Ibec Workplace Choir of the Year Competition

Eligibility To Compete

1. All members of a competing choir, except the conductor, must perform in the Festival as amateurs.
2. No singer may compete as a member of more than one choir in the same competition.
3. Choirs may enter more than one National Competition.
4. No choir may compete at both international and national open level.
5. The Ibec Workplace Choir of the Year Competition is open to choirs from Ireland and abroad.

Repertoire

6. Where two works/chants are required, the total duration must not exceed 6 minutes.
7. The Adjudicators will penalise choirs whose programmes exceed the prescribed limits.
8. Two consecutive Festivals must elapse before a choir can re-include any piece of music in its competition repertoire.
9. Subsequent to entry, a choir may not change its repertoire or the order in which it will be sung (i.e. the order listed on the entry form).

Entry Procedure

10. Only original published scores or certified/licensed legal copies may be submitted with the application. Photocopies are not acceptable.
    a) Choirs entering the in-person Ibec Workplace Choir of the Year Competition should submit three scores of each work.
    b) Choirs wishing to avail of the services of the Festival’s official accompanist for the in-person competition must submit one additional original copy at the time of application.
    c) Choirs entering the online option of the Ibec Workplace Choir of the Year Competition should submit one score of the competition piece.
    NB: The Festival reserves the right to retain one copy of the music submitted. If you wish to have music scores returned after the Festival, you must include a large, stamped, self-addressed envelope with your entry form. Please include sufficient postage for the package weight.
11. Workplace choirs based in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland competing in the Ibec Workplace Choir of the Year Competition can enter the National Open Competitions. The repertoire for each competition should be entirely different. A separate entry form is required for each competition and must be accompanied by the correct fee. Choirs cannot enter the National Competitions unless they are also entering the Workplace Choir of the Year Competition.

Late Application Penalties

12. In the event that the Artistic Advisory Board accepts a late entry, an additional 50% of the competition fee will be required.
13. In the event of original music not reaching the office by the official closing date, an additional €15 will be levied.

Broadcasting, Recording And Photographic Rights

14. It is a condition of participation that a choir agrees that:
    a) Any performance it gives during the Festival may be photographed, broadcast live and/or recorded for subsequent reproduction and/or broadcast on radio/television/internet without payment to the choir. All broadcasting and photographic rights to any performance at the Festival shall belong to the Festival which will be free to dispose of them or utilise them in promotional material as it sees fit. It is the duty of all choirs with members under 18 years of age to ensure that informed consent is sought from young people and their parents/carers ins this regard.
    b) Any performance it gives during the Festival may, without payment, be recorded and the Festival shall be entitled to possession of any such recording and shall further be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, let for hire, o er or exposure for sale or hire, distribute or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any manner it sees fit.
    c) All rights regarding the audiovisual recordings made for the Workplace Choir of the Year Video Competition as well as their exploitation are herewith being granted non-exclusively to the Cork International Choral Festival by the choir for subsequent reproduction and/or broadcast on radio/television/internet without payment to the choir.
    d) The Festival will be free to dispose of the audiovisual recordings or utilise them in promotional materials as it sees fit. It is the duty of all choirs with members under 18 years of age to ensure that informed consent is ought from young people and their parents/carers in this regard.
    e) The Festival may, without payment, dispose of the audiovisual recordings and shall further be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, let for hire, offer or exposure for sale or hire, distribute or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any manner as it sees fit.

General Rules

15. The Artistic Advisory Board reserves the right to limit the number of entries for each competition.
16. The Artistic Advisory Board reserves the right to cancel a competition if it feels that there have been insufficient entries.
17. The Artistic Advisory Board reserves the right to advise a choir to enter an alternative level of competition.
18. The Artistic Advisory Board reserves the right to refuse entry to any competition.
19. Requests for permission to enter competitions other than at the times indicated on the timetable cannot be entertained. The Artistic Advisory Board, nevertheless, reserves the right to alter the timetable in light of the number of entries received.
20. A first prize is awarded only for a mark average of 85%+.
21. A second prize is awarded only for a mark average of 80%+.
22. Adjudicators’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding any aspect of their work.
23. It is contrary to law to perform music that has been reproduced illegally. Should a choir do so, the Festival accepts no responsibility for any action taken by copyright owners.
24. The Festival does not contribute to a choir’s travel costs to/from Cork.
25. A choir withdrawing from a competition is not entitled to a refund of the entry fee.
26. The Festival accepts no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect of anything pertaining to a choir’s participation in the Festival.
27. The Festival reserves the right to change its dates in the event that a concert, or other public event or any circumstance outside the control of the Festival renders it impracticable to hold the festival on the scheduled dates.
28. Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the rules and regulations.