Competition Rules
Eligibility and Accessibility
1. London International Choral Conducting Competition (LICCC) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is presenting, on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2018, the London International Choral Conducting Competition 2018. The competition is open to conductors of all nationalities.
2. Conductors who are between 18 and 32 years of age on Saturday 20th October 2018 are invited to apply to take part in the competition.
3. The language used during the competition will be English.
2. Conductors who are between 18 and 32 years of age on Saturday 20th October 2018 are invited to apply to take part in the competition.
3. The language used during the competition will be English.
Application
4. Applications to take part in the competition must be submitted online via the Application Form. Registration is conditional upon completing this form in full and submitting it along with a Registration Fee and three attached documents:
5. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 25th May 2018.
6. LICCC reserves the right to demand additional information from applicants.
7. All applicants are required to pay a registration fee of £30 (GBP) net by Friday 25th May 2018.
8. The registration fee is non-refundable and should be paid by bank transfer to:
- Digital Photo (in JPEG or PNG format)
- Biography (Max. 500 words in TEXT EDIT or MS WORD format)
- Conducting Video (in MP4, MOV or AVI format)
5. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 25th May 2018.
6. LICCC reserves the right to demand additional information from applicants.
7. All applicants are required to pay a registration fee of £30 (GBP) net by Friday 25th May 2018.
8. The registration fee is non-refundable and should be paid by bank transfer to:
Bank Name: The Co-Operative Bank
Account Name: Chantage Limited
Address: Business DirectPlus, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT, United Kingdom
BIC: CPBKGB22
IBAN: GB20CPBK08929965389876
Account Number: 65389876
Sort Code: 08-92-99
Reference: (Your full name)
The applicant’s full name should be used as the Bank reference for this payment.
Account Name: Chantage Limited
Address: Business DirectPlus, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT, United Kingdom
BIC: CPBKGB22
IBAN: GB20CPBK08929965389876
Account Number: 65389876
Sort Code: 08-92-99
Reference: (Your full name)
The applicant’s full name should be used as the Bank reference for this payment.
9. The Registration Fee will not be refunded if the applicant does not complete the Application Form or registration process.
10. On payment of the registration fee applicants may be eligible to take part in a Training/Masterclass event organised by the Association of British Choral Directors. On the Application Form applicants are asked to give their consent to be contacted about this opportunity. Applicants who are successful in reaching the final stage of the competition will not be able to take up this offer.
11. LICCC reserves the right to authorise a pre-selection process after the deadline for receipt of applications.
10. On payment of the registration fee applicants may be eligible to take part in a Training/Masterclass event organised by the Association of British Choral Directors. On the Application Form applicants are asked to give their consent to be contacted about this opportunity. Applicants who are successful in reaching the final stage of the competition will not be able to take up this offer.
11. LICCC reserves the right to authorise a pre-selection process after the deadline for receipt of applications.
Evaluation and Jury
12. There will be two adjudicated rounds in the competition; First round (Pre-recorded video round) and Second round (Grand Final). Competitors must participate in all rounds of the competition for which they have qualified and in all rehearsals and concerts.
13. The Jury reserves the right to refuse competitors, interrupt the competition, or exclude a competitor during a round without having to provide justification.
14. Decisions of the Jury are final and beyond appeal.
15. The Jury for the first round (pre-recorded video round) is formed of a national panel:
18. The International Jury will evaluate the competitors on a point basis of 1 to 100, creating a mark out of 100. The overall Jury mark will then be calculated by deleting the highest and the lowest marks of the jurors for each category of the four criteria, and counting together the three middle range marks to create an overall score out of 300. In The Grand Final, separate marks will be given for the adjudicated rehearsal and for the adjudicated concert performance. Both marks will be separately calculated and then summed up.
19. The final Jury mark constitutes 80% of the overall final mark.
20. 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.
21. 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.
13. The Jury reserves the right to refuse competitors, interrupt the competition, or exclude a competitor during a round without having to provide justification.
14. Decisions of the Jury are final and beyond appeal.
15. The Jury for the first round (pre-recorded video round) is formed of a national panel:
- Amy Bebbington – Director of Training at the Association of British Choral Directors
- James Davey – Conductor of Chantage and Tutor at the Association of British Choral Directors
- Mark Griffiths – Conductor of Coro and Tutor at the Association of British Choral Directors
- Martina Batic - Musical Director, Choir of Radio France
- Amy Bebbington – Director of Training at the Association of British Choral Directors
- John Dickson - Director of Choral Studies at Louisiana State University, USA
- Ragnar Rasmussen - Director of Choral Studies and Conducting at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Patrick Russill - Head of Choral Conducting, Royal Academy of Music, London
- Technique: Sound technical competency and clarity/variety of gesture.
- Interpretation: Knowledge of vocal technique, stylistic awareness and application of musical interpretation.
- Communication: Sense of emotional connection to the music/text, strong communication, collaboration and engagement with the choir.
- Rehearsal Skills: Well-planned, effective and well-delivered rehearsal strategies.
18. The International Jury will evaluate the competitors on a point basis of 1 to 100, creating a mark out of 100. The overall Jury mark will then be calculated by deleting the highest and the lowest marks of the jurors for each category of the four criteria, and counting together the three middle range marks to create an overall score out of 300. In The Grand Final, separate marks will be given for the adjudicated rehearsal and for the adjudicated concert performance. Both marks will be separately calculated and then summed up.
19. The final Jury mark constitutes 80% of the overall final mark.
20. 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.
21. 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 Awards
22. At the end of the Grand Final the following prizes will be awarded from the concert hall stage, in front of a public audience:
24. If two competitors produce equal marks, the Jury has the right to divide the prize between the two competitors.
- First Prize – £5000 (GBP)
- Second Prize – £1000 (GBP) generously sponsored by Stevens and Bolton LLP, plus a weekend pass and accommodation at the Association of British Choral Directors annual convention 2019 at the Birmingham Conservatoire
- Additional special prizes from the competition sponsors
24. If two competitors produce equal marks, the Jury has the right to divide the prize between the two competitors.
Repertoire
25. The selected programme of repertoire for the pre-recorded video round and the Grand Final will be chosen by the applicant and submitted in the Application Form.
26. LICCC has published two Repertoire Lists (A and B) for the Grand Final that include pieces ranging from the Renaissance period to Contemporary works.
27. All Public Domain repertoire on the competition Repertoire List A and List B will be available for download from the LICCC website.
28. Applicants may have free choice of repertoire for the Pre-Recorded Video. List A and List B are a feature of the Grand Final only.
26. LICCC has published two Repertoire Lists (A and B) for the Grand Final that include pieces ranging from the Renaissance period to Contemporary works.
27. All Public Domain repertoire on the competition Repertoire List A and List B will be available for download from the LICCC website.
28. Applicants may have free choice of repertoire for the Pre-Recorded Video. List A and List B are a feature of the Grand Final only.
Pre-Recorded Video Round
29. The Pre-recorded video round requires that the applicant submit a video with the Application Form. The video must show the applicant conducting a contrasting programme of not more than 10 minutes duration of unaccompanied choral music.
30. Any video performance in excess of 10 minutes duration may be disqualified.
31. The video must have been recorded within 12 months of making this application.
32. The ensemble in the Pre-recorded video must number at least five singers. The name of the group (if applicable) should be included on the Application Form.
33. The Pre-recorded video must be un-edited material and must not be mastered, mixed or otherwise enhanced in any way by post-production processing. It should be submitted either as an online streamed video on YouTube or Vimeo, or as an attached electronic file in MP4, MOV or AVI format only.
34. The view of the conductor in the video must be full, clear and uninterrupted. The video must clearly show the whole of the conductor (from head to feet) from the front angle, as from the perspective of the singers, and no part of the conducting technique should be obscured by a music stand, by singers or by other visual obstacles.
35. The date on which the video was recorded must be declared in the Application Form.
36. Applicants should select at least two contrasting pieces to conduct in their Pre-recorded video. If there is sufficient time still remaining within the 10 minute allowance then the applicant is permitted to add a third piece.
37. Six competitors from the Pre-recorded video round will be selected by the National Jury to compete in the Grand Final and their name, country of residence, photo and biography will be published on the LICCC website.
38. The results of the Pre-recorded video round will be announced via email and on the LICCC website from Friday 22nd June 2018.
30. Any video performance in excess of 10 minutes duration may be disqualified.
31. The video must have been recorded within 12 months of making this application.
32. The ensemble in the Pre-recorded video must number at least five singers. The name of the group (if applicable) should be included on the Application Form.
33. The Pre-recorded video must be un-edited material and must not be mastered, mixed or otherwise enhanced in any way by post-production processing. It should be submitted either as an online streamed video on YouTube or Vimeo, or as an attached electronic file in MP4, MOV or AVI format only.
34. The view of the conductor in the video must be full, clear and uninterrupted. The video must clearly show the whole of the conductor (from head to feet) from the front angle, as from the perspective of the singers, and no part of the conducting technique should be obscured by a music stand, by singers or by other visual obstacles.
35. The date on which the video was recorded must be declared in the Application Form.
36. Applicants should select at least two contrasting pieces to conduct in their Pre-recorded video. If there is sufficient time still remaining within the 10 minute allowance then the applicant is permitted to add a third piece.
37. Six competitors from the Pre-recorded video round will be selected by the National Jury to compete in the Grand Final and their name, country of residence, photo and biography will be published on the LICCC website.
38. The results of the Pre-recorded video round will be announced via email and on the LICCC website from Friday 22nd June 2018.
Registration
39. At registration for the Grand Final the competitor must present a valid passport or ID card to verify their date of birth.
40. No additional registration fee is required for the Grand Final.
41. All competitors must arrive on time and at the venue as indicated by LICCC. In case of absence or lateness, a competitor will be eliminated.
42. Competitors requiring a visa to take part in the Competition are requested to contact the LICCC Administrator as early as possible so that any required letters of invitation may be sent without delay.
40. No additional registration fee is required for the Grand Final.
41. All competitors must arrive on time and at the venue as indicated by LICCC. In case of absence or lateness, a competitor will be eliminated.
42. Competitors requiring a visa to take part in the Competition are requested to contact the LICCC Administrator as early as possible so that any required letters of invitation may be sent without delay.
Grand Final
43. The Grand Final round is comprised of two adjudicated rehearsals and one adjudicated public concert performance.
44. In the Grand Final competitors are required to conduct one compulsory piece (known as the ‘Set Piece’) and two further pieces, which they will have chosen from the Repertoire List A and List B.
45. The Set Piece will be announced 2 months in advance of the Grand Final. It will be a new work and copies of the score will be provided.
46. Competitors will be required to work on the Set Piece with Massed Choirs in an adjudicated rehearsal that will be closed to the public, and also in an adjudicated public performance.
47. Applicants are required to submit FOUR programmes for the Grand Final, to avoid duplication amongst the competitors. These should be listed on the Application Form in order of preference.
48. In the event your first choice of programme is duplicated with that of another competitor then the National Jury will consider the programmes on each competitor’s Application Form in order of preference until duplication is avoided.
49. The National Jury will decide on Friday 22nd June 2018 which programme each competitor should prepare for the Grand Final.
50. Competitors will then be contacted to confirm their attendance at the Grand Final and asked to prepare only that repertoire selected for the competition.
51. All FOUR programmes must be submitted on the Application Form, and each programme must adhere to the following criteria:
53. There will be rehearsals for the participants to work with the choirs on Saturday 20th October 2018. The full timetable is available on the Competition Timetable page.
54. Drawing lots on the occasion of the Gala Concert on Saturday 20th October 2018 shall decide the order in which competitors will participate in the Grand Final. All competitors are required to be present for the draw.
44. In the Grand Final competitors are required to conduct one compulsory piece (known as the ‘Set Piece’) and two further pieces, which they will have chosen from the Repertoire List A and List B.
45. The Set Piece will be announced 2 months in advance of the Grand Final. It will be a new work and copies of the score will be provided.
46. Competitors will be required to work on the Set Piece with Massed Choirs in an adjudicated rehearsal that will be closed to the public, and also in an adjudicated public performance.
47. Applicants are required to submit FOUR programmes for the Grand Final, to avoid duplication amongst the competitors. These should be listed on the Application Form in order of preference.
48. In the event your first choice of programme is duplicated with that of another competitor then the National Jury will consider the programmes on each competitor’s Application Form in order of preference until duplication is avoided.
49. The National Jury will decide on Friday 22nd June 2018 which programme each competitor should prepare for the Grand Final.
50. Competitors will then be contacted to confirm their attendance at the Grand Final and asked to prepare only that repertoire selected for the competition.
51. All FOUR programmes must be submitted on the Application Form, and each programme must adhere to the following criteria:
- Each programme must include ONE piece from Repertoire List A and one piece from Repertoire List B.
- ONE piece shall have been composed in the period before 1900
- ONE piece shall have been composed in the period since 1900.
- Each programme must not exceed 8 minutes in duration (not including the compulsory piece).
- The TWO pieces in each programme should demonstrate a contrast in both genre and style.
- In total EIGHT different pieces must be listed. Each piece may be listed only once.
53. There will be rehearsals for the participants to work with the choirs on Saturday 20th October 2018. The full timetable is available on the Competition Timetable page.
54. Drawing lots on the occasion of the Gala Concert on Saturday 20th October 2018 shall decide the order in which competitors will participate in the Grand Final. All competitors are required to be present for the draw.
Liabilities and Consent
55. Only the Grand Final of the competition will be open to the public. Audience members should purchase tickets from the Royal Academy of Music Box Office.
56. LICCC reserves the right to publicise information about the competitors using the photos, biographies and other media included in the Application Form and its attachments, as well as publicising the results of the competition.
57. LICCC reserves the right to capture photos and record audio and video material throughout the weekend of the competition, and to broadcast this material on Radio, TV and on the Internet.
58. The competitor accepts without remuneration the recording of the competition for any uses on radio, television and the Internet, live, recorded or in streaming with the exception of commercial exploitation.
59. Videos from the competition will be uploaded to the gallery page of the LICCC website after the event.
60. All expenses: travel, meals and accommodation are the responsibility of the competitor. LICCC will prepare a list of hotels in London where special prices for competition visitors may be offered.
61. London International Choral Conducting Competition 2018 depends on financial support obtained from national and private sponsors and funding bodies and LICCC, therefore, reserves the right to cancel the competition if the economic support is too uncertain. In the event of cancellation all application fees will be refunded.
56. LICCC reserves the right to publicise information about the competitors using the photos, biographies and other media included in the Application Form and its attachments, as well as publicising the results of the competition.
57. LICCC reserves the right to capture photos and record audio and video material throughout the weekend of the competition, and to broadcast this material on Radio, TV and on the Internet.
58. The competitor accepts without remuneration the recording of the competition for any uses on radio, television and the Internet, live, recorded or in streaming with the exception of commercial exploitation.
59. Videos from the competition will be uploaded to the gallery page of the LICCC website after the event.
60. All expenses: travel, meals and accommodation are the responsibility of the competitor. LICCC will prepare a list of hotels in London where special prices for competition visitors may be offered.
61. London International Choral Conducting Competition 2018 depends on financial support obtained from national and private sponsors and funding bodies and LICCC, therefore, reserves the right to cancel the competition if the economic support is too uncertain. In the event of cancellation all application fees will be refunded.
