SongFest ’26! RULES

Rules are needed to ensure fairness to all and to provide a consistent framework for a successful singing festival.

RULES

1.   ENTRY

Enter SONGfest! by using the WE HUB app (link on our website). Fees are paid via the app and incur a small extra fee required by the Stripe technology built into the app.

2.   FEES 

We have revised some fees to make sure we comply with the app and to make sure that no entrant is disadvantaged by the changes. All fees are summarised in the app for viewing prior to payment by card using Stripe. 

App Service Fee - $5.00 This compulsory fee is paid once per entry directly to the app. The festival admin fee has been reduced to allow for this.

Admin Fee - $5.00. This is a compulsory fee for each entry to help with printing and other costs.

The following fees are additional to fees above.

Solo Entries and Duets - $4.00 per entry. Note that for duet classes, only one member of the duet needs to enter and to provide their duet partner’s name with the entry. If a duet partner is only singing the duet, they are required to pay only the $5.00 admin fee.

Scholarship Recital - $10.00. Includes 2 songs listed in the recital schedule in Classes 50 and 51. To be eligible for prize money, singers must enter and perform in 2 other classes (4 songs in total).

Cleveland Recital and Musical Theatre Recital (18 and under 21) - $10.00. The fee includes 3 songs listed in the schedule for each class.

Vocal Entertainment (Under 21) - $5.00. The fee applies once per performance.

2. ENTRY LIMIT

We want to keep the festival at a reasonable length, and to ensure as many singers have a chance to sing as possible. As such, the committee reserves the right to limit the number of solo items for any entrant (excluding duets) so that the total number of performances over the weekend is capped at 300. If this is required, we will contact singers with the greatest number of solo entries and ask them to drop one or more entries from their programme. Singers who have entries cancelled to comply with the cap will receive a refund for items deleted.  

3. LATE ENTRIES 

Entries received after the closing date may be accepted provided there is room in the programme. Please contact greenislandcomps@gmail.com.

4. PRIZES

Ties: In the event of two vocalists being awarded FIRST EQUAL, any prize due (a cup or trophy) will be awarded to both singers. If there is prize money for 1st and 2nd, it will be combined and split equally between the 1st Equal winners. The same applies if 2nd prize is shared by two singers: the money for 2nd and 3rd will be combined and shared between the two winners.

Please note: Scholarships, special prizes and aggregate prizes Scholarships and special prizes will only be paid out if the adjudicator considers performance to be of sufficiently high standard.

Aggregate prizes will be decided on points. Points will be allocated to placings as follows: 5 points for 1st, 3 points for 2nd and 1 point for 3rd. If equal placings are given, points shown for that placing will be awarded to all winners for that placing. In the event of a tie for any aggregate prize, prize money will be divided equally (as above).

Singers must perform in all classes applicable to be eligible for any aggregate prize, trophy or scholarship. The winners will be those who gain the most points in the relevant classes and at the discretion of the adjudicator and committee.

Scholarships will only be awarded if THREE or MORE ENTRIES are received in each class and at the discretion of the adjudicator and committee. 

5. TROPHIES

All trophies remain the property of the Festival Society. Trophies won in the previous year are to be returned by the due date noted on the schedule. Trophy winners are responsible for the engraving of their names at their cost and to return the trophies in a clean and undamaged condition. Trophy holders are responsible for any damage incurred while the trophy is in their possession. Any trophy holder from last year who is entering the festival this year will have their entries accepted only when they have returned their trophy in good condition.

6. REFUNDS

If for any reason an entrant withdraws from a class or classes, there will be no refund of fees. 

If the festival is cancelled for any reason prior to the start, full refunds will be given.

7. AGE LIMITS

Age shall be as at the start date of the festival. All singers must enter in applicable age groups where available. In duet classes, singers must enter the age group of the oldest singer.

8. AGE-APPROPRIATE SONG CHOICES

We encourage teachers and performers to ensure that all song choices (repertoire) are age appropriate.

9. ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Singers will appear in the order printed in the official programme and as shown in the WE HUB app unless other prior arrangements have been made with officials. Performers must be present when required (or they may be disqualified). Please use the WE HUB app to advise if you are unable to perform in any class.

10. SONGS

If a singer has won 1st place with a song in previous festival, they cannot that song again. Also, entrants may not sing the same song twice in the festival.

11. CLASSES FOR 18 YEAR OLDS

Age-groups listed as “… and under 19 years” refers to 18-year-olds who are still eligible to attend secondary school. This covers 18-year-olds who have left school earlier than 18 but who are still singing and who wish to sing with their peers.

The 18 and under 21 Recitals (Classes 54 and 73) are intended for 18-year-olds who have left secondary school and are studying singing at university. 

However, any 18-year-old who wishes to sing in these higher age group recitals may do so, but they may not enter other classes as follows:

If you enter Class 54, you may not enter Class 51 Scholarship Recital.

If you enter Class 73, you may not enter either Class 20 or 35 (Musical Theatre classes for 16 and under 19 years).

12. SHEET MUSIC

Sheet music refers to a copy of the song (the “score”) and the words (the “lyrics”) you will be singing. You can obtain sheet music from websites such as musicnotes.com or original song score in a music book.

With the adoption of the app, singers must upload sheet music using the app at any time up to 8pm on the day prior to the festival start date.

For Contemporary, Vocal Entertainment and Waiata classes: Sheet music is not required. However, Waiata singers must upload a lyrics (words) sheet to the app as above.

For all Classical, Musical Theatre, Song in Character (with costume and action), Pop, Sacred, Folk/Traditional Song, Classical Recitals and Musical Theatre Recital classes: a clean (no writing or pen marks) complete copy of music or an original must be uploaded to the app as above.

13. OWN ACCOMPANIMENT

You can play your own acoustic accompaniment (piano, guitar, etc.) for any class. 

14. BACKING TRACKS

Performers will be asked to name their backing track files as follows: name followed by class number

(e.g. OliviaLarkinsClass71) and upload them to the app by 8pm on the day prior to the festival start date. Playlists will be created. Performers are required to bring their tracks on their own USB stick as a backup with files named as noted above.

Backing tracks are optional and allowed for all classes except the Cleveland Recital.

mp3 and m4a file types are acceptable.

No vocals or "ghost singers" are permitted in any backing track.

For all Classical and Musical Theatre pre-1970 classes,

piano-only backing tracks are permitted.

For Musical Theatre 1970 to current day, Contemporary,  Song in Character (with costumes and actions) and Vocal Entertainment classes: piano-only backing or full backing tracks are permitted (your choice).

Waiata: simple single instrument backing track is permitted. 

15. VOCAL ENTERTAINMENT CLASS (UNDER 21)

Singers who enter any other SONGfest! classes are not eligible to enter this class. 

This class is non-competitive and open to singers of all ages under 21 years for solos, duos or groups. There are no placings or prizes awarded but each entry will receive an adjudicator's report. 

This class is intended for those who would like to sing in front of an appreciative audience, but who don't wish to compete in the other classes.

We hope this will encourage participation in singing and provide an opportunity for singers to gain performance experience.

Adjudication: The adjudicator will give singers helpful comments on: 

Technical ability

Costuming/dress/presentation   

Performance skills

Entertainment Value

16. VIDEO FILMING

Filming your own child’s performance is permitted provided that it does not cause inconvenience or disruption to singers, the audience or the adjudicator. 

17. CLASSES

The committee reserves the right to divide or combine any classes or limit the total number of classes that an individual can enter where the number of entries warrants this.

18. ADJUDICATOR 

Any singer who directly or indirectly communicates with the adjudicator prior to or during the festival may be disqualified by the committee. This is to keep things fair both for the performer and to the adjudicator. There can be no appearance of interference in their assessment of any performer.

Also, singers will not be able to perform in any class if they have been taught by the adjudicator in the past two years. The decisions of the adjudicator are final, and the committee will not accept any verbal or written submissions from singers, teachers or whānau contesting those decisions.

19. REPORTS AND CERTIFICATES

These will be available at the end of each session via the app.

20. ENTRANTS

All singers perform at their own risk, and the committee accepts no responsibility for accidents or mishaps. Entries are accepted based on these conditions.

21. TIME LIMITS

As a guideline for teachers, solo items for all genres are to be a maximum of 3 minutes for under 12 years and 4 minutes for 12 years and over.

22. GENERAL RESERVATION

The committee reserves the sole right to interpret and apply these rules. The decision of the committee in all matters will be final.