Syllabus
Our 50th Anniversary
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
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 North Site, Marston Ferry Rd, Oxford. Some classes may be held at Oxford High School, Belbroughton Road. Piano Classes, including the Oxford Piano Competition will be held at the Ogston Music School which is part of St. Edward’s School Oxford but located on South Parade. St Andrew’s Church, Headington has been booked for organ classes. The festival concert will be held at the Ogston Music School.
Saturday
31st January 2026
Choirs, Composition (excluding guitar compositions), Organ, Senior Piano, Strings, Ensembles & possibly Class A
Adjudicators:
Sunday
1st February 2026
Guitar, Guitar Composition, Strings, Senior Piano & possibly ensembles
Adjudicators:
Saturday
7th February 2026
Junior & Non-competitive Piano, Singing, Strings, Ensembles & possibly Classes A & B
Adjudicators:
Sunday
8th February 2026
Junior and Non-competitive Piano, Ensembles, Woodwind & Brass & possibly Class A
Adjudicators:
Saturday
14th February 2026
Sunday
15th February 2026
Saturday
21st February 2026
Festival Concert
A small selection of Festival prize-winners will be invited to perform. The concert will start at 6 pm.
2026 Trophies & Awards
| 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 20. In order to award cups the winner will be awarded marks out of 100. |
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| The British & International Federation of Festivals’ marking categories are as follows: | |
|---|---|
| DEVELOPING | A performance demonstrating an awareness of technical skills, requiring more consistency & artistry. |
| PROGRESSING | A performance showing development of technique and/or communication and commitment. |
| MERIT | A competent performance, showing some artistic awareness and/or technical ability. |
| COMMENDED | A convincing performance technically & artistically, with increasing stylistic & communication skills. |
| HONOURS | An excellent performance, demonstrating fluent technical and artistic skills with emerging individuality. |
| OUTSTANDING | An impressive performance technically and artistically, displaying spontaneity & clear individuality. |
| EXCEPTIONAL | A superlative performance, displaying exceptional artistic individuality. |
Example Entry Form
Downloads
Printed Entry Form
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
This is the latest version of the 2023 Syllabus.