Evaluation

The London International Choral Conducting Competition is adjudicated by two panels of highly experienced jurors. All rehearsals and written/verbal feedback will be in English.

There are two rounds to the LICCC:
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​1. The First Round

 Applicants send in a pre-recorded video and application form, which will be assessed by a panel of three national adjudicators:

• Dr. Amy Bebbington, Director of Training for the Association of British Choral Directors
• James Davey, Conductor of Chantage and tutor for the Association of British Choral Directors
• Mark Griffiths, Conductor of Coro and tutor for the Association of British Choral Directors

After considered deliberation, six candidates will be chosen to go through to the Grand Final.

Meet the First Round adjudicators

2. The Grand Final

This will take place at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on the weekend of 20th-21st October 2018. All six short-listed candidates will be required to attend the rehearsals and performance at the Grand Final weekend, which will be assessed by a panel of five international adjudicators:

• Martina Batič - Musical Director, Choir of Radio France
• Dr. Amy Bebbington - Director of Training, Association of British Choral Directors
• Dr. John Dickson - Director of Choral Studies, Louisiana State University, USA
• Patrick Russill - Head of Choral Conducting, Royal Academy of Music, London
• Prof. Ragnar Rasmussen - Director of Choral Studies and Conducting, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Meet the Grand Final adjudicators

The International Jury will be marking competitors in two rehearsals and in the Grand Final performance on Sunday 21st October only.

Adjudicated rehearsals - List A / List B

• Candidates will work on their chosen contrasting programme with their allocated chamber choirs (either Coro, Chantage or Freia) in their allocated rehearsal space.

Adjudicated rehearsal - Set piece

• Candidates will work on the set piece with all three choirs together in the Duke’s Hall.

Adjudicated performance

• Candidates will perform their three pieces in the Grand Final competition in a public performance held in the Duke’s Hall

The order of candidates in the Grand Final concert (Sunday 21st October, 6pm) will be announced by drawing lots during the Gala Concert (Saturday 20th October, 6pm).

Evaluation criteria

The judges will mark each piece using the following four key criteria:

1. Technique: Sound/secure technical competency and clarity/variety of gesture.
2. Interpretation: Knowledge of vocal technique, sound quality, aural perception, stylistic awareness and application of musical interpretation.
3. Communication: Sense of emotional connection to the music/text, strong communication skills, ability to effectively engage with the choir.
4. Rehearsal Skills: Well-planned and effectively realised rehearsal strategies.

The International Jury will evaluate the competitors on a point basis of 1 to 100. In The Grand Final, separate marks are given for the adjudicated rehearsals and for the adjudicated concert performance. All marks are separately calculated and then summed up.

• Rehearsal 1, List A piece

Each adjudicator gives a mark out of 100 for each of the four key criteria

• Rehearsal 2, List B piece

Each adjudicator gives a mark out of 100 for each of the four key criteria

• Rehearsal 3, set piece

Each adjudicator gives a mark out of 100 for each of the four key criteria

• Competition Performance

Each adjudicator gives a mark out of 100 for the entire performance (all three pieces combined) based on key criteria 1, 2 and 3 only. The panel will also write brief comments in English which will constitute the written feedback.

The final Jury mark constitutes 80% of the overall final mark.

The choirs will also give a mark for each of the competitors in the Grand Final. This will officially be called the ‘Choir Vote’. The Choir Vote will constitute 20% of the final marks in the Grand Final.

The marks from each choir will be summed up and then combined with the marks from the Jury. The resulting sum determines the prizewinning positions.

Prizes and certification will be awarded at the end of the Grand Final concert.

The Jury will abide by the rules of the competition and the decisions of the Jury are final and beyond appeal.