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General Rules

Festival Management

  1. The Festival shall be known as the Lambton County Music Festival.

  2. The Festival is supported by members of the Ontario Music Festival Association.

  3. Any question not dealt within the rules, shall be referred to the Festival Executive. The decision of the Festival Executive on any point shall be final.

  4. The members of the Festival Executive shall be elected annually at the general meeting. A nominating committee shall consist of the President, Past President, and Vice President(s), and/or appointees.

Eligibility - Definitions

  1. All competitions, except where otherwise stated, shall be open to amateurs only. For the purpose of these competitions, an amateur shall be deemed to be any person whose principal means of livelihood is derived from non-musical work, even if he or she, from time to time, accepts a stipend or honorarium for musical services rendered.

  2. Classes are open to all without regard to residence or domicile. However, it should be noted that in certain classes there are awards provided which are only for competitors resident in specified localities.

  3. Competitors are not allowed to perform for adjudication only.

  4. Conductors may be either professional or amateur.

  5. One conductor may conduct any number of choirs, choral societies, orchestras, or bands, either in the same class or otherwise. In the spirit of fair competition, vocal conductors are instructed not to sing with the choir during competition. Failure to comply could result in an adjudication penalty.

  6. In all classes in which an age limit is set, competitors must be at, or under the prescribed age on December 31st , 2025.

  7. All choirs shall be limited to 75 members maximum.

  8. Classical Piano and Classical Voice competitors may enter either the age designated Solo classes or the Graded Solo classes in their respective disciplines, but not both.

  9. Where there are changed voices, one of the parts may be doubled to accommodate the range of those changed voices.

  10. Competitors may enter ONLY ONE Piano Quick Study Class.

Music Selection and Copies

  1. Vocal and Choral pieces may be transposed. An original copy must be given to the Adjudicator and an original copy must be in the possession of accompanist at the performance.

  2. Errors in notation should be identified on the original score and identified to the Adjudicator.

  3. Where a specified edition or setting of the piece performed is indicated in the RCM or Conservatory Canada Syllabus, a copy thereof will be furnished to the Adjudicator. Competitors must use the specified setting or edition. Failure to comply with this will result in disqualification.

  4. The competitor must not select a piece being performed by themself elsewhere in this year's Lambton County Music Festival or performed by themself at the Lambton County Music Festival in the past two years.

  5. Competitors entering classes where the music titles are to be announced at time of performance must write the selection(s) they are performing on a piece of paper and hand it to the Sessions Secretary upon arrival for their performance. Competitors should also refer to Rule 24.

    1. Competitors should perform only one selection/movement unless otherwise indicated.
    2. Competitors entering classes which are to be announced at time of performance must hand an original copy of their music to the Sessions Secretary prior to their performance for use by the Adjudicator. Failure to do this may result in loss of marks or disqualification. An additional original copy of the music must be in the possession of the accompanist at the performance. Please also refer to Rule 24.

  6. This rule applies to all classes except classes which are to be announced at time of performance, refer to Rule 19.

    1. Competitors should perform only one selection/movement unless otherwise indicated.
    2. The appropriateness of the selection to the age and grade will be considered by the Adjudicator in the evaluation of the performance, with the exception of the classes making use of the current Ontario Band Association Syllabus list.
    3. The selection shown on the Class Entry List must be the piece performed. Failure to comply with this will result in disqualification. An alternative selection will be accepted prior to the Entry Closing date, February 8 th , 2026. No changes may be made after that date.
    4. An original copy of the music to be performed must be submitted by each competitor to the Sessions Secretary prior to the performance for use by the Adjudicator. If an accompaniment is required, an additional original copy of the music must be in the possession of the accompanist. Please also refer to Rule 24.
    5. Improvisation is not allowed, with the exception of the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble classes.
    6. See also Rule 18.

  7. Do not play repeats unless specified in the Syllabus.

  8. All solo music should be memorized. Should a competitor elect to use music during the competition, the Adjudicator has been instructed to deduct up to five marks from the total marks that would have been awarded for the performance (brass and woodwind are excluded).

    NOTE: Provincial Music Festival competitors at the Open level in all categories must perform from memory. Memory is not required for Brass, Woodwinds, and String Sonatas at the Diploma and Graded levels.

  9. Accompaniment to Concerto classes must be played on a second piano.

  10. Where music is purchased from an on-line source, Musicnotes.com for example, competitors must provide a copy of the purchase receipt. The receipt must show the name of the song, the form of payment used and the amount paid. The cover page of the piece is not sufficient. Note, for vocalists, both the adjudicator and accompanist must have purchased copies of the music.  Ensure the reciept provided includes two copies. 

    Subscription to a sharing website eg. Scribd, Everand, Musescore is not sufficient.

    Teacher's names on scores, books or digital music must be covered to avoid disqualification.

Entries

  1. Competitors are responsible for entering the correct class. The Festival makes every reasonable effort to detect errors in entries and infractions of the rules. However, the ultimate responsibility for correctness of entries and adherence to the rules remain the responsibility of the competitor.

    1. The Executive reserves the right to reject any entry and reserves the right to refuse special scheduling requests.
    2. Such requests must be made on a separate note stating the reason for your request and listing the numbers of all classes entered. Classes can not be moved to different times after programming has been completed.

  3. Entry fees are not refundable except in case of rejection of the entry by the Festival Executive.

  4. In all Piano Solo Classes, competitors must not enter classes more than one Level below their current level of study on the last day of the Festival. The Festival Executive strongly recommends all other competitors adhere to this rule also.

  5. Under no circumstances will a competitor be allowed to change classes or the selection indicated for performance after the Entry Closing date, February 8th, 2026.

  6. The Festival Executive reserves the right to cancel any class(es) if there are insufficient entries.

Program Procedure

  1. In the event of unusual circumstances, the Executive reserves the right to change or appoint additional Adjudicators.

  2. After entering the performance venue, please check in with the front desk to confirm your place on the Class Entry List. The Sessions Secretary may disqualify any competitor who is not ready to compete within five minutes of being called.

    Competitors will proceed into the venue at least 5 minutes prior to the start of the class.

  3. Competitors must not commence until signalled to do so by the Adjudicator, who may also stop the performance at any time.

  4. The Adjudicator, at their discretion, may select certain performers for a second hearing.

  5. The Adjudicator will give such adjudication of each performance as they deem advisable following the conclusion of each class, but will announce the prize winner's marks only. Other contestants will be advised of their marks as noted in Rule 52.

  6. The Festival Executive reserves the right to sub-divide any class into two or more competitions under circumstances where the number or character of the entries would justify such sub-division.

  7. The name and order of performance of the contestants in each class will appear on the Class Entry List.

    1. When a piece is accompanied, each competitor must provide an accompanist. The accompanist must appear and perform with the competitor at the competition. A chord may be given at the piano at the commencement of each piece of unaccompanied music.
    2. Only choirs may use a taped accompaniment. Competitors must provide their own audio equipment.

  9. A person having any pupil or assistant competing except as a member of a choir or orchestra shall not be qualified to adjudicate in such competition.

  10. In orchestra and band classes, the competitors will be allowed a period of one minute to warm up.

  11. Once the entry list is closed, the Executive will decide the order in which the classes will be scheduled, and will ballot for the order of competing. However, the Executive reserves the right to alter the order, if necessary, to suit competitors travelling from a distance. The order of competing will appear in the program. No altering of the class scheduled times will be allowed on the day of competition without authorization by the Executive.

  12. No presentations other than those sanctioned by the Executive are permitted.

Admission and Deportment of Competitors and Public

  1. The general admission of competitors to the hall in which the competitions are being held shall be governed by the Executive.

  2. The competitions shall be open to the public.

  3. No warmups or rehearsals will be permitted during the Festival in the competition halls. Band  and String classes may use the competition hall for warm ups or arranging of positions.

  4. Silence is to be observed during performances and adjudications. Please silence all electronic devices.

  5. Competitors and/or their teachers or parents should not enter into any discussion or correspondence with an Adjudicator prior to or during the Festival unless it is initiated by the Adjudicator.

  6. The Festival Executive requests that suitable stage attire and footwear should be worn. Deportment and appearance are important for a polished performance.

Marking

  1. In order to preserve a high standard of performance, it shall be necessary in all competitive classes, except bands, for the performer(s) to obtain the following marks:

    First Place:      80 Percent or Higher
    Second Place: 75 Percent or Higher
    Third Place:    70 Percent or Higher

    Bands are required to obtain at least 85 Percent or higher to achieve first place.

  2. In classes where "Own Choice" is specified, the standard of the selection will be judged in the marking.

  3. The Adjudicator's report including the marks awarded will be given to each competitor.

  4. The Adjudicator's decision is final.