Syllabus

Our 50th Anniversary

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This will be the festival's golden jubilee. Because of the COVID interruption it will not actually be the 50th festival but it will be 50 years since Elizabeth Brazell and David Omerod set up the first event in 1974.

To mark the occasion we have decided to hold entry fees at their current level for this year.

50th Anniversary Special Awards

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To celebrate the festival’s golden anniversary, for this year only, each adjudicator will have in their gift a special anniversary award of £50. This will be given to the most outstanding performer they hear during the festival. All classes will be considered including non-competitive classes. We are looking for outstanding musicality at any level of experience and the recommendations of each adjudicator will be final.

Rules & Information

Adjudicators

Provisional Timetable

While every effort will be made to adhere to the timetable, the number of entries may not always make this possible. The Secretary will be unable to give more definite information until the entries have been received.

Most classes will be held at the Cherwell School South Site, Marston Ferry Rd, Oxford . Piano Classes will be held at the Ogston Music School which is part of St. Edward’s School Oxford but located on South Parade. The Class C piano class will be held at the TS Eliot Theatre in Merton College, Oxford. St Andrew’s Church, Headington has been booked for organ classes. The festival concert will be held in the auditorium of Wolfson College, Oxford. See the Venues section for more information.

Saturday

27th January 2024

Senior Piano, Choirs, Organ, Singing, & Composition

Adjudicators:

Sunday

28th January 2024

Class C & Guitar

Adjudicators:

Saturday

3rd February 2024

Junior & Non-competitive Piano, Strings, Woodwind & Chamber Music

Adjudicators:

Sunday

4th February 2024

Class A, Junior and Non-competitive Piano, Strings & Chamber Music

Adjudicators:

Sunday

11th February 2024

Festival Concert

A small selection of Festival prize-winners will be invited to perform. The concert will start at 6 pm.

2024 Trophies & Awards

Linfield Ltd (Property Developers) has again given a substantial donation towards the prizes in class C.

First prize £200, Second prize £125 & Third prize £75

Cups will be awarded for the highest marks in the categories shown,
provided the winner has a minimum of 87 marks and subject to Rule 26.
In order to award cups the winner will be awarded marks out of 100.
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50th Anniversary Special Awards

To celebrate the festival’s golden anniversary for this year only each adjudicator will have in their gift a special anniverary award of £50. This will be given to the most outstanding performer they see during the festival. All classes will be considered including non-competitive classes. We are looking for outstanding musicality at any level of experience and the recommendations of each adjudicator will be final.

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The British & International Federation of Festivals’ marking categories are as follows:
OutstandingAn exceptional performance both technically and artistically
DistinctionAn excellent performance technically and artistically
CommendedA convincing performance technically and artistically
MeritA capable performance showing some artistic appreciation and/or technical ability
ModerateA performance showing development of technique and/or communication
FairA performance limited in its communication

Downloads

Printed Entry Form

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If you need extra copies of the form in the centre section of the syllabus. You can view it by clicking the image above.
You should be able save or print the form from your browser. You can also use the on-line entry process.

Full Printed Syllabus

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This is the latest version of the 2023 Syllabus.