This includes, but is not limited to, the Official Participant Information, travel documents such as schedule and vouchers as well as invoices. These are all legally binding. Information by phone, Skype or email are available in the following languages: Italian, English, and Russian.

Please make sure that your choir is accompanied by at least one Italian or English-speaking person who can assist you with translation during the event.

The Artistic Director of the Competition
Prof. Andrea Angelini

Download the Rules in English

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