Festival Conditions
ELIGIBILITY (no change for 2024)
The classes are intended for amateurs but professionals may take part in 'open' classes, and in other classes as conductors or accompanists. For the purpose of this Festival, a professional is one whose living is dependent on the teaching or performance of music.
ADJUDICATION
An adjudicator may hear the whole or part of a Test Piece, and may stop a performance when his/her judgment is formed. Our adjudicators expect certain standards to have been reached, and will judge accordingly. The adjudicator's decision in all cases is final.
Each class has a maximum time limit for each performance. This must be adhered to. If a performance overruns, the adjudicator may stop the performance, as seen appropriate.
Only officials may communicate with the adjudicators, and any complaints should be made in writing to the Festival Secretary without delay.
Adjudication sheets and certificates may be obtained at the end of each class, and the criteria for certificates is as follows, in accordance with the latest system operated by the British and International Federation of Festivals:
Developing: An inconsistent performance with an overall need for accuracy and/or continuity and artistic development
Progressing: A generally secure performance in notes and rhythm at a reasonable tempo but as yet with limited attention to detail, tonal qualities, and style.
Merit: Mostly fluent and accurate, with some awareness of tone and style but requiring a sense of communication and performance
Commended: Confident, with clear evidence of tonal and stylistic qualities and a developing awareness of communication and performance, although there may be moments of imprecision.
Honours: Assured and expressive, demonstrating a high level of technical security, imagination and stylistic insight, and with a real sense of communication and performance, although small blemishes may be present.
Outstanding: A stimulating, imaginative and persuasive performance, showing stylistic flair, interpretative insight, poise and unobtrusive technical command.
Exceptional: An astonishingly impressive performance displaying effortless technical control and superlative individuality in its artistry and profound musical insight.
AWARDS
A First Place medal will be awarded in classes where there are up to five entries. A Second Place medal will be awarded additionally in classes where there are between six and eight entries. A Third Place medal will be awarded additionally in classes where there are nine or more entries. Certificates of achievement will be awarded to all performers.
All place awards are made at the adjudicator's discretion. The adjudicator's decision in all matters relating to the musical result of a class is final.
HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT
Class winners gaining Honours or over may be invited to perform in the Highlights Concert. 'Concert slips' will be given to class winners achieving Honours or above. A concert slip must be filled in and handed to a steward on the day of the festival. It does not constitute a firm invitation to appear in the concert because it is not always possible to fit everybody in during the concert time alloted.
Those selected to perform will be contacted by telephone within 48 hours of their performance at the festival.
MAIDSTONE YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Many classes now serve an additional purpose of offering possible entry into the annual Maidstone Young Musician competition organised by the Maidstone Dawn Patrol Rotary Club. Eligible performers gaining Outstanding or Exceptional for their performance at MMF may qualify to compete in this prestigious event on 1 December 2024 and they will be contacted by Rotary immediately after the Festival weekend.
SCHEDULING
Notice of time and date of classes will be provided to entrants not later than 14 days before the Festival; no information on dates and times will be available before the 2nd week in November. The Festival reserves the right to amalgamate classes if entries do not warrant holding them separately, or to subdivide very large classes. While efforts will be made to comply with requests for time and/or dates of classes, this cannot be guaranteed. Only if a class is withdrawn will entry fees be returned.
LATE ENTRIES AND CHANGES
No entries will be accepted after 12 October and no changes to pieces will be accepted after the same date. In fairness to those who have chosen their pieces and are sticking to them, any participants not performing the piece stated on their entry forms will be adjudicated but not marked.
RECORDING
No form of recording equipment is allowed at any of the classes or at the concert.
COPIES AND PHOTOCOPYING
Copies of performance pieces must be handed to the adjudicators before performing. With the exception of photocopies, which will be destroyed after use, copies of music must be collected at the end of each class.
ACCOMPANIMENT
Performers are very welcome to bring their own accompanist to the Festival. For those who do not have their own accompanist, Mark Bromley (markbromley.mb @ gmail.com - 07710 171509) is recommended by MMF. His services at the Festival are provided free of charge, but performers availing themselves of this opportunity will be required to pay him for all pre-Festival run-through/rehearsal time. Recorded accompaniment (backing tracks) may be used for a limited number of classes where indicated in the category and class notes in the Syllabus.
Other important information
HOW TO ENTER
Please read the Festival Conditions before completing your Entry Form.
PRESENTATION
It is expected that participants will take the trouble to dress appropriately for the occasion. This helps to give a good overall impression and may affect marks awarded for the performance.
PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
Participants should keep both dates free until they have been notified of exact dates and times. All classes are expected to run on the weekend of 23/24 November 2024
CHARGES FOR AUDIENCE ADMISSION TO SESSIONS
Adults Single charge of £5.00 for weekend ticket
Children Admission free.
Programme £3.00. These can be bought at the Festival.
Performers will be admitted free for the day(s) on which they are performing.
INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE
The Festival does not hold itself responsible for any injuries sustained by any performer or member of the public whilst on Festival premises. The Festival also will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to the performers' copies, mark sheets, or any other property at the Festival.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Under the Child Protection Act this Festival has formulated its own Safeguarding Policy. While this Festival endeavours to maintain a safe and secure environment for our participants, responsibility for children under the age of 18 years lies with accompanying parents, guardians, carers and/or teachers.
Please read the Festival Conditions before completing your Entry Form.
- All entries must be made via the link to Play and Perform. Payment must be made online at the time of entry. Any queries should be emailed to the Festival Secretary, Robert Greenham (please see contact details on the appropriate page of the website).
- Except in a few stated cases, title, composer, instrument and duration of pieces must be shown on the Entry Form. Please check spellings of titles and names to avoid errors appearing in the programme and on certificates.
- In classes where an age limit is specified, the date at which the age is taken is
1 November 2024 and participants may not enter out of their age group. - Certain additional details of young performers are now required to be shown on the Entry Form primarily by virtue of Maidstone Music Festival's duty to comply with Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 3309, Children and Young Persons, England: The Children (Performance and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014.
PRESENTATION
It is expected that participants will take the trouble to dress appropriately for the occasion. This helps to give a good overall impression and may affect marks awarded for the performance.
PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
Participants should keep both dates free until they have been notified of exact dates and times. All classes are expected to run on the weekend of 23/24 November 2024
CHARGES FOR AUDIENCE ADMISSION TO SESSIONS
Adults Single charge of £5.00 for weekend ticket
Children Admission free.
Programme £3.00. These can be bought at the Festival.
Performers will be admitted free for the day(s) on which they are performing.
INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE
The Festival does not hold itself responsible for any injuries sustained by any performer or member of the public whilst on Festival premises. The Festival also will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to the performers' copies, mark sheets, or any other property at the Festival.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Under the Child Protection Act this Festival has formulated its own Safeguarding Policy. While this Festival endeavours to maintain a safe and secure environment for our participants, responsibility for children under the age of 18 years lies with accompanying parents, guardians, carers and/or teachers.
Child Protection Policy
The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech works for amateur festivals everywhere to help create thousands of educational performance opportunities for children and young people each year.
The Federation and its member Festivals are committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them. This policy applies to our Board of Trustees, paid staff, Adjudicator members, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the Federation and our member Festivals.
We recognise that:
The Federation and its member Festivals are committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them. This policy applies to our Board of Trustees, paid staff, Adjudicator members, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the Federation and our member Festivals.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
- to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in our festivals, including the children of festival members
- to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm
- valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice
for staff and volunteers - recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- sharing information about child protection and safe working practice with
children, parents, staff and volunteers - sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and
involving parents and children appropriately - providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,
support and training.
The Federation will review this policy each year in November in line with Safe Network guidance or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance. All changes will be communicated to our member Festivals in time for the start of the new Festival year.
Delivered in partnership with SafeNetwork – www.safenetwork.org.uk
Robert Greenham, Festival Secretary 01622 750943
Vulnerable Adults at Risk Protection Policy
The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech work for amateur festivals everywhere to help create thousands of educational performance opportunities for adults, children and young people each year. The Federation, and our member Festivals, are committed to ensuring safe environments for vulnerable adults at risk and believe that it is always unacceptable for a vulnerable adult at risk to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all vulnerable adults at risk, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them. This policy applies to our Board of Trustees, paid staff, Adjudicator members, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the Federation and our member Festivals.
We recognise that:
• the welfare of a vulnerable adult at risk is paramount
• all vulnerable adults at risk, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• working in partnership with vulnerable adults at risk, their relatives, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
• to provide protection for vulnerable adults at risk who participate in our festivals
• to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.
• to actively promote the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable adults who participate in our festivals
We will seek to safeguard vulnerable adults at risk by:
• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• adopting safe working practices for staff and volunteers
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• sharing information appropriately about adults who are at risk, with their consent
• if consent is refused and there are considered to be serious concerns of abuse for the individual concerned or others, then consent may be over ridden in line with guidance, and only shared appropriately with those who need to know
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
The Federation will review this policy each year in January or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance. All changes will be communicated to our member Festivals in time for the start of the new Festival year.
Delivered in partnership with SafeNetwork – www.safenetwork.org.uk
Robert Greenham, Festival Secretary 01622 750943
We recognise that:
• the welfare of a vulnerable adult at risk is paramount
• all vulnerable adults at risk, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• working in partnership with vulnerable adults at risk, their relatives, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
• to provide protection for vulnerable adults at risk who participate in our festivals
• to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.
• to actively promote the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable adults who participate in our festivals
We will seek to safeguard vulnerable adults at risk by:
• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• adopting safe working practices for staff and volunteers
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• sharing information appropriately about adults who are at risk, with their consent
• if consent is refused and there are considered to be serious concerns of abuse for the individual concerned or others, then consent may be over ridden in line with guidance, and only shared appropriately with those who need to know
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.
The Federation will review this policy each year in January or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance. All changes will be communicated to our member Festivals in time for the start of the new Festival year.
Delivered in partnership with SafeNetwork – www.safenetwork.org.uk
Robert Greenham, Festival Secretary 01622 750943
Creating Safer Festivals for Everyone
The Federation and its member Festivals use the following policies and procedures to create Safer Festivals for everyone: 1. A single, definitive Child Protection Policy adopted by all Federation Festivals.
2. One or more designated Festival Safeguarding Officers (FSO) appointed for each Federation Festival - for MMF:Robert Greenham, telephone 01622 750943.
3 Best practice advice in the form of Safe Working Practice and Festival Child Protection leaflets, with support and training for all Festival staff and volunteers, including clear reporting procedures for anyone with a concern about a child.
4 Appropriate recruitment and induction procedures for all new Festival staff and volunteers responsible for providing safe environments for everyone attending/performing at a Federation Festival.
5 All Festival volunteers wear a Festival badge. All teachers/parents/guardians/ carers are asked to report all incidents of any nature to anyone wearing a badge. All reported incidents will be handled in accordance with the Safe Working Practice and Festival Child Protection best practice advice. Also we will ensure the availability of a quiet area / room where concerns can be expressed in private.
6 For the duration of a Festival all teachers/parents/guardians/carers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their own children/pupils. If they are unable to attend personally, they must delegate their responsibilities to an identified adult and ensure that their children/pupils are aware of the identity and name of the person responsible for their care. This includes supervision throughout all Festival venues, practice and changing areas that may be provided. The Festival cannot take responsibility for any property left unattended.
7 No unauthorised photography, audio or video recording of children and young people is allowed at our Festivals. Where parents/guardians/ carers do not wish photos to be taken at all, then the responsible adult attending should ensure that their child is not included in official photos.
8 Some children and vulnerable adults may have specific needs in order to take part. If this is the case we ask the responsible teachers/parents/guardians/carers to contact the Festival Secretary prior to arrival. The Festival actively seeks wherever possible to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support – or to advise that help cannot be provided on this occasion.
The Festival’s Child Protection Policy and approach to Creating Safer Festivals for Everyone is published explicitly in our syllabus, programme and on our website. By completing and signing the entry form all parents/guardians/carers and teachers of entrants under 18 confirm that they give (or have obtained) the necessary consents for the entrants to take part in the Festival. Without consent the entry to the Festival cannot be accepted. Robert Greenham, Festival Secretary 01622 750943
2. One or more designated Festival Safeguarding Officers (FSO) appointed for each Federation Festival - for MMF:Robert Greenham, telephone 01622 750943.
3 Best practice advice in the form of Safe Working Practice and Festival Child Protection leaflets, with support and training for all Festival staff and volunteers, including clear reporting procedures for anyone with a concern about a child.
4 Appropriate recruitment and induction procedures for all new Festival staff and volunteers responsible for providing safe environments for everyone attending/performing at a Federation Festival.
5 All Festival volunteers wear a Festival badge. All teachers/parents/guardians/ carers are asked to report all incidents of any nature to anyone wearing a badge. All reported incidents will be handled in accordance with the Safe Working Practice and Festival Child Protection best practice advice. Also we will ensure the availability of a quiet area / room where concerns can be expressed in private.
6 For the duration of a Festival all teachers/parents/guardians/carers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their own children/pupils. If they are unable to attend personally, they must delegate their responsibilities to an identified adult and ensure that their children/pupils are aware of the identity and name of the person responsible for their care. This includes supervision throughout all Festival venues, practice and changing areas that may be provided. The Festival cannot take responsibility for any property left unattended.
7 No unauthorised photography, audio or video recording of children and young people is allowed at our Festivals. Where parents/guardians/ carers do not wish photos to be taken at all, then the responsible adult attending should ensure that their child is not included in official photos.
8 Some children and vulnerable adults may have specific needs in order to take part. If this is the case we ask the responsible teachers/parents/guardians/carers to contact the Festival Secretary prior to arrival. The Festival actively seeks wherever possible to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support – or to advise that help cannot be provided on this occasion.
The Festival’s Child Protection Policy and approach to Creating Safer Festivals for Everyone is published explicitly in our syllabus, programme and on our website. By completing and signing the entry form all parents/guardians/carers and teachers of entrants under 18 confirm that they give (or have obtained) the necessary consents for the entrants to take part in the Festival. Without consent the entry to the Festival cannot be accepted. Robert Greenham, Festival Secretary 01622 750943
