2024 Virtual Syllabus - Popular Voice - Solo

All selections in this category must be covers from commercial artists and/or an original composition.

General Rules
a) One original score of the music or purchased digital receipt must be shown prior to the beginning of each selection. If a competitor cannot secure the original music, then they should show a receipt for purchase of the songs from either Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon.
b) All selections must be sung from memory.
c) 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)
d) All criteria listed in the OMFA General Rules (omfa.ca/virtual-festival/rules-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) Competitors must perform two (2) contrasting selections in any of the following genres: pop, pop/ folk, R & B, soul, rock, alternative, indie, jazz or country. 
c) Selections from Conservatory Canada Contemporary Idioms Voice lists and the RCM List C (Levels 1-6) and RCM List D (Levels 7-10) are eligible excluding musical theatre, operetta and contemporary selections that are not covers.
d) Competitors must choose selections that are age appropriate with lyrics that are suitable for all audiences.
e) Selections must be musically contrasting. The Adjudicator will take the choice of repertoire into consideration.

Accompaniment
a) Accepted accompaniment can include live accompaniment by piano, guitar, ukulele, or backtracks without background vocals. No self-accompaniment is allowed – please see Popular Voice Self-Accompanied category. Suggested resource - tracks can be purchased from www.karaoke-version.com where customization of tracks is possible (key change, removal of background vocals etc.).
b) If you require a collaborative pianist (accompanist), the people on this list (omfa.ca/collaborative-pianists-accompanists) have indicated that they are willing to record accompaniments. It is the competitor's responsibility to contact the collaborative pianist directly and negotiate a fee for their service.

NOT permitted
• Selections from Musical Theatre (both staged and non-staged), cabaret, revues, operetta and stand-alone songs in musical theatre style.
• Rap and Hip Hop
• Songs listed in the RCM or CC classical syllabi (Lists A and B from Levels 1-6; Lists A, B, C from Levels 7-10)
• animated films, and selections that qualify for Songs from the Screen and More.

Video Submission Requirements
a) Videos must be submitted by your Local Festival's entry deadline date for Provincials.
b) One 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) for each selection must be shown on camera prior to the beginning of
the performance. If a competitor cannot secure the original music, then they should show a receipt for purchase of the songs from either Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon.
b) Only YouTube videos will be permitted (i.e. google drives, Vimeo, mp3's, mp4's, Dropbox etc. are not permitted). Each performance requires a separate YouTube link. Performance videos should not be combined.
c) All videos must have 'YouTube Kids' settings turned off. You may choose to have your video 'unlisted' but private' videos are not permitted. Please also ensure that the video is allowed to be embedded in other programs.
d) The video must clearly show your complete body. A stationary camera position must be used throughout.
e) No mixing or sound enhancement is allowed through any kind of soundboard, including a recording studio or computer. No reverb can be added to the recording. The recording must be honest and acoustic – as if the adjudicators were in the room listening to you perform live. You must perform live on the video. No audio dubbing over your video is allowed.
f) The video should be in the spirit of a recital or an audition and therefore you should dress appropriately.
g) You are required to introduce yourself and your selections in the video, either verbally or with a title card before each piece and must be limited to the following:
• your name
• the age level you have entered (eg. Primary)
• the composer's name and complete title of your selection (prior to each piece)
h) Do not announce your teacher's name, where you are from or at which local festival you performed. Do not use your teacher's YouTube channel to submit your videos.

Popular Voice - Solo - Ages 6-10

Performance Requirements

Competitors must perform two (2) contrasting selections.

The maximum performance times are as follows:

Beginner Level (Ages 6-8): Ten (10) minutes

Primary Level (Ages 9-10): Ten (10) 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 (your YouTube video link, 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.
 
The only exception to this is the field labelled "Movement/Musical".  If your piece is a sonata or a concerto, etc. you will need to define which movements you will be playing.  If your piece does not have any movements please put "none".