Rules and Guidelines

1.     Festival entries must be submitted by: March 16, 2025.

2.     Payment is due at time of entry. Participants will not be included in the program without payment.

3.     There are no refunds for missed classes.

4.     Late entries will be considered at the discretion of the committee and may or may not be accommodated in accordance with programming constraints. All accepted late entries are subject to a $10 fee.

5.     The North Hastings Music Festival is a non-competitive event and is open to all amateur musicians. Please click  here for the full definition of Amateur vs Professional as per the Ontario Music Festivals  Association: omfa.ca/glossary

6.     Due to privacy legislation, photos or video recordings may be made of your child only. No photos or video

recordings may be taken of the adjudicators or the adjudication sessions. The committee asks audience members to be discrete and considerate of performers and other audience members during performances.

7.     Payments can be made via e-transfer to northhastingsmusicfestival@gmail.com. When sending payment via e-transfer, please indicate the participant(s) full name in the message field.

8.     Candidates must submit all entries using the online entry form at www.northhastingsmusicfestival.ca. If you are not able to enter online, please call Gillian Metcalfe at 613-334-4481 for assistance.

9.     All performers will receive oral and written evaluation of their performance from the adjudicator, and a signed certificate of achievement.

10.  Pieces entered must be different from those entered in previous years.

11.  Participants may enter the same class multiple times.

12.  Participants are required to supply an original copy of their music to the adjudicator. Music from online sources is permitted if legally obtained. Due to copyright laws, photocopies are not permitted.

13.  Sheet music printed from online sources must be bound in some way.

14.  Selections for Quick Study are chosen in consultation with a qualified third party. State your RCM grade level on the entry form. Students will be given approximately 48 hours to prepare their selection without any teacher or parent assistance. If you have entered this class, your music will be emailed to you as a pdf.

15.  Participants in Royal Conservatory classes may perform selections from any current or past syllabus. Note: only selections in current syllabi are eligible for nomination to OMFA Provincials.

16.  Musicians entering an “Own Composition” class are required to give a written copy of their music to the

adjudicator. These classes may be solo, duet, trio, or small ensemble – please indicate this on the entry form.

17.  Musicians entering “Amped and Mic’d” classes are responsible for arranging their needs with the festival

committee and must provide their own equipment. Please email northhastingsmusicfestival@gmail.com to make arrangements.

18.  Amplifiers, microphones, drum machines, backing/karaoke tracks, and all other forms of electronic equipment are only permitted in Amped and Mic’d classes.

19.  Program times are approximate. Participants should arrive at least 15 minutes early for their classes.

20.  Classes may be changed or combined in the program according to entry numbers.

21.  After the program is published, changes will be accommodated only in the event of programming error.

22.  Voice participants must use live accompaniment. Your accompanist’s name must be included on your entry form. If you wish to use a backing track, you should enter amped and mic’d.

23.  Musicians are permitted to play a short warm up scale or exercise.

24.  The festival program will be published online approximately 3 weeks before festival week. Participants must confirm class dates and times with their teachers. Printed programs will be available at the festival.

Note to Schools: The Festival will partially subsidize the cost of bus transportation. The bill for your bus transport must be presented to the festival treasurer on the day you attend the festival. Please email northhastingsmusicfestival@gmail.com at the time of application to pre-arrange this.