Rules
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Please read these rules carefully. Enrollments for the ‘Claudio Monteverdi International Choral Competition’ (see the Entry Form) must be sent by the Entry e-form before the 31 December 2024 at the latest. Enrollments will be registered in order of arrival. Enrollments are subject to the approval of the organizing Committee whose decision will be confirmed to both selected and non-selected groups by e-mail no later than one week after receiving the application. The groups selected must confirm their application by e-mail as soon as possible and will then receive a circular giving all further details.
They will need to:
a) 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.
b) Send not later than the 31 December 2024 the Repertoire e-Form and, by registered post not later than the 10 January 2025, five copies of each work chosen for the category or the categories entered, included the five further copies of the scores for the category X, “Claudio Monteverdi Grand Prix” Competition (in the event the Choir passes to the final round). Copies of the scores will not be given back.
No enrolments will be considered complete until all these formalities have been met.
1 – Categories
The ‘Claudio Monteverdi International Choral Competition’ is open to all the kind of choirs and ensembles (adults, youth, children, mixed, male, female) with repertoire sacred, secular, folk, gospel. The choirs could compete in the following different categories (even more than one):
- Category A: Children’s Choirs (The singers of the children’s choirs must not be born before 1 January 2010; non-quota singers born no earlier than 1 January 2008 are admitted up to a maximum number of 15% of the total number of choir members. Choirs intending to enrol choristers born before 1 January 2010 must highlight the names of the out-of-quota choristers in the declaration to be issued by the Choir Manager for the purpose of identification and control).
- Category B: Adult’s Choirs (Mixed and Equal Voices, without age limit. Minimum 6 singers)
- Category C: Non-Competitive Choirs (Adult’s Mixed, Adult’s Equal Voices, Children’s Choirs. Minimum 6 singers)
- Category E: Sacred Music (Adult’s Mixed, Adult’s Equal Voices, Children’s Choirs. Minimum 6 singers)
- Category X: Grand Prix Claudio Monteverdi (the winners and runners-up from each of the categories A, B and E – if their mark is at least 80.01 points or higher – must be prepared to compete in this category).
2 – Prizes
At the outcome of the Grand Prix Competition, the following prizes will be awarded:
| 1st PRIZE | 2nd PRIZE | 3rd PRIZE |
| Gold Diploma, Trophy | Silver Diploma, Trophy | Bronze Diploma, Trophy |
The Grand Prix Competition winner will receive a ‘Seahorse’ (the decoration of the Venetian Gondola), in Murano glass and especially hand-crafted for the Competition. The second prize-winner and the third prize winners will also receive a beautiful sculpture in Murano glass.
The winning Choir and the runner up will also have the honour to sing the Sunday concert at the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
The Jury will award the best performance of a piece by Claudio Monteverdi, which can be used in each of the categories A, B and E. The winning choir will receive a Diploma of Merit.
The Jury will also award with a Diploma of Merit and a sculpture in Murano glass the best Conductor of the entire Competition.
The Committee reserves the right to add other prizes.
Choirs will be judged according the following criteria:
INTONATION
FIDELITY TO THE SCORE
SOUND QUALITY
PROGRAMME CHOICE and OVERALL ARTISTIC IMPRESSION
The jury may 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 in categories A, B and E 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, in English or in Italian will be sent to the choirs by email.
| Diploma | Level | Points |
| Bronze Diploma | 1 | 65,01 – 70,00 |
| 2 | 70,01 – 75,00 | |
| Silver Diploma | 1 | 75,01 – 80,00 |
| 2 | 80,01 – 85,00 | |
| Gold Diploma | 1 | 85,01 – 90,00 |
| 2 | 90,01 – 95,00 | |
| 3 | 95,01 – 100,00 |
3 – Repertoire
CATEGORY A (Children’s Choirs): The programme choice for category A, is left to each choir, but it must include four works, as follow:
- One piece written before 1900, sung in any language, performed a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment.
- 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.
- One piece chosen freely from any period desired and in any language, performed a cappella.
The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 11 and 15 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” (without any instrumental accompaniment).
CATEGORY B (Mixed and Equal Voices Adult’s Choirs): The programme choice, for category B, is left to each choir, but it must include four works, as follow:
- One piece by a composer of the Renaissance, Baroque or Classical period. The Jury will evaluate especially fidelity to style.
- One piece written after 1900.
- Two pieces chosen freely from any period desired.
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” (without any instrumental accompaniment).
CATEGORY E (Sacred Music): The programme choice, for category E is left to each choir, but it must include four works, as follow:
- One piece by a composer of the Renaissance, Baroque or Classical period. The Jury will evaluate especially fidelity to style.
- One piece written after 1900.
- Two pieces chosen freely from any period desired.
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). All the repertoire, having entirely sacred text, must be performed “a cappella”, without any instrumental accompaniment.
CATEGORY X, Grand Prix: The winners and runners-up (second place) from categories A, B and E, if their mark is at least 80,01 points or higher, must be prepared to compete in category X and may not use any piece from an earlier category.
The programme choice for Category X must consist of two works:
- One piece written after 1900.
- One piece chosen freely from any period desired.
The total duration of performed repertoire must be between 5 and 8 minutes of pure singing time (it is the duration of the performed pieces excluding applause and going onto or leaving the stage) At least one of the two pieces must be sung “a cappella” (without any instrumental accompaniment).
No Choir may sing the same repertoire in two or more different categories of competition (A, B, E).
Participating in CATEGORY C, non competitive, the choirs may of course not compete or enter in the final classifications, participate in other categories or participate in the Grand Prix finale. They will have the possibility to perform a free repertory of maximum 15 minutes in front of the Jury that will write a report that will be sent by email to the Choir’s director after the end of the festival. It will not be published.
The repertoire indicated in the application form could be changed within the 31 December 2024. After that deadline a choir may not change its repertoire nor the order in which it will be sung.
Five copies of each piece of music must be sent by the 10 January 2025. Copies of the scores will not be given back.
4 – Adjudicators and Awarding Ceremony
The choirs will be judged by a jury panel of nationally and internationally known adjudicators. The result will be announced during the awarding ceremony. Any prizes not collected at any prize-giving ceremony shall be available to the winners for one year after the end of the Competition. Prizes must be collected personally; under no circumstances will prizes be sent. A written adjudication report (with artistic and technical impression) will be sent later by email to every choir.
5 – Concert at the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice
The winning choir of category X, the Grand Prix, and the choir arriving second will be invited to perform a Concert at the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli on Friday morning 21st February 2025. Each choir is free to choose the repertory, ca. 30 minutes of performing per choir, a cappella.
6 – Entry Procedure
When submitting an entry form you must include a short bio of the Choir (max. 1100 characters, spaces included) and a high quality digital picture of the Choir.
- The closing date for sending the entry is 31 December 2024
- The closing date for and or changing the repertoire is 31 December 2024
- The closing date for sending the paper copies of the selected pieces is 10 January 2025
All entry forms must be submitted through the form available at this the page
For information:
Claudio Monteverdi Choral Festival and Competition
Viale Pascoli 23-g – 47923 Rimini, Italy
Tel: +39 347 2573878
Fax: +39 02 700425984
Email: office@venicechoralcompetition.it
7 – General
- Ninety per cent of all members of a choir, except the conductor, must be amateurs (i.e. people 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 refuse entry to any choir to the Competition.
- 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 drawn by the Musical Director, and will be notified by e-mail to each participating choir not later than 10th January 2025.
- In no circumstances will any person (other than authorised officials) be allowed on the stage or backstage during any competition.
- 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 Organizers 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
It is a condition of participation that any choir must agree:
a) that any performance it gives during the Festival may be broadcasted live and/or recorded for subsequent broadcast on radio and/or television without payment to the choir. All broadcasting rights to any performance at the Festival shall belong to the Festival which will be free to dispose of them as it sees fit.
b) that any performance it gives during the Festival may, without payment, be recorded and the Festival shall be entitled to possession of any such recording and shall further be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, hire, offer or display for sale or hire, distribute or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any manner that it sees fit.
9 – Other
Concert:
According to the festival programme, on Tuesday 18th February 2025, all choirs will sing a non competitive concert in Church in Venice, at the Church of San Giovanni e Paolo. The maximum time allowed for each Choir is 13 minutes, pauses between the pieces included. Choirs must perform only sacred music, a cappella.
Competition Rules:
Please read the rules very carefully as they contain all the details necessary as to the choice of a choir’s programme and the criteria for adjudication. Each choir must be familiar with the rules.
Piano:
A digital piano will be available at the Church of St. Pietro a Castello.
Music stands:
Music stands (for conductor and other musicians) will be provided by the Organisers at the Competition venue.
Other information:
The organizers remind you that the churches might not have suitable spaces for changing or for depositing personal effects. Choirs are therefore recommended to arrive at the locations already dressed for their performance. Participating choirs will be informed more precisely regarding this in a detailed timetable. The organizers are not responsible for choirs’ personal effects and values left alone in the competition places.
10 – Festival Fees
A registration fees of 200 Euros for the first category chosen and 100 Euros for every additional category per choir/ensemble and has to be paid for the participation at the Claudio Monteverdi International Choral Competition.
The registration fee must be made payable to Musicaficta in full, soon after the choir has been accepted by the Committee, by bank transfer or by credit card/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.
11 – Event Package
For organizational reasons and to ensure ideal conditions, a participation in the event is possible only if the event package, including accommodation bookings, are made through Musicaficta logistic office. 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 offer sent on request. 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 everything indicated in the offer. The costs due to the authorized agencies for the event package are due on the date 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 deadline. Delay 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 go to this page. You can extend your staying in Venice for the weekend to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the famous Carnival. You can check our proposals of tour in Northern Italy, South of Italy and from Rome to Venice (or viceversa) in 10 days.
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, English or Russian speaking person who can assist you with translation during the event.
The Artistic Director
Prof. Andrea Angelini
| Download the Rules (in English) | Scarica il Regolamento (in Italiano) |
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