Competition Rules

ENTRY DEADLINE Postmarked or registered online by October 10, 2011.
$10 late fee for entries postmarked/registered online between October 11 – 20, 2011

$25 late fee for entries postmarked/registered online between October 21 – 31, 2011

Applications postmarked after October 31st, 2011 will NOT be accepted.
COMPETITION DATES & TIMES February 19-24, 2012
1:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Sunday and
9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
COMPETITION SITE Oakland Inter-Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | Oakland, California
AWARD CONCERT DATE Saturday and Sunday, February 25-26, 2012
AWARD CONCERT SITE Auditorium, Oakland Inter-Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Oakland, California
AGREEMENT (1) When entering the annual United States Open Music Competition, the participants and their families agree to give the right to USOMC for any photographs, video recordings (DVDs) and interviews of the competitions by USOMC for any purpose without compensation.

(2) All Entry fees are non-refundable.

(3) USOMC reserves the right to combine / cancel events that do not have adequate entries.
VIDEO, RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHY  Warning: The use of cameras, recording devices and other electronic equipments is strictly prohibited during the actual competitions. Photography is allowed only at the announcement portion of the competition after the performance of each event.

USOMC provides official DVDs for all Prize Winners’ Concerts. One set of DVD will be mail to all contestant when ready.
AGE DETERMINATION The cut-off date for age accountability is December 31, 2011. USOMC reserves the right to verify the date of birth of all contestant(s). If a contestant is unable to provide prove of age or proven wrong in age, that contestant will be disqualified from entering the USOMC.
INFORMATION ON ENTRY FORMS The Personal Data Registration Form must be typed or printed. Applicants of Showcase Piano: Solo, Duet/Ensemble, Duo/Ensemble, Concerto & and all instrumental events–
(1) Must provide complete information on their music–i.e. Name of piece(s), Op./K./Hob./BWV, Movement #, tempo marking, Key & Composer of each piece.

(2) Must include a copy of the first page of each piece (each movement) of music with application (All Duet, Duo & Instrumental Ensemble entries: include 1st page of each instrument).

For online entries, please read instructions on the bottom of page 14 in the Syllabus.

(1) $10 extra fee for any incomplete/incorrect information

(2) $10 extra fee for not including the first page of all music of the Showcase/concerto/instrumental events.

(3) $10 extra fee for any change between October 11 – 31, 2011

(4) $20 extra fee for any change between November 1 – 29, 2011

NO change will be accepted after November 29, 2011
USOMC MAILING ADDRESS  Mail entry forms and checks to:USOMC, PMB #418, 6114 La Salle Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94611, U.S.A.

OR register online at www.usomc.org (with PayPal).
RECEIPT CONFIRMATION Please include your Email Addresses (both parents’ & contestant’s). Be sure to put USOMC’s email address (info@usomc.org) in your email account’s contact list (so our notices will not enter the “Junk” pile). USOMC will send email receipt confirmations by January 10, 2012. Note: After receiving our confirmation, please check all the information carefully, because that will go in our 2012 program. Please notify USOMC of any mistakes immediately by email before January 20, 2012. Remember to visit www.usomc.org regularly for updates.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

 Notification of competition schedules, with names of all contestants on each event, (dates & times), including details and maps will be posted on our website by January 31, 2012. Please check your entry CAREFULLY once more: at www.usomc.org
Make sure all personal information (including name of pieces) is correctly recorded – notify USOMC of any mistakes immediately by email before February 5, 2012.
Please note: It is your responsibility to show up at the competition site on time.

There will be no postal mailings unless specifically requested.

(Please help us conserve paper and time by checking online!)
JUDGING PROCEDURES Judges may not hear the pieces in their entirety. This does not reflect negatively on the performers.
All winners will be announced at the end of each event and the Judges’ comments will be available to all contestants shortly after the conclusion of each event. THE JUDGES’ DECISIONS ARE FINAL. Talking with or contacting the Judges before, during and after the competition is unethical and inappropriate. The USOMC board may disqualify any contestant(s) displaying such conduct.
MEDALS & PRIZES  Presented during the Prize Winners’ Concerts on February 25-26, 2012.1st Place winners: Will perform at the Prize Winners’ Concerts and will receive Gold Medals & Cash Prizes

2nd Place winners: Will receive Silver Medals

3rd Place winners: Will receive Bronze Medals

4th Place winners: Will receive Crystal Medallions

Five“Outstanding Winners” will be chosen at the conclusion of each of the Prize Winners’ Concerts on Saturday and Sunday to additional prizes or cash awards.
WINNERS’ CONCERTS PERFORMANCE TIME LIMITATIONS  At the Prize Winners’ Concerts: ALL first place winners should be prepared to play their pieces (shortened if necessary) for a time limit from 3 minutes for the Preparatory to 10 minutes for the Advanced level(all events with time limits are clearly stated under the event description). For example, aLL Concerto winners are allowed: 8 minutes for the Junior level, 10 minutes for the Intermediate level, 12 minutes for the Senior & Advanced levels. For the Complete Piano Concerto, maximum time allowed is 18 minutes. Please check carefully for all time limits, they may be longer for the competitions and shorter for the Prize Winners’ Concerts, if there is a time limit, it will be clearly stated.
If any performer (at the Prize Winners’ Concerts) exceeds the time limit listed for the competition or the Prize Winners’ Concerts, he/she will be disqualified for the First Prize in the competition or the “Outstanding Winners” at the Prize Winners’ Concerts. Details are listed at the beginning of each event of the 2012 syllabus. All contestants are advised to check their time limits carefully.
Notice: All First Place Winners must perform at their designated Prize Winners’ Concerts on Saturday/ Sunday in order to receive their cash prizes, additional awards and gold medals.
All prize winners (including 2nd, 3rd & 4th place winners) must attend the concerts in formal attire to receive their medals (casual clothing: jeans, T-shirts or flipflops are not allowed to go on stage). No one is allowed to receive a medal for an absentee. If a Winner cannot attend the concert(s), he/ she may request (in advance) for the medal(s) for be sent to them ($25 handling & service fee will apply).
ORIGINAL MUSIC REQUIREMENT An original music (no illegal photocopies) must be provided for the judges in all Showcase Solo, Duet, Duo, Concerto & Instrumental Events during the competition.