NIFCA 2024 PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC ENTRY FORM

Background

                                                                                                                                                                   

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NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL OF CREATIVE ARTS (NIFCA)

PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC RULES 2024

NON PROFESSIONAL ADULT & JUNIOR CATEGORIES

 

1. NAME OF THE COMPETITION

a) The name of the competition shall be the NIFCA Performing Arts Music Non-Professional Adult & Junior Categories (the “Competition”) which comprises Preliminaries, and Finals and is organised and administered by the National Cultural Foundation (the “NCF”). 

b) These rules apply to those persons wishing to enter the Competition in the Non-Professional Adult & Junior Categories. 

 

2. ELIGIBILITY 

a) Persons wishing to enter the Competition must be: 

(i) A citizen of Barbados or 

(ii) Legally resident in Barbados 

 If the artiste is not a citizen or legal resident of Barbados, he/she must present evidence to show he/she is actively pursuing legal residence.

b) Participants in the competition must be at least 4 years old by September 1st in the year of the competition. An entrant is eligible to participate in the Junior Category of NIFCA-Music where his/her age is under 18 years by September 1st. All other entrants (18 years or older) will be adjudicated in the Non- Professional Adult Category. 

c) Groups with mixed ages will be judged according to the age category (Junior, Adult) to which the majority of the group belongs, on or by September 1st. A complete list of the group’s members indicating their ages and dates of birth must be submitted with the entry form.  The NCF reserves the right to satisfy itself that the conditions relating to age are met.

d) To enter as a Non-Professional Adult, a person must be 18 years old by September 1, in the year of the competition.

e) The following are eligible to participate in the Competition: 

      Individuals 

      Schools 

      Community Groups 

      Office

      Neighbourhood

      Church

      Organisation

      Musical Bands/Orchestras/Soloists, 

      Groups Singing or Instrumentalist

      Other

f) All persons entering the competition must be considered amateur (i.e. they do not make a living from the performance of music). 

 

3. ENTRY TO THE COMPETITION  

a) To enter the Competition, persons must properly fill out the relevant online registration form and submit it to the NCF by or before 4.00 p.m. via the NCF website: www.ncf.bb by the indicated dates.

b) Persons requiring assistance with online registration may do so by appointment at the NCF during the week of September 23 – 27, 2024.

c) Registration deadlines are as follows:

Individuals/Community Groups/Others:  

Friday, September 27, 2024

Secondary Schools:                      

Friday, September 27, 2024

Primary Schools:                        

Friday, September 27, 2024

d) Participants whose registration has not been received by the NCF by the deadline indicated at 3 (c) above shall not be eligible for participation in the Competition. 

e) The NCF shall dispatch a notice by letter or email to the participant(s) within seven (7) working days of receipt of their entry advising them whether the request for entry has been approved or refused. 

f) A participant’s duly appointed representative(s) may register, as set out in 3 a) above, on behalf of the participant(s). All group entries must be submitted by the designated leader of the group. 

g) Participants under 18 years of age on September 1 must have their entry forms submitted by a teacher, parent or guardian. 

h) Where two works are being entered in the Competition, one must be local or original. (For the purposes of this competition, an original work is considered a musical composition created by a local artist in the last three years). When one piece is being entered, that piece should be locally arranged. SEE GENERAL AND INCENTIVE AWARDS, under APPENDIX “A”.

i) All classical entries must be supported by music scores. Works being entered in this year’s competition must not have been entered in any previous NIFCA competition by the same performer. Where there is a complaint that a presentation does not conform to this requirement, the complainant shall produce recorded evidence to support the complaint. The penalty for violation of this shall be disqualification of the musical selection or song from the Competition. 

j) Music Scores (only) of classical pieces to be performed in the Competition shall be submitted with the Entry Forms ONLINE or hand delivered no later than the dates set out at 3 c). Classical pieces will not be allowed to be performed if Music Scores are not submitted. 

 

4. ARBITRATION

a) Prior to the deadline for submission of Entry Forms, the NCF shall appoint an Arbiter to decide and adjudicate on any appeals, complaints or matters in dispute or requiring clarification arising from these rules.

b) All complaints related to the Competition shall be submitted, in writing, to the Arbiter in a sealed envelope addressed as follows: 

 

The Arbiter

National Cultural Foundation

West Terrace

St. James

 

c) All decisions made by the Arbiter shall be final and binding on the competitors and the NCF.

 

 

 

5. ADJUDICATION

a) The Competition shall be judged in two (2) stages – Preliminaries and Finals.

b) The NCF shall appoint a Chief Judge who shall adjudicate at each stage of the Competition.

c) The NCF shall determine the composition of the judging panel at each stage of the Competition.

d) The names of the judges shall be publicly announced before the commencement of the Preliminaries.

e) The judges reserve the right not to award any special prizes offered in this competition.

 

6. PRELIMINARIES

a) Judging at the Preliminaries shall not be open to the public.

b) Only entries registered by the closing date indicated at Rule 3 c) above   shall be eligible to be judged in the Preliminaries.

c) Each participant shall enter and perform not more than two (2) works at the Preliminaries.

d) Participants performing to recorded accompaniment or their duly appointed representatives shall present a recording (as outlined at 10 (bb) to the NCF’s designated officer no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of the Preliminaries.

e) At the Preliminaries, the maximum points awarded to each participant by the judging panel shall be as follows:

 

VOCAL PERFORMANCE & INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

 

WEIGHTING

Musicianship  30

Expressive Features 25

Rendition  20

Originality  15

Presentation  10

Total  100

 

f) An average score for each musical selection entered shall be taken. All participants who perform music works that are awarded scores of sixty (60) points or over in the Junior Category, or seventy (70) points or over in the Adult Category shall be selected to perform at the Finals.

g) At the request of participants, judges will critique their performances at the Preliminaries only. Participants must indicate on the registration form their desire to have this critique done.

 

7. FINALS

a) Participants selected for the Finals will be competing for Gold, Silver, Bronze and the Top Awards in NIFCA Music. Participants shall perform only those works that have been selected by the judging panel to be performed at the Finals.

b)  All Finalists shall assemble at the venue designated by the NCF on a date and time advised by the NCF to rehearse for participation.

c)  At the Finals, the maximum points awarded to each participant by the judging panel shall be as follows:

 

VOCAL PERFORMANCE & INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

 

WEIGHTING

Musicianship  30

Expressive Features 25

Rendition  20

Originality  15

Presentation   10

Total  100

 

d) An average score for each selection entered shall be taken. Participants who perform selections that are awarded average scores as indicated below will also be awarded certificates as follows:

 

Non-Professional – Adult Category  

Gold  91 – 100 points

Silver 81 – 90 points 

Bronze  70 – 80 points 

  

Junior Category

Gold 86 – 100 points

Silver 76 – 85 points

Bronze  65 – 75 points

 

e)  Participants that medal at this stage of the competition will be eligible for consideration towards the awarding of general and incentive awards.

f)  No duplicate certificates will be issued for any lost/stolen certificates.  However, a letter confirming the award will be issued by the NCF upon request.

 

8. GENERAL AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Only those participants who medal at the Finals would be eligible for Incentive, General and Special Top Awards as outlined in Appendix “A”. 

 

9. GENERAL REGULATIONS

 

Conduct

a) A participant shall be held accountable for the actions of those individuals whom he or she brings on stage during the Competition.

b) If, during the Competition, a participant or any of his/her supporting acts make any gesture or action that exceeds the bounds of good taste, the participant may be disqualified from the Competition. The Judges shall determine whether behaviour is indecent, obscene, and defamatory or in excess of the bounds of good taste. Conduct may exceed the bounds of good taste where, in the opinion of the Judges, such conduct is:

(i) indecent or obscene,

(ii) capable of being defamatory,

(iii) capable of promoting discrimination against or intolerable ill-feeling toward any class of persons, by virtue of a distinguishing characteristic of that class, such as race, religion, ethnicity, colour, social class, sex, gender, [sexual orientation] and other such characteristics,

(iv) calculated to intimidate another person or is likely to promote violence,

(v) calculated to cause or subject another person to unreasonable ridicule, contempt or embarrassment,

(vi) of such a nature as is likely to bring the Competition or the NCF into disrepute, or

(vii) beyond the expectation that a reasonable person, who is neither unusually sensitive nor unduly indifferent, would have in respect of conduct at a Competition such as this.
 

c) In determining whether a participant should be disqualified for conduct exceeding the bounds of good taste, the Judges should also have regard to whether the participant acted in good faith.

d) Participants or their associates who behave in a disruptive manner, which interferes with the performance of other individuals or groups or the smooth running of the Competition, may be disqualified from further participation in the Competition.

Venues

e) The NCF will choose the venues for the staging of the Preliminaries, Semi-Finals and Finals of this competition.

f) Participants shall report to the NCF Stage Manager or NCF designated Officer at the venues selected for the staging of the Preliminaries, Semi-Finals and Finals no later than one (1) hour before the scheduled start time of the event.

g) Failure to comply with Rule 9 f) may result in the reduction of one (1) point by each judge up to a maximum of five (5) points.

 

 Staging

h) The manner of presentation of a selection will be at the discretion of the participant. Each entry is, however, limited to a maximum of seventy (70) persons on stage at any one time during the presentation of a selection.

i) Should a participant fail to observe Rule 9 h) a designated NCF officer shall inform the Chief Judge immediately after the participant’s performance has ended.

j) The penalty for violating Rule 9 h) shall be a deduction of one (1) point by each judge for every person in excess of the number permitted, up to a maximum of five (5) points per judge on the panel. The designated NCF officer shall notify the participant or the participant’s duly appointed representative of the violation.

k) Performance in the Competition shall not exceed seven (7) minutes for group or solo presentations and will be timed by the official time-keeper from the start of the performance (first musical note played).

l) A violation of Rule 9 k) shall result in a one (1) point deduction by each judge on the panel for every minute or part thereof over the limit up to a maximum of five (5) points per judge. Where a violation occurs, the designated NCF officer shall notify the participant or the participant’s duly appointed representative of the violation.

m) Participants shall appear and perform in their correct position as determined and notified by the NCF.

n) A violation of Rule 9 m) may result in a one (1) point deduction by each judge on the panel up to a maximum of five (5) points.

o) Failure by participants to comply with the reasonable instructions of the NCF designated officer may result in their disqualification from the Competition.

p) The use of props and costumes will be a consideration for awarding points at the Finals.

q) All participants shall be responsible for the setting up, dismantling, transportation and safety of their equipment which must be removed promptly at the end of the respective judging session.

r) All participants must provide their own musical scores, sets, costumes, props, make-up, accompaniment and instruments.

s) The NCF will provide technical assistance in stage management, sound and lighting for the Finals. 

t) Participants shall inform the NCF designated officer of any changes to their technical requirements no later than forty-eight (48) hours after being notified of their selection to perform at the Finals. Failure to provide this information may result in the performance being compromised.

u) All children shall be accompanied by adults at the minimum ratio of one (1) adult to ten (10) children at all stages of the Competition.

v) A maximum of two (2) assistants shall be allowed to accompany each adult group at all stages of the Competition.

 

Musical Accompaniment

w) Participants using their own live accompaniment shall indicate on the Entry Form what instruments will be used, the number of persons expected to perform, and the number of chairs and microphones required.

x) Participants not submitting the information required in Rule 9 w) shall not be considered for participation in the Competition.

y) Accompaniment tracks being used should not contain the same melodic line as that being performed by the vocalist / instrumentalist / group.

z) The participant shall submit a copy of the props list, a short biography, and details of the accompaniment to be used, in the space provided on the entry form to the NCF by the deadline.

aa) The details of the accompaniment to be used, whether live or recorded must include the title of the music, the arranger and the composer.

bb) All recorded music must be submitted to the designated NCF officer by email, clearly labelled showing the name of the participant, the title of music contained thereon, name of the composer, and arranger.

 

Release of Scores

cc) The average scores of the participants for the Finals shall be made public via the NCF website within seven (7) days after the completion of the Competition.

 

Special Performances

dd) Award-winning participants in the Competition may be required to perform at another NIFCA event. Entry in the Competition, therefore, implies an acceptance to perform if chosen.

 

10. PROMOTION/ BROADCAST OF PERFORMANCE

a) The participant agrees that the NCF shall be entitled to use his/her performance or part thereof or his/her image or likeness in the promotion of the competition and other related NIFCA events.

 

b) The NCF shall have the following rights in the performance:

(i) The right to a live broadcast, within Barbados, of the whole or any substantial part of the performance.

(ii) The right to use excerpts of the performance for promotional or marketing purposes within Barbados and outside of Barbados.

(iii) The right to copy the performance or a recording of the performance for the purposes of teaching, research, news reporting, review, instruction or education.

(iv) The right to record the performance for archival purposes,

(v) The right to include the performance in any Pay Per View or subscription programming provided there is an agreement between the producer and any performing rights organisation of which the Performer may be a member.

(vi) The right to include the performance in any Pay Per View or subscription programming for the agreed upon rate of two hundred and fifty Barbados Dollars (BBD$250.00) between the producer and the performer if the performer is not a member of any performing rights organization.

 

APPENDIX “A”

NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL OF CREATIVE ARTS (NIFCA)

SPECIAL AND GENERAL AWARDS FOR MUSIC – NON-PROFESSIONAL ADULT & JUNIOR CATEGORIES

 

SPECIAL TOP AWARDS – Non-Professional ADULT & JUNIOR All entries that medal at the Final stage of the Music competition will be eligible for these awards accordingly.

 

1. The Prime Minister’s Scholarship which is sponsored by the Prime Minister’s Office, will be awarded to an individual and/or creator of an entry in the Adult Category achieving 93% or higher in the Music Finals. Awardees must be between the ages of 18 – 40 and demonstrate the greatest potential for training and development in the awarded discipline. This award which may only be won once by any participant is for a maximum of BBD$35,000.00 per discipline, for tertiary studies at any Caribbean Arts institution. Two scholarships will be on offer across all categories of NIFCA. Only one participant may be nominated for this by the judges in each of the disciplines of NIFCA. A maximum of two will be awarded in any year.

2. The Prime Minister’s Award for the Best Original NIFCA Music Entry will be offered to recognize significant creativity and innovation in a NIFCA entry that challenges established norms in the art-form. It will comprise a cash award of BBD$3,500.00 and a trophy.

3. The James Millington Award of Excellence is in the form of a trophy and a cash prize of BBD$3,000.00. It is presented to the highest scoring participant achieving 91% or greater in the NIFCA Music Finals

4. The Founder’s Trophy. This award is in memory of NIFCA Founder – Mr. Arden Clark. It is in the form of a challenge trophy and cash prize of BBD$3,000.00 which is awarded to the most outstanding gold award performance in NIFCA Performing Arts Finals.

5. Barbados Community College Scholarships will be offered to two individuals who demonstrate potential for training and development.  The scholarships will be for the Associate Degree programme in Music to a value of BBD$3,000.00 each.

 

 

GENERAL & INCENTIVE AWARDS

1. Incentive Awards will be offered to reward and encourage promising acts in each discipline. These will take the form of a plaque and cash awards to the value of four hundred (BBD$400.00) for an individual and seven hundred and fifty dollars (BBD$750.00) for groups as follows:

      Best Presentation

      Best Performance by a Primary School

      Best Performance by a Secondary School

      Most Promising Performance by a Community Group (Office,

        Neighbourhood, Church, Organization)

      Best Performance by an Individual

      Best Newcomer to NIFCA

      A Special Incentive Award will be offered for the Best Arrangement. (Non-resident arrangers are ineligible for this award).

     Best Spouge Performance

      Best Performance of Tuk Rhythms

      Best Original Piece

      Best Instrumental Performance

     Most Entertaining Performance/Performer

     Best Small Ensemble – 15 and less

     Best Large Ensemble – 16 and over

 

2. Incentive Award for outstanding participation by an Artiste(s) with Disabilities. This award comprises of a trophy and a cash award to a value of BBD$400.00 for an individual and BBD$750.00 for a group. To qualify, participants must specify on their entry form their wish to be considered for this award.

3. The Cynthia Wilson NIFCA Producer’s Prize. This takes the form of a trophy and a cash prize of BBD$1,000.00 and will be awarded to recognize outstanding participation by a community leader, producer/organizer who facilitates and manages the successful participation of a group of artistes in any discipline for over five years. One prize will be awarded each year.

4. The Jackie Opel Award will be awarded for the best locally written, arranged and performed musical selection (any genre). It comprises a Trophy and cash award of BBD$1,500.00.

5. The Emile Straker Award will be awarded for the best locally written, arranged and performed folk selection. It comprises a Trophy and cash award of BBD$1,500.00.

6. *NEW* The NIFCA prize for Intangible Cultural Heritage is valued at $2000.00 and will be awarded to a medalling entry that represents an outstanding depiction of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Barbados.

7. The Barbados Gospelfest Award. This prize will be awarded to recognize the most outstanding Christian act at NIFCA Performing Arts, in the form of a trophy and the opportunity to perform at the next year’s Gospelfest. One prize will be awarded each year.

8. The Ernest P.F. Rocheford Award to be awarded to the most promising individual under 18 years is in the form of a BBD$500.00 scholarship to be utilized for further studies in music.

9. The Business Entrepreneur Prize. This prize is awarded across all NIFCA disciplines and is valued at BBD$15,000.00. It will be awarded to recognize works that demonstrate entrepreneurial value. This prize will be awarded to an Adult composer, arranger or performer of a Gold awarded entry that has shown the most potential for reproduction and distribution of their entry.

10. The NTI Citizenship Special Prize is offered by the National Transformation Initiative for an entry that explores what it means to be an active citizen of Barbados. It is valued at BBD$2,000.00 per discipline, and awardees must complete the NTI Citizenship Course in order to collect the award.

11. The NTI Award for the most outstanding NIFCA performance by an artist/artist with disabilities is offered by the National Transformation Initiative. It is valued at BBD$2,000.00 and is offered across all disciplines of NIFCA.

12. Certificates of Achievement. These will be issued to authors/ directors/set-designers/costume-designers/accompanists in recognition of their contribution to award-winning acts. These certificates will bear a gold, silver or bronze seal according to the level of award won by the entry.

 

 

APPENDIX “B”

NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL OF CREATIVE ARTS (NIFCA)

GENERAL GUIDELINES – MUSIC – NON-PROFESSIONAL ADULT & JUNIOR CATEGORIES

 

GENERAL

1. Participants are only allowed to enter a maximum of two (2) compositions. The categories of entry are at their own discretion; however, the compositions should be contrasting. Participants are encouraged to note that creativity and a Barbadian aesthetic should be reflected in their presentations: lyrics, genre, arrangement or instrumentation and are expected to give consideration to originality and innovation in their choice of music.

2. Participants may use any vocal or instrumental combination in their presentation.

3. Where two songs are submitted, one should have a Barbadian or Caribbean quality whether through the music, lyrics.

4. Groups may be represented as Duos, Trios, Quartets, Choirs, Bands, and can be augmented.

5. With respect to school entries:

(i) SOLOISTS: Student soloists may, where desired, be accompanied by one or two teachers or other adults.

(ii) SCHOOL BANDS/CHOIRS: These shall comprise school children but may also include past students of up to two (2) years and a Teacher or other adult as “Conductor”.

(iii) AUGMENTAL CATEGORY: This is open to bands comprising students and teachers.

6. Music will be categorized as follows:

(i) TRADITIONAL/FOLK

(ii) CONTEMPORARY/POPULAR

(iii) CLASSICAL

(iv) JAZZ

(v) RELIGIOUS

(vi) EXPERIMENTAL/FUSIONS

(vii) OPEN – This category may comprise a mixture of disciplines, e.g. mime, sign language, performance poetry, etc., although with the principal focus being on music.

 

7. JUDGING CRITERIA (Definitions)

        All entries will be judged in the following areas:

       MUSICIANSHIP – rhythm, pitch, timbre (tonal quality), technique, tempo

       EXPRESSIVE FEATURES – pronunciation, enunciation, dynamics, phrasing, articulation

       RENDITION – conviction, projection, movement, understanding of style, interpretation

       ORIGINALITY – unique approach to arrangement, melody and or rendition

       PRESENTATION – stage presence, relevance of choreography

 

8. JUDGING DATES

The two (2) stages of the 2024 NIFCA Music Competition will be judged within the following dates:

      Preliminaries  October 7 – 11, 2024

      Finals  November 1 – 4, 2024

 

General queries should be directed to The Cultural Officer – Music Education, Kevin Moore at the National Cultural Foundation, telephone number: 417-6629 or email: kevin-moore@ncf.bb.

 

 

 

 

Registration is closed.


Contact us

The National Cultural Foundation
West Terrace,
St. James, Barbados
246-417-6610