Eisteddfod Rules

General Rules under which Eisteddfod Competitions are Organised and Presented

COPYRIGHT

The Australian National Eisteddfod Society Inc. holds an Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) licence.

An entrant may supply the adjudicator with an unlicensed copy of the piece provided that (a) the original is used by the entrant for performance or held at the venue for inspection and (b) the Executive Committee or its delegate destroys the copy immediately after the adjudication.

Entrants must perform from original published editions of music, unless prior permission has been obtained from the copyright owner.

Copyright demands that the original is used by the accompanist.

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

It is essential that all entrants read carefully the General Rules and Conditions of Entry, plus Special Notices relating to their particular division.

DEFINITIONS

OPEN	means open to amateurs and professionals.
AMATEUR	means one whose principal source of income is not, and has not been derived from the exercise or teaching of a talent related to the division in question.
ENTRANT	means a person or persons whose application to participate in this Eisteddfod has been officially registered by the Society.
DIVISION	means one of the following into which this Eisteddfod has been divided: Bands and Orchestras, Choirs, Instrumental, Piano, Speech and Drama, Singing and Contemporary Music.
SECTION	means a particular and separate group into which a division is divided.
CONVENOR	means a person appointed by the Executive Committee of the Society to manage a particular division of the Eisteddfod.
SOCIETY	means the Australian National Eisteddfod Society Incorporated.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE	means the duly elected Executive Committee responsible for the management of the Society.

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

All entrants participate according to these rules and conditions and any special conditions as may apply to individual divisions or events.

GENERAL

1. Entries must be submitted on current official entry forms properly completed and accompanied by full fees or they will not be processed. Responsibility for correct entry rests with the entrant. Entry forms may be photocopied.
2. The Executive Committee reserves the right to:

a. refuse an entry;
b. cancel a section (e.g. due to lack of entries);
c. vary the prizes (e.g. when insufficient entrants perform);
d. demand proof of age of an entrant in an age section, or proof of amateur or professional status, or
e. combine sections together.

3. An entrant may only enter once into a particular section, except where specifically stated otherwise. The name of the partner(s) in a duo, lieder or ensemble must be included on the entry form, except for bands, orchestras, choirs and ensembles of six or more players.
4. No person may enter under a name other than his or her own. Entries are not transferable from one person to another.
5. Refunds of entry fees will be made to an entrant only if a section has been cancelled by the Executive Committee.
6. One conductor may conduct any number of choirs or orchestras, and one director may present any number of groups. Age limits do not apply to conductors.
7. Entrants at Eisteddfod functions take part at their own risk. The Society does not accept responsibility for any accident or personal loss or injury, however caused.
8. Prizes, reports and original material not collected at the conclusion of the relevant division will be available for collection by arrangement with a Convenor.
9. Age, where specified for any section, shall be the age on the first day of competition of the division in which the entry is made.
10. Any entrant wishing to withdraw from a section must notify the Eisteddfod Office or the Convenor as soon as possible.
11. Late entries will be accepted up to a week after the closing date of a division and must be accompanied by the additional late entry fee. Only under special circumstances and at the discretion of the Executive Committee will any further late entries be accepted.
12. The Australian National Eisteddfod Society will not be liable for any copyright infringement relating to the submission of photocopies. Entrants should be aware of the rules of copyright (see earlier section headed "copyright").
13. The use of cameras with flashes is not allowed.
14. The Society reserves the right to record, film, broadcast, telecast, videotape or photograph any entrant, item or event in the Eisteddfod without notification. Any such photograph, recording or broadcast may be used at the Executive Committee's discretion for publicity or promotional purposes, but shall not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any entrants, and no remuneration or compensation whatsoever shall be attributable to any entrants so featured.
15. A high standard of decorum is expected from all entrants and spectators. Unseemly or unpleasant behaviour which is contrary to the spirit of the event will result in the offender being asked to leave. Offending entrants will be disqualified.
16. Any mechanical rights which should be obtained in respect of tapes for performance is the responsibility of the performer. The Society holds a licence issued by APRA for the live performance of published music.
17. An entrant, who during the three months preceding the opening date of the division in which he or she has entered, has been taught, coached or advised by the appointed Adjudicator of the division, shall not be eligible to compete in that division of the Eisteddfod.
18. Failure to comply with any of the foregoing rules and conditions may involve disqualification and withholding of prizes. The decision of the Executive Committee in all questions or disputes arising out of, or not provided for, by these rules and regulations shall be final. All entries are received on this condition and in the spirit of friendly competition upon which the Australian National Eisteddfod is based, and no dispute shall become the subject of any appeal at law

PERFORMANCE

19. (a) Entrants should pay particular attention to neatness of appearance when appearing on stage, as this may be taken into consideration by the Adjudicator.
(b) Entrants are to report to the Registration Desk before the start of the section in which they are to perform. Late arrivals may be allowed to perform but will not be eligible to qualify for a prize. They will, however, receive a written critique of their performance.
20. (a) No entrant may render the same item in more than one section of the Eisteddfod except where otherwise specified.
(b) No entrant, having won a section, may render the same item in the following year.
21. A copy of the music or other material to be performed in "own choice" events MUST be provided for the Adjudicator and Accompanist, if applicable. It is to be handed to the Session Manager (or his/her representative) when registering on the day of performance. The onus of choosing the right material for the event rests with the entrant. Suitability and degree of difficulty will be taken into consideration by the Adjudicator. The Executive Committee does not accept responsibility for the loss of music or other material. In accordance with Copyright law, photocopies and other texts will be destroyed following the event.
22. Time limits set out in the Syllabus must be adhered to. Entrants who exceed the time limit may have marks deducted or be disqualified by the Adjudicator.
23. A teacher shall not be allowed on stage except in the capacity of an official, accompanist or conductor.
24. Prompting or assistance of any kind shall not be given to any entrant, except by the Adjudicator, who may take any contravention of this Rule into consideration in his or her adjudication.
25. Communication with the Adjudicator by entrants, teachers or other interested parties (other than in an official capacity) during a section is strictly prohibited, and the Executive Committee reserves the right to disqualify an entrant for any breach of this rule.
26. The Adjudicator's decision shall be final.
27. Any protest shall be made in writing to the Executive Committee within 24 hours of the completion of the relevant section. A protest can only be made by an entrant, or the entrant's teacher or parent. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be final.
28. A copy of the Adjudicator's report will be made available free of charge at the end of each section.
29. Entrants shall not practise in the performing space for their division on the division's competition days.

PRIZES

30. All prizes are awarded at the discretion of the Adjudicator. A 1st place will be available for Adjudicator award if a Section is run. Additional prizes may be offered - see details for each Division and Section. The Adjudicator may also award highly commended certificates. In exceptional circumstances, the Adjudicator may award a prize jointly to more than 1 competitor.
31. Collection of prizes - all cash and perpetual trophies must be collected and signed for at the Convenor's table. When a winner is a group, the name of that group shall be added to the signature.
32. Return and care of perpetual trophies - perpetual trophies remain the property of the Society, and should be returned to a Convenor prior to the following year’s competition. Trophy holders are responsible for the safe custody, insurance against loss and return of trophies in good condition.
33. Engraving - the cost of engraving on any trophy shall be met by the winner.