2024 Live Syllabus - Musical Theatre - Solo

All selections in this category must be from STAGED Musical Theatre productions only.
Songs that first appeared in animated films or television shows can only be entered in Songs from the Screen and More

General Rules
a) Original music for each selection must be presented at the welcome desk for use by the Adjudicator on the day of competition. An original score of the music or purchased digital music with attached receipt showing title and price (not a cover page or subscription to a sharing website) are acceptable. Competitors must use the musical theatre/show version and perform from the published source (eg. anthology, compilation, score, digital sheet music). Measure numbers should be clearly marked in the music.
b) Memorization is required. 
c) Two (2) simple handheld props (e.g. comb, basket or book); one (1) standard rehearsal theatre box, one table and one chair are allowed. No other props will be permitted. 
d) Costumes are allowed, but will not be judged. 
e) Stage movement is allowed.
f) Dance breaks are not allowed and cannot be added to the selection.
g) All competitors must be an amateur which shall be defined as a music student, performer, or any person who does not earn significant income from performance or teaching in the discipline in which they are participating or, is a member of a professional union. (Please click here for the full definition of Amateur vs Professional: omfa.ca/glossary)
h) No announcement of name or selection is required prior to your performance
i) All criteria listed in the OMFA General Rules (omfa.ca/live-festival/rules-and-regulations) must be strictly adhered to.

Song Selections
a) One of the selections must have been performed at the Local Festival, received a minimum mark of 85 and the recommendation of the local Adjudicator. The second selection is the competitor's choice but must follow the rules of this category. 
b) Selections must be musically contrasting. It is recommended that one choice be up-tempo and the other a ballad. It is further recommended that the selections be from different musicals and composers. The Adjudicator will take song choice into consideration.
d) Spoken passages are only allowed if published in the score being used and cannot represent more than 10% of the selection.
e) Competitors are allowed to transpose music higher or lower, but the integrity of the composer's intention with respect to the character must be observed. 
f) Selections should be age/culturally appropriate and suitable for all audiences. OMFA reserves the right to reject any selections that are deemed inappropriate, either in style or content.

Accompaniment
a) Accompaniment must be by live acoustic piano only. 
b) If you do not have a collaborative pianist (accompanist), the people on this list (click here: omfa.ca/collaborative-pianists-accompanists) have indicated that they are willing to play for the live festival. It is the competitor's responsibility to contact the collaborative pianist directly and negotiate a fee for their service.

NOT PERMITTED
• Musicals that have only been workshopped, songs from revues, cabarets or songs that are written as stand-alone songs in musical theatre style – this repertoire now belongs in Songs from the Screen and More. (omfa.ca/live-festival/songs-from-the-screen-and-more-solo)
• Songs from Movie Musicals or TV Shows (these would also go in Songs from the Screen and More).
• Songs listed in the RCM or CC classical syllabi (List A and B from Levels 1-6).
• Operetta/light opera selections (Gilbert & Sullivan, Romberg, Lehar, Johann Strauss)
• Selections that are primarily spoken patter,( eg. 'Ya Got Trouble', The Music Man; 'Aaron Burr, Sir',Hamilton)
• Selections from Junior show versions of musicals that have been cut or simplified
• Vocal cuts except for repeated choruses
* Songs that first appeared in animated films or television shows can only be entered in Songs from the Screen and More. (i.e. most Disney movies).

Musical Theatre - Solo

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Competitors must perform two (2) contrasting Musical Theatre selections.
Make sure to read the rules about permitted selections and, in particular, take note that songs that first appeared in animated films or movie musicals and TV Shows can only be entered in Songs form the Screen and More.

The maximum performance times are as follows:

Elementary Level: Ten (10) minutes

Junior Level: Ten (10) minutes

Intermediate Level: Fifteen (15) minutes

Senior Level: Fifteen (15) minutes

Advanced Level: Fifteen (15) minutes

There is no minimum performance time.

Accurate performance times must be included on the entry form. Do not guess timings.

If you do not provide all information required (i.e. Song Title, name of Musical, Composer, payment, etc.) by your Festival's Provincial deadline, it will result in disqualification. "To Be Decided" in any field will not be accepted and will also result in disqualification.
 

Musical Theatre - Open - Solo

Definition

Open to any competitor between the ages of 19 - 29 as of December 31, 2023, who are performing at an exceptional level. Competitors will be given the opportunity to present a solo program which demonstrates versatility, a high standard of performance ability and should include different genres/eras/styles from the musical theatre canon. A minimum of 5 pieces must be performed.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The program should include the following:

• Selections from different musicals and different composers.
• A selection from the "Golden Age" (1943-1964) eg. composers such as Rodgers
and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Bock and Harnick, (early) Sondheim, etc.
• A selection by Stephen Sondheim is strongly recommended.
• One selection can be from a juke-box musical
• One selection can be from a staged Disney production
• Musical Theatre selections from the RCM Popular Selection List, RCM List D for Levels 7-10 and the CC Idioms lists are permitted.

Competitors will be judged on their choice of selections, interpretation, contrasting tempi, style, vocal quality and age appropriateness.

Please note: Competitors must use the musical theatre/show version from a
published source (eg. anthology, compilation, score, digital sheet music)
Stage movement is allowed.

The absolute maximum performance time is forty-five (45) minutes for the program.

The absolute minimum performance time is fifteen (15) minutes.

Accurate performance times must be included on the entry form. Do not guess timings or simply apply the specified time limit.

If you do not provide all information required (i.e. Song Title, name of Musical, Composer, payment, etc.) by your Festival's Provincial deadline, it will result in disqualification. "To Be Decided" in any field will not be accepted and will also result in disqualification.
 

Musical Theatre - Adults - Solo

DEFINITION

• Adult Classes are open to any amateur competitor 29 years of age and over.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Please note there is only one level of competition for Adults.

Competitors must perform two (2) contrasting selections.

The absolute maximum performance time for the Adult class is fifteen (15) minutes.

There is no minimum performance time.

Accurate performance times must be included on the entry form. Do not guess timings.

If you do not provide all information required (the PDF of your music and payment) by your Festival's Provincial deadline, it will result in disqualification. "To Be Decided" in any field will not be accepted and will also result in disqualification.