2013 Competition Rules and Notices

2013 COMPETITION RULES

Rule 1 – AGE DETERMINATION:

• The cut-off date for age accountability is December 31st, 2012.
• All contestants are required to upload ‘proof of age’ before December 31, 2012.

Rule 2 – ORIGINAL MUSIC:

Original music (no illegal photocopies) must be provided for the judges in all Showcase Solo, Duet, Duo, Concerto, and Instrumental Categories during the competition. Without proper music, the contestant will be disqualified.

Rule 3 – MUSIC EDITION:

Categories 1-10: For all Open Solo (20 events), Open Duet (5 events), plus Treasury Solos: Classical to Chinese Composers, 27 events (there are exceptions for Baroque music, please read the category descriptions carefully) – the stated editions will be used as the ‘official music’ by all the judges during the competitions.

If you are using a different edition, please check carefully for all details; if there are any differences, including dynamic markings, articulations, phrasings and notations, please follow the ‘official’ edition. If there are any misprints or changes, they will be listed carefully in the competition syllabus under the pieces’ description. If there are new discoveries, we will let you know ASAP. If you should find any mistakes, please inform USOMC ASAP. All changes will be resolved before January 1st, 2013.

Rule 4 – MEMORIZATION:

All music must be performed from memory except where noted. Repeats are not allowed, unless instructed to do so.

Rule 5 – TIME LIMITS:

The time limit for the competitions and the Prize Winners’ Concerts are different! After winning the events, the winners of the longer music must adjust their pieces (with cuts, if necessary) to fit the time limit for the PRIZE WINNERS’ CONCERTS.

(a) Any Prize Winner who exceeds the time limit listed for the Prize Winners’ Concert will be disqualified from winning the “Outstanding Gold Medalists’ Award” at the Prize Winners’ Concert.

(b) New rules for the time limit of the showcase and Instrumental events:

PLEASE NOTE: The USOMC committee has agreed to allow the contestants to play music longer than the indicated time limits. For all the events with an asterisk below, please carefully time each piece and mark them clearly in the event form. We will notify the judges of these contestants concerning the total time required to perform their pieces. At the competition, the judges will notify the contestants before their turn, which and how many sections they will play for the competitions.

IMPORTANT: the decisions are entirely up to the judges (the contestants may not make requests). The judges may also want to hear the entire piece, if time permits.

Time Limits Table

Rule 6 – FOR ALL PRIZE WINNERS:

All First Place Winners must perform at their designated Prize Winners’ Concerts in order to receive their cash prizes, gold medals and special awards. All prize winners (including 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place winners) must attend the concerts to receive their medals.

Formal attire is required for the prize presentation; no casual clothing is allowed 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 the medal(s) be mailed to them (a $25 shipping and handling fee will apply).

2013 COMPETITION NOTICES

DATE:

February 9th – 18th, 2013 (Saturday to Monday: a total of 10 days)

SCHEDULE OF COMPETITION EVENTS:

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM every day, except 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 10th, 2013.

LOCATION:

The Oakland Inter-Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
4780 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA 94602

PRIZE WINNERS’ CONCERTS:

Saturday to Monday (President’s Day), February 16th – 18th, 2013

ENTRY DEADLINES:

• Postmarked or registered online by October 31, 2012.
• $25 late fee for entries postmarked or registered online November 1st –10th, 2012.
• Applications submitted after November 10th, 2012, will NOT be accepted.

AGREEMENT:

• When entering the annual United States Open Music Competition, the participants and their families assign USOMC, and only USOMC, all rights to use any photographs or video recordings, or interviews of any USOMC events for any purpose, without compensation.
• ALL ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
• USOMC reserves the right to combine / cancel events that do not have adequate entries.

VIDEO RECORDING OR PHOTOGRAPHY:

• The use of cameras, recording devices, and other electronic equipment during the competitions or performance concerts is strictly prohibited.
• General photography is allowed only at the announcement portions (which is the conclusion) of the competitions, after the performance of each event.
• USOMC provides official DVDs for all Prize Winners concerts. One set of DVDs will be mailed to all contestants after the conclusion of all events, when available.

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 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 competitions is unethical and inappropriate. The USOMC board may disqualify any contestant(s) displaying such conduct.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

• Notification of competition schedules, with names of all contestants in each event (dates and times), including details and maps, will be posted on our website by January 14th, 2013. Please check your entry CAREFULLY once more at our web site: www.usomc.org.
• Make sure all personal information (including names of pieces) is correctly recorded; you are required to notify USOMC of any mistakes immediately by email, before January 21^st, 2013.
• Please Note: It is the contestant’s responsibility to arrive at the competition site on time and ready to perform.

• To promote a greater wealth of repertory for the student musicians, USOMC will not use any music that has been used in the OPEN SOLO (20 Events), OPEN DUET (5 Events), or TREASURY Categories (32 Events) from the past five years (between 2008 and 2012).

CASH PRIZES, MEDALS and AWARDS:

• ALL Medals and Prizes will be presented during the Prize Winners’ Concerts on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, February 16^th – 18^th, 2013.
• All 1st place winners will perform at the Prize Winners’ Concerts and will receive Gold Medals and Cash Prizes.
• All 2nd place winners will receive Silver Medals
• All 3rd place winners will receive Bronze Medals
• All 4th place winners will receive Indigo Medals

Outstanding Gold Medalists:

• Will be chosen at the conclusion of each of the Prize Winners’ Concerts and receive the Outstanding Gold Medalists’ Awards.