Rules and Regulations 2023

PIYMS GERNERAL RULES & REGULATIONS
  1. The Pacific International Youth Music Society (the “Society”) is governed and managed by a Board of Directors. Any questions not addressed in these rules should be referred to the Board of Directors.
  2. All categories, unless otherwise stated, are open to amateurs only. An “amateur” is one whose principal income is not derived from musical services. This condition does not apply to bona fide students of music who teach for the purpose of applying money earned to further their musical education.
  3. The Society reserves the right to refuse any entry, cancel any class, or substitute adjudicator.
  4. Festival dates listed at the time of registration may be subject to change.
  5. Specific rules applicable to each Instrument and Category must be observed.
  6. All in-person performances will be timed by the adjudicator’s assistant.
  7. The adjudicator, at his or her discretion, may stop the performance at any time.
  8. Decisions of the adjudicators in both the Preliminary Round and Gala Competition are final.
  9. By applying to the Pacific Youth Music Festival, the participant and his/her parent(s) or guardian agree to give the Society the right to use or distribute the participant’s photograph(s) and video recording(s) without remuneration, including but not limited to publications on local media, social media, digital streaming online, and for marketing purposes.
  10. By applying to the Pacific Youth Music Festival, the participant and his/her parent(s) or guardian agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations set out by the Society (Please refer to http://www.piyms.org). The participant will be disqualified at any phase of the competition when non-compliance with any part of the Rules and Regulations occurs or is discovered.
  11. The Society reserves the right to cancel the Pacific Youth Music Festival, in which case a refund will be issued.
ELIGIBILITY

The Festival is open to all eligible participants worldwide, up to age 30 as of September 1, 2023.

LIABILITY WAIVER
  1. The Society is not responsible for any claims, demands or damages concerning injuries to any participants that may occur during the annual Pacific Youth Music Festival (the “Festival”).
  2. The Society will not be responsible for any losses or damages to musical instruments, equipment, props, or any other personal property.
  3. Acceptance of a participant’s application for entry into the Festival releases any responsibility of the Society, its volunteers and staff, from claims, demands, damages, actions or causes of action arising out of, or in consequence of any losses, injuries or damages to any participants or any participants’ personal property incurred while attending or participating in the Festival.
REGISTRATION & SCHEDULES
  1. Application is finalized upon submission. No modification is allowed.
  2. Incomplete applications or applications with repertoire selection listed as TBA (To Be Announced) or the equivalent will not be accepted. Repertoire chosen upon registration may not be modified.
  3. It is the responsibility of the teacher and participant for the accuracy and completeness of entries.
  4. Teachers must provide their full address in order to receive mail-in correspondence, eg. certificates and/or awards.
  5. Providing false or inaccurate information in the application will result in disqualification of the participant.
  6. Duplicate payment(s) will not be returned.
  7. Registration fees are non-refundable, non-transferrable, and only applicable to current year applications.
  8. Participants must notify the Society of any address changes with either the participants or teachers.
  9. Classes may occur on any day and time during the Festival event. Once scheduling has been completed, no competitor will be allowed to perform at an alternate time from their scheduled class.
  10. No participants may perform in the same class more than once during the current Festival.
  11. Participants who intend to withdraw from any class are requested to notify the Festival in writing in advance. Application fees will not be refunded.
PROCEDURES AT PRELIMINARY ROUND (IN-PERSON)
  1. Upon arrival at the venue, participants must register at the reception desk.
  2. Music scores will be collected at the reception desk during check in.
  3. Immediately following each session, music scores, critique, certificates will be given to participants and must be claimed before the end of the session. The Society assumes no responsibility for any unclaimed items.
  4. Marks will be emailed to the participants and teachers by midnight the next day of the Category.
  5. The names and marks of the finalists will be posted online within 24 hours after the last session of the Category.
PROCEDURES AT PRELIMINARY ROUND (ONLINE)
  1. Video submission is only available to residents outside of British Columbia, Canada.
  2. Upon completion of registration, participants will receive a Dropbox link within 48 hours with the participant’s name to upload and submit the videos.
  3. Participants must record both contrasting pieces in one continuous and unedited video recording. Video recordings and audio may not be enhanced. Any evidence of multiple takes, audio enhancements, or of audio that does not match the performance, will result in disqualification.
  4. Participants may:
    1. Verbally announce their names, titles, and composers of BOTH repertoires at the beginning of the video recording.
    2. Insert a banner at the bottom of the video recording with their names, titles, and composers of BOTH repertoires at the beginning of the video recording; or
    3. Hold a sign with their names, titles, and composers of BOTH repertoires at the beginning of the video recording.
  5. Music must be memorized, or no marks will be given.
  6. The video recording must have been made within 3 months of submission of registration.
  7. The participant’s face, hands, feet, and keyboard must be clearly visible throughout the recording.
  8. Once a video recording is submitted, no substitutions will be allowed.
FESTIVAL PROTOCOL
  1. Participants or audience members are not allowed to contact or approach adjudicators at any point during the Festival. Failure to comply will result in the participant’s disqualification from the Gala Competition. Any concerns may be directed to the adjudicator’s assistant.
  2. Audience should remain seated during performances.
  3. Participants are expected to stay and listen until all verbal adjudications are completed.
  4. The Society reserves the right to disqualify the participant(s) for any disruptive behaviour.
  5. Should the participant/teacher/parent violate any of the rules and regulations, and/or display inappropriate behavior towards judges/volunteers/board members, the Society reserves the right to disqualify the participant and the application fee will not be refunded.
  6. Photography and videography are strictly prohibited during the Festival.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
  1. Repeats are optional. ‘Da Capo’ and ‘Dal Segno’ passages are not considered repeats and shall be observed.
  2. Participants must perform the repertoire that was stated on their registration forms.
  3. Time limits will be strictly enforced and adhered to. (Pauses between performance of the two repertories does not count towards the time limit.)
  4. If the time limit is exceeded, continuation of the performance will be allowed. Participant will receive written comments without marks and be disqualified from the Gala Competition.
  5. As both courtesy to adjudicators and to fellow performers, participants should arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of their scheduled session and remain until the end of the session.
  6. Participants must be ready to perform when they have been called upon. Requests to alternate the performance order will not be accommodated.
MUSIC REQUIREMENTS

In-person – Preliminary Round

  1. One (1) set of music scores must be provided for the adjudicator in all categories.
  2. Music scores must be original or an authorized copy from the publisher. Proof of authorization must be present.
  3. NO PHOTOCOPIES PERMITTED. Stringent laws with respect to Copyright were passed as law through Bill 60 in 1989. Therefore, the Society cannot accept the use of any photocopied music for the adjudicators and participants.
  4. Collaborators must present original music score but may use digital devices and/or photocopies to facilitate page turns.
  5. Music out of print: written permission from the publisher must be obtained to copy music that is out of print or difficult to acquire.
  6. Web-based music stores: Sheet music files downloaded from the web are protected by the copyright laws. They Society will accept music from credible web-based music stores as long as proof of payment is provided.
  7. Participants who bring either no music or unauthorized photocopied music will receive no marks but will receive a verbal and written adjudication and participation certificate. Participants will be ineligible to proceed to the Gala Competition.

Video Submission – Preliminary Round

  1. Participants must upload the scores in pdf format of the music to be performed for the adjudicator.
SCHOLARSHIPS
  1. Finalists must participate in-person at the Gala Competition in order to compete for scholarship(s)
  2. Concerto winner must perform at the Gala Competition in order to receive the scholarship.
  3. Concerto winner is not eligible to compete for the Gala Trophy and Gala Scholarship.
  4. Scholarships will be issued upon receipt of a thank-you letter addressed to the scholarship donor (where applicable) by December 31, 2023. Thank-you letters received after December 31, 2023, will not be considered.
COMPLAINTS
  1. Complaints must be sent to info@piyms.org by December 31, 2023 and accompanied by a fee of $100.00. Should the complaint be sustained, the fee will be returned.
  2. Complaints will not be conceded unless accompanied by the fee.
  3. Questions or irregularities regarding the Rules and Regulations will be referred to the Society’s Board of Directors, whose decisions will be final.
IMPORTANT DATES
  • First Day of Registration – Friday, September 1, 2023
  • Registration Deadline – Friday, October 20, 2023
  • Preliminary Round Video Submission Deadline – Sunday, November 5, 2023, by 11:59PM PST
  • Distribution of marks and critiques from Preliminary Round – within 24 hours after the last section of the Class
  • Announcement of Gala Finalists – Thursday, November 16, 2023, by 11:59PM PST
  • Gala Competition – Saturday, November 18, 2023