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qathet Festival of Performing ArtsChoral

Invitation to Participate in the 83rd qathet Festival of the Performing Arts 2027

Amateur performers in piano, voice, strings, wind and brass instruments, speech arts, amateur choirs, bands, string and jazz ensembles, and dance are invited to perform in the qathet Festival of the Performing Arts.

qathet’s festival is open to all residents of the geographic area of qathet Regional District. We gratefully acknowledge that we live, learn and perform on the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation, whose people have cared for these lands since time immemorial.

The festival is based on the fundamental idea of providing all participants with the best possible support for their artistic development. The festival is strongly committed to the philosophy that performance is a vital opportunity to learn and pursue excellence. In keeping with this philosophy participants will receive participation certificates only.

The Rotary Club of Powell River supports the development of our community’s amateur performers. Rotary is the sponsoring body of the festival, using a volunteer festival committee. Many other community volunteers assist Rotary, including discipline heads, adjudicators’ secretaries, stage crews, and theatre assistants, at every performance.

The Syllabus is revised each year, so please read carefully to ensure the accuracy of your entry.

An adjudicator may recommend outstanding participants to compete at the Provincial Festival. To be eligible for provincial competition, participants must enter a minimum of two solo classes in the same discipline. Any person considering candidacy for the BC Provincial Festival is encouraged to consult with the Festival Administrator prior to entering the qathet Festival to ensure selections meet Provincial requirements. Adjudicators are advised upon arrival and prior to competition, that the Festival Committee has no say in the choice of the competitor going forward.

Information and changes regarding the regulations and Official Syllabus of the Provincial Festival is available at: www.bcprovincials.com

ENTRY PROCEDURES

Entry will be done online at: https://www.musicfestivalreg.com/qathet/

Instructions can be found at the top left of the first page, underneath the “Competitor” tab, in blue font. Please complete ALL fields at time of registration, including selection(s) to be performed, composer(s) and length of piece (number of minutes and seconds). Participants will not be scheduled unless all required fields are completed.

Payment is due at time of registration online by PayPal or by credit card. If you are a school or community group that must pay by cheque, please contact the Festival administrator, Theresa Hargrave, at qathetfopa@gmail.com to arrange payment.

Classes will be scheduled in mid-February. All fees must be paid in order to be confirmed in the Festival and included in scheduling. Participants will receive a separate email containing a participant card with a preliminary schedule for each class registered. Please note: schedules are subject to change, so please check the schedule link contained in the emailed participant card for updates.

Accepted ages for classes shall be the participant’s age as of December 31, 2026.

ENTRY FEES

Category Fee
Solos $25
Duets $30
Trios $40
Quartets $45
School age Groups $55
qathet School District groups $50
Adult Ensembles (5 - 25 people) $60
Adult Ensembles (26+ people) $60 + $3 per each additional person over 25 people
Workshop/clinic/masterclass fees $20/person (minimum 13 people)
Workshop/clinic fee for classes, groups, ensembles $250
  • SOLOS - participants are limited to one entry for each eligible class.
  • DUETS, TRIOS, ENSEMBLES, and GROUPS - Group entries must enter at the age or grade level of the oldest member of the group. Trios, Quartets, Ensembles and Groups must enter by a group name.

Closing Date for entries is 4 pm, Tuesday, January 19, 2027.

In the event of a withdrawal, no refund will be given.

The Festival Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry.

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Performers must wait to receive a signal from the adjudicator before beginning their performance. The maximum time for a performance is the total time on stage, which begins after the first tuning. Introductions, breaks between pieces, additional tuning, applause and any costume additions are included in this time. The clock starts when a performer begins to introduce their first piece and stops when they leave after their final piece. Please time your repertoire appropriately so that you do not go over the TOTAL TIME permitted for each level. If a participant reaches the maximum time allowed, the secretary will ring the bell, at which time the performance must stop.

  • Solo & Duets: 5 minutes maximum
  • Recital Classes: see individual Discipline for time limits
  • Ensembles & Groups: 10 minute maximum, if two selections are indicated
  • Choral performances: 10 minutes maximum, including stage entry & exit
  • Instrumental groups: 20 minutes maximum, including set up & takedown
  • Readers’ Theatre: 10 minutes maximum, including stage entry & exit

NOTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The contact person listed on the Entry Form will be able to view the session schedule as soon as the program is finalized. The program will be available for viewing after February 21, 2027. The program will indicate performance location, date, time, and order of participants. A schedule of each session will be placed on an easel outside the performance venues. There will be no printed program.

APPRECIATION OF EACH PERFORMANCE

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation and a written adjudication.

Each participant must submit an original copy/score of the music selections to the adjudicator’s secretary 15 minutes prior to the class in which he/she is to perform. Competitors must number the first bar of each line in their score(s). In order to participate, the competitor must provide the adjudicator, and the accompanist, if required, an original score or authorized copy of the selection. Photocopies are permitted for the purposes of page turns, but an original copy for the accompanist must be present in the performance venue. Participants are encouraged to perform from memory. If a piece is not memorized, an original score must be used. Please note that using a musical score could affect an adjudicator’s recommendation for provincial competition. Photocopies or reproductions will only be accepted if the composition is in the public domain and is accompanied by a letter from the publisher confirming this and giving permission to copy the piece. Printed copies of digital downloads are permitted only if accompanied by a receipt for the number of copies downloaded. Proof of membership is required for any music sourced from a website providing free use of its materials. Music from www.imslp.org is permitted; please write the full URL of the piece on the first page of all copies or parts of copies being used.

PROCEDURE - SPEECH ARTS AND COPYRIGHT

Each participant must bring the book with the original selection to the competition. Attach a Post-it note to the selection with your name, class name and number, title of selection and the selection’s page number.

This must be submitted to the adjudicator’s secretary at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the class in which she or he is to perform. In addition to the original (published) copy or the work, each participant must provide a copy of her/his selection as a courtesy to the adjudicator. Please, label these copies with the student’s name, age, and class name. The photocopies will NOT BE RETURNED as they will be shredded following the session.

The Title, Author, and name of the publication from which the selection is taken must be specified on the entry form.

Photocopied material may not be used in lieu of an original copy, unless approved through CanCopy or a publisher’s letter. An electronic version of the published material is acceptable, provided receipts are available as proof of purchase.

ELIGIBILITY and AMATEUR STATUS

All classes, unless otherwise stated, shall be open to amateurs only. The term amateur shall mean one whose principal income is not derived from musical services. This condition does not apply to conductors of choirs or instrumental groups, non-adjudicated accompanists, nor to those bona fide students of music who teach for the purpose of applying money so earned to further their musical education. Any ‘open’ class is not confined to amateurs, unless otherwise specified. The Festival Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry.

SYLLABUS INQUIRIES - ‘Non-syllabus’ selections must meet the accepted standard for suitability of style and level of difficulty at each grade level. Material from method books may only be used in Preparatory classes. Questions regarding a class in the syllabus, or any performer wishing to enter the Festival in an artistic style not listed in this syllabus, should contact Theresa Hargrave at qathetfopa@gmail.com by December 31, 2026 for consideration in this, or future festivals.

PERFORMANCE PROCEDURES

Selections must have language and content that is appropriate/acceptable for all age levels of participants and audiences. Participants must not select and perform the same piece in more than one class, either within a particular section or in any other section of the Festival. Once a vocal, instrumental, choral, dance, or speech selection has been performed, it may not be used again by the same participant or group in succeeding years in the Festival.

Please present to the adjudicator’s secretary one original score/script of the music, or speech arts selection at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your class section. Attach a Post-it note to the selection with your name, class name and number, and the selection’s page number.

Photography is permitted during music and speech arts disciplines, but only with prior permission from the performer. Please ensure your camera flash is switched off at all times. Participants should not start until a signal to commence is given by the adjudicator. The adjudicator may, at his or her discretion, stop any performance at any time, or request the omission of repeats, and may signal when “own selection” exceeds the time allowed by the syllabus.

Any participant, teacher, or parent who has a question or concern must speak to the qathet Festival representative. Communication with the adjudicator is absolutely prohibited. Contradiction of this rule will result in disqualification.

Any teacher or participant who refrains from following the rules and procedures, including performing additional pieces in a single class, or going over the time limit specified, will be not recommended/forfeit consideration for recommendation to BC Provincials or selection to perform in the Grand Concert.

Appropriate concert dress and decorum is expected at all sessions, including the Grand Concert. For the enjoyment of all patrons, there is to be absolutely no screaming or shouting from the wings or backstage.

GRAND CONCERT - Saturday March 6, 2027

Performers for the Grand Concert will be selected by the Grand Concert Committee based on recommendations from adjudicators as well as qathet Festival of Performing Arts committee members and festival volunteers.

Participants recommended by an adjudicator and Festival Committee to perform at the Grand Concert will be asked to perform their competition piece.

Participants selected to take part in the Grand Concert will be notified, either by telephone, email or in person, as soon as possible, after the completion of all sessions in that discipline.

The names of participants recommended by the adjudicators to participate at the Provincial Festival will be announced at the Grand Concert.

CHORAL CLASSES

All Choral classes - Two contrasting selections. Any combination of voices.

SCHOOL CHOIRS

2 or more classes or grades.

  • Class 501 - Primary
  • Class 502 - Intermediate
  • Class 503 - Grades 8-9
  • Class 504 - Grades 10-12

CLASSROOM CHOIRS

Single class or division.

  • Class 506 - Primary
  • Class 507 - Intermediate
  • Class 508 - Grade 8 or 9
  • Class 509 - Grade 10-12

COMMUNITY CHOIRS

  • Class 510 - 9 years and under
  • Class 511 - 12 years and under
  • Class 512 - 14 years and under
  • Class 513 - 17 years and under
  • Class 514 - 16-22 years
  • Class 515 - Adult - 20 voices or less
  • Class 516 - Adult - over 20 voices

JAZZ CHOIR

  • Class 520 - Open to any age and any level.

WORKSHOP/CLINIC

Content to be specified by the Adjudicator.

  • Class 530 - ages 14 and older