TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General Festival Information
  1. The annual Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival Vienna (hereinafter referred to as the "Festival"), organized and presented by Via Musica (Vienna International Association for Music and Culture Exchange), is intended to promote the interaction and competition among young musicians on an international level.
  2. The Festival consists of the Summa Cum Laude Competition (hereinafter referred to as the "Competition") and the non-competitive Summa Cum Laude Celebration (hereinafter referred to as the "Celebration").
  3. The Festival shall take place in Vienna from the 5th to the 9th of July 2008 and is open to young musicians of all nations below the age of 26. A maximum of 10% of the participants may be between 26 and 30 years of age. Conductors and piano players accompanying the choirs are excluded from the age limit.
  4. The Competition as well as the Gala Concert with performances by the winners of the respective categories will be held in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Participants of the Celebration will perform in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein before an audience consisting of the participants of the Celebration.
  5. All participants of the Celebration are required to be present at the Celebration concert, be it as performers or as spectators.
  6. Accompanying the Competition and the Celebration, the participants will take part in special workshops, seminars and additional concerts.
  7. All participants shall receive a confirmation concerning their participation at the Festival.
  8. Via Musica is entitled to prohibit photos and video recordings of the events taking place during the Festival; all photos and video recordings taken on the premises of the Musikverein must be previously authorised by Via Musica.
Applications and Required Materials
  1. Due to a limited capacity, Via Musica strongly recommends registration as soon as possible. The application deadline is the 15th of April 2008.
  2. Applications und other materials are to be sent to Via Musica:

  3. At the latest with the application, the following documentation must be provided:
  4. Please note that apart from four conductor scores, documents will not be returned.
  5. Via Musica shall decide on the acceptance of applicants by the 28th of April 2008 at the latest; the decision is final and no explanations will be given on behalf of Via Musica. Applications which do not conform to the regulations of the Festival can be rejected. By sending in the signed application form the signatory accepts the terms and conditions of the Festival as well as all decisions of the jury; legal procedures are thereby ruled out. The signatory represents the ensemble and ensures that the participants are aware of the terms and conditions set down by Via Musica.
Participation Fee and Bank Account
  1. Upon being accepted to the Festival, the applicant is required to transfer the participation fee of € 85.- per performer to the following account within 2 weeks:

    VIA MUSICA Verein f. internat. Musik- u. Kulturaustausch Wien
    Mauthnergasse 6/14
    A-1090 Vienna
    Austria/Europe

  2. Should the ensemble not be able to attend, the following percentage of the fee will be refunded upon cancellation:
    • until 28th of April 2008 - full refund of the application fee;
    • until 15th of May 2008 - 75 % refund of the application fee;
    • after 15th of May 2008 - no refund of the application fee.
Competition - Categories and Music Selection

1. CHOIRS

Within a time period of 15 to 20 minutes the participants are required to present the following pieces:

The piece by a composer of the ensemble's home country and the additional piece(s) required in order to reach the minimum playing time may be accompanied by a piano player supplied by the choir. Along with the application, applicants are to inform Via Musica of the pieces presented with the accompaniment of a piano. The pieces not freely chosen are to be presented at the beginning of the program.

Compulsory Pieces:

Mixed Choir

Johann Nepomuk David
(1895 - 1977)
"Es geht eine dunkle Wolk herein"
from "Zwei vierstimmige Sätze von 1961"
Publisher: Breitkopf
and  
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): "Nachtwache I"
from "Fünf Gesänge op.104" No.1
Publisher: e.g. Breitkopf

Treble Choir

Karl Schiske (1916 - 1969): "Sieh nicht, was andere tun" op. 22
Publisher: Doblinger
and  
Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): "Das Leben ist ein Traum" D 269
(a cappella)
Publisher: Doblinger

Male Choir

Hans Bauernfeind (1908 - 1985): "Das Huhn"
Publisher: Doblinger
and  
Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828): "Die Nacht" op. 17/No. 4 (D 983c)
Publisher: e.g. Breitkopf

2. ORCHESTRAS

Within a maximum time period of 20 to 25 minutes the participants are required to present the following pieces:

The participants are advised to present a broad program that entails technical difficulties and fast passages, as well as calmer movements and works in order to give the jury a broad basis of decision-making. The pieces not freely chosen are to be presented at the beginning of the program.

Compulsory Pieces:

Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No.1 in C major op. 21
4th movement; Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
Strings, winds 2222 - 2200 Timpani
Duration: approx. 5:30 min

Chamber Orchestra with Winds

Franz Schubert Symphony No.5 in B-flat major (D 485)
4th movement; Allegro vivace
Strings, winds 1202 - 2000
Duration: approx. 6:00 min

String Orchestra

Wolfgang A. Mozart Divertimento in B-flat major KV 137
2nd movement; Allegro di molto and 3rd movement; Allegro assai
Strings
Duration: approx. 5 min

3. BANDS

Within a maximum time period of 20 to 25 minutes the participants are required to present the following pieces:

The pieces not freely chosen are to be presented at the beginning of the program.

Compulsory Piece:

Alfred Reed (1921 - 2005) "A Festive Overture"
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Competition Repertoire and Material
  1. The suggested repertoire including five original conductor scores each of all works to be presented are to be handed in along with the registration or to be sent to Via Musica by the 15th of April 2008. The suggested Festival program is binding. Please include the approximate duration of the works.
  2. Only original compositions are to be presented. In the event that only a part of the work is performed, the beginning and the end of the extract is to be clearly indicated on the scores handed in.
  3. Via Musica shall decide on whether or not the suggested repertoire meets with the conditions of the Festival.
  4. After the end of the Festival four of the conductor scores shall be returned to the participants; all other materials shall remain with Via Musica.
  5. The jury has the right to suggest the piece of the ensemble's competition repertoire that is to be performed in the Gala Concert. The ensemble is required to perform the suggested piece.
Celebration - Music Selection and Duration
Competition and Celebration - Additional Concerts
  1. Each group may take part in at least two additional concerts taking place in and around Vienna. The concerts shall have a length of approximately one hour. Participants are required to hand in their freely chosen concert programs at the latest with the Festival application. The suggested concert program is binding. Please include the approximate duration of the works.
  2. Once confirmed by Via Musica, the additional concerts may not be cancelled by the ensemble.
  3. Instruments and technical equipment are generally not supplied by Via Musica. Should additional equipment be required, the participants are asked to contact Via Musica's artistic partner for organizational assistance as soon as possible. Costs accrued by the hiring of additional equipment are not carried by Via Musica.
  4. Costs accrued by travel and board in connection with additional concerts are carried by the participants.
Travel and Accommodation

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