Rules & Regulations

PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT PERMITTED AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION

Management

1.    The Competition shall be under the management of the Directors of the Oshawa Upscale Music Festival, which is hereafter called the Committee. Any question not dealt with in these rules shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision on such matters shall be final and binding.

Eligibility Definitions

2.    For this Festival, an "Amateur" is defined as either (a) anyone whose principal means of livelihood is not and never was obtained from the performance or teaching of music in the musical discipline of the class entered or (b) a full-time student in a University Music Faculty. Anyone holding a full membership ACTRA, equity card or Musician's Union are classed as professionals.
3.    All competitions may be entered only by amateurs, unless the competition description specifies the eligibility of professionals. Domicile or place of residence does not affect eligibility to perform.
4.    In all classes in which an age limit is set, a competitor must not have exceeded the prescribed age on January 1st of the Festival year.
5.    In duet classes, the age of the eldest performer will be used to place the participants in the correct class.
6.    In all classes in which a grade level is set in the syllabus, the competitors must not have passed a Conservatory Examination at that level or higher before the 1st of January in the year of competition. Competitors may enter a class with a grade level higher than the one they are studying as of the 1st of January in the year of competition. For reasons of fairness no candidate may enter in more than one grade.
7.    Current RCM/CC syllabi rules apply to all disciplines, as indicated in the class syllabi. 
8.    Entry forms must be completed with all information pertaining to selection of music completed and have the current RCM or CC syllabus page and grade level included. Failure to have this information complete will result in the application not being processed, the festival will not take responsibility for selections not meeting the criteria.
13.    To be eligible for Provincial Music Festival a minimum of two classes at the same grade level, and marks above 85, will be considered as nominees to Provincial Competition. It is the responsibility of the competitor to review the requirements for the Provincial Music Festival. 
14.    Pedalling in piano classes is optional in the case of very junior contestants.
15.    In cases where a contestant is not able to span a chord on the piano, the top or bottom note of the chord may be omitted.
16.    Soloists in the Voice, String, and Woodwind classes must be accompanied unless the music specifies otherwise. This accompaniment can be either live accompaniment or backtracks. Backtracks may be piano, acoustic guitar or backtracks without harmony or background singing. A speaker and a microphone will be provided for the performance. Unless otherwise specified, the soloist cannot accompany themselves.  
17.    Where the Syllabus specifies "Competitor's Own Choice", competitors must not perform a selection which they have performed in this year's Festival or in the past two years.
18.    In Graded Classes, repeats are not to be played in any piece up to and including the level 8, unless specified otherwise in accordance with the RCM or CC syllabus. Da capo must always be observed.

Memory

19.    In all solo competitive classes, it is recommended that selections be memorized. To qualify for provincial classes, ALL MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED. 
20.    To be eligible for a first, a second or a third placement, memory is COMPULSORY, unless otherwise stated. Those who use music will be given adjudication only and no awards/marks will be granted. For exceptions see rules 21 and 22.
21.    For all duet piano classes, the use of music is permitted. Memorization is encouraged. Should an adjudicator receive a photocopy, the participant will receive an adjudication only, no mark will be awarded.
22.    Graded piano studies are only permitted in graded study section, and therefore cannot be used in any other classes. Use of Music is permitted in these classes.

Copyright

23.    Under Copyright Law, NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO COPY WORK IN WHICH COPYRIGHT EXISTS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER. Hence this Festival will NOT accept photocopied music or other printed works.
No photocopies, computer-generated copies or copy derived from computer programmes will be allowed in this Festival, unless they show legal authorization by the publisher and proof of payment, which must be available with the music. Public Domain is not applicable for anything in Music Theatre.
A CONTESTANT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED UNLESS EITHER A LEGAL COPY (OR A LETTER OF PERMISSION) FOR EACH "OWN CHOICE" SELECTION is provided to the Hall Secretary at least ten minutes before the commencement of the class. This is for the use of the adjudicator.
This copy should be claimed by the competitor immediately after the class has been adjudicated. The Festival Committee is not responsible for unclaimed copies.
24.    ACCOMPANISTS MAY USE PHOTOCOPIES - if the originals are clearly visible at the piano.
25.    Bar numbers must be placed neatly at the beginning of each line on the copy to be given to the Hall Secretary for the Adjudicator.

Entries (Please Read Carefully)

31.    Copies of the Official Syllabus and entry forms may be obtained from the Festival website, or as requested from the Festival Office at oshawaupscalemusicfestival@gmail.com. Alternatively, arrangements can be made to pick up a physical copy at the Upscale Music Studio in Oshawa by emailing oshawaupscalemusicfestival@gmail.com. 
32.    The information requested on the entry form must be fully completed, properly signed by/or on behalf of the competitor and emailed or delivered with the entry fee to the Secretary, in accordance with the deadlines provided in rule 37. 
33.    The entry fee for each class is found in the syllabus. 
34.    In the case of "Own Choice" selection, the title, composer and the "PERFORMANCE DURATION" MUST BE SHOWN. Failure to do so will result in the application not being processed. 
35.    The Committee reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry for any reason.
36.    Unless a class has been cancelled by the Committee, or an entry has been rejected by the Committee, entry fees will not be refunded.
37.    If the entry fee is not received by the deadline (March 2nd, 2026), the application will be subject to a late fee of $25.00 in addition to the entry fee until March 16th, 2026. Should the entry fee (and the late fee) not be received by March 16th, 2026 at 11:59pm, the entry will be rejected. 
38.    Amendments to entries can be made until 11:59pm on March 16th, 2025, subject to a $15.00 administrative fee. 

Programme Procedure

35.    All contestants are forbidden from rehearsing in the halls used for competition at any time during the festival. ANY INFRACTION OF THIS RULE WILL DISQUALIFY THE OFFENDER.
36.    Shortly after the entry closing date, the Committee shall decide the order in which classes and competitors shall appear. Competitors MUST perform in the order as listed in the programme unless changed by the Secretary due to extenuating circumstances.
37.    The Committee may withdraw any competition, subdivide any class, or combine classes, if it considers the number of entries requires such action.
38.    The Oshawa Upscale Music Festival has the right to hold virtual classes if there are a limited number of entries in the discipline making it not feasible nor financially viable to hold classes in person. 
39.    Notice will be provided for each competitor setting forth the order, time, and place of the class. This notice will serve as an admission form for the competitor and accompanist and must be shown to the Hall Secretary and Officials on request.
40.    The Committee reserves the right to disqualify any competitor who is not ready to compete within five minutes of being called. Competitors should be in the Auditorium at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time for the class. Classes will not start before the scheduled time.
41.    The Committee reserves the right to disqualify any competitor who presents to the Festival Secretary photocopied music, where copyright exists, unless a letter of permission from the copyright holder is also presented.
42.    COMPETITORS must provide accompanists if required. 
43.    COMPETITORS who find they cannot attend the competition shall notify the secretary prior to the day of the competition, if possible.
44.    A chord may be given on the piano at the commencement of each piece of unaccompanied music.
45.    Competitors in instrumental classes may have their instruments tuned by a teacher or other person. Tuning on stage must not exceed five minutes; exceeding this time limit will result in disqualification.
46.    Adjudicator's Reports will be distributed at the close of each class either hand written or printed.
47.    The Title of an "Own Choice" piece should be announced by the Competitor.

Admissions of Competitors and Public

49.    The admission of competitors and public to the halls in which competitions are held will be governed by regulations established by the Committee.
50.    The competitions shall be open to the public. No admission fee will be charged but contributions will be welcome.
51.    Competitors and the public must not move about or indulge in conversations during the progress of any performance or adjudication.
52.    Rooms, space and facilities for musical practice or warm-ups will usually not be available in the buildings used for competitions.
53.    The use, by members of the audience or performing groups, of cameras during competitions and adjudications is prohibited.
54.    While it is the policy of the Oshawa Upscale Music Festival performances and adjudications should not be recorded in any way, the realities of modern technology make it impossible to fully monitor and enforce this policy.
We ask the following from our spectators:

1. No recording of any kind is permitted of adjudications. Performances can be recorded, but you may only record your own child and/or immediate family in accordance with privacy laws and in respect of fellow competitors. 
2. Guests should position themselves 15 feet behind the adjudicator for all recordings, minimizing distraction or disruption.
3. Determination of what constitutes "disruption" is at the sole discretion of the festival personnel at each event.

Marking System

66.    The marking system used in Festivals is different from used in Conservatory examinations. The first reflects performance, the latter perfection.
67.    Of the total 100 marks, 50 will be based on technique and 50 on interpretation.
68.    For Classes, a mark of 80 is awarded for an average performance, and 85 for a very good performance. A performance of distinction would receive 90 marks or over.
69.    Adjudicators have the right to refuse to award a mark and only give a critique for a poor performance.

Final Concert

71.    Any competitor may be invited to perform at the Final Concert and should agree if at all possible. Winners in all classes cannot be asked to participate, because of programme length, and the final selection remains at the sole discretion of the Committee. The Committee cannot provide any remuneration or payment of incidental expenses.
General
72.    Complaints or protest must be made to the Secretary in writing during the festival and must be accompanied by a fee equivalent to the entry fee of the class protested. If the protest is sustained by the Committee, the protest fee will be refunded. The Board may recommend that a copy of a letter of complaint be forwarded to one or more adjudicators.
73.    ADJUDICATORS MUST NOT BE APPROACHED OR CONTACTED REGARDING THEIR DECISIONS AND COMMENTS. ANY COMMUNICATION OR FRATERNIZAION WITH THE ADJUDICATOR BY COMPETITORS, TEACHERS OR PARENTS WILL DISQUALIFY THE COMPETITOR FROM THE FESTIVAL.

Contraventions of Rules

75.    Competitors who contravene the above rules may be disqualified as per Ontario Music Festivals Association (OMFA) rules.
76.    The Oshawa Upscale Music Festival, its staff and volunteers, assumes no responsibility for the actions or behaviour of any participant, teacher or supervisor participating in the events sponsored by the festival, or those of any person attending such events.