TAURANGA PERFORMING ARTS COMPETITIONS SOCIETY INC
GENERAL CONDITIONS

 
1.            COMPETITORS: These competitions are not open to professional performers. The qualification of a professional is any performer who has achieved this status by qualification or experience and whose income and chosen career requires them to be recognised as a professional.  No competitor who has been taught or coached by the Adjudicator of that section during the past two years preceding the Competitions will be allowed to compete in that section.
 
2.            ADJUDICATORS:  Adjudicators will be appointed by the committee.  The appointment of an adjudicator will be announced in the competition syllabus. The Committee reserves the right to appoint an additional or a substitute adjudicator when necessary.
 
3.            LOCAL AWARDS: Competitors must reside locally i.e. within the Tauranga City Council or Western Bay of Plenty Council area.
 
4.         AGE LIMIT: Unless otherwise stated Age limit means THE AGE OF THE COMPETITOR AS AT 1ST JULY 2021.  Winning competitors must produce birth certificates if called upon to do so.
 
5.         AWARDS: Scholarships to be won on aggregate marks unless otherwise stated.  The Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any class with insufficient entries and also to merge or divide classes.  The Adjudicators may withhold at their discretion the first or any place if the standard is not sufficiently high.  All Scholarship money will be paid directly to the winning competitor.
 
6.         CUPS, TROPHIES, PRIZE MONEY, MEDALS:   
a.         Cups and trophies will be awarded either on marks or points.  Points will be awarded as follows: 
1st = 7 points, 2nd = 6 points, 3rd = 5 points, 4th = 4 points, VHC = 3 points, HC = 2 points, C = 1 point.  
b.         Competitors must enter and compete in all specified classes to be eligible for Scholarships and Cups.  The decision of the Committee shall be final in all cases. Prize money or medals will be awarded as set out in the syllabus.  Groups of four or more competitors will be awarded trophy or certificate only.  All cups, trophies and shields etc. being the property of the Society, are held by the winners for the remainder of each Competition year ONLY and must be returned to the Secretary cleaned and undamaged by 1 June each year.  Engraving is the responsibility of the winner.
 
7.         PROTESTS: Any person desiring to enter a protest must lodge the same in writing with the Secretary together with a statement of the grounds on which it is based and enclosing $5.00. Should a protest on investigation be deemed to be frivolous or unfounded, the deposit will be forfeited.  No protest will be entertained unless made within twelve hours after the Adjudicator’s award is announced in that particular item.  The decision of the Protest Committee (President Vice-President and Section Convenor) shall be final.
 
8.         ORDER OF PERFORMANCE:  Competitors shall make themselves acquainted with the time frame set down in the programme for the judging of each class and shall report to the stage steward at least ten minutes before such time.   The competitors' names appear in the programme in the order in which they will appear.   Except with permission under special circumstances, competitors not ready when called upon shall forfeit their right to compete.
 
9.        NO PERSON other than officials will be allowed backstage or at the sides of the stage except by permission of the Stage Manager.
 
10.      ACCOMPANISTS:
a.         Singing & Instrumental Section:  competitors are permitted to have their own accompanists.  Any inquiries for an accompanist to Section Convenor - refer to Instrumental/Singing Section of this syllabus for name & phone number.
b.         Dancing: Compact Discs must be under the direction of the Stage Manager.  No piano will be available.
c.         National Dancing: conducted under the rules of the NZ Piping & Dancing Association. Piper or recorded music will be provided.
 
11.      TIME LIMIT: 12 years & under - 3 minutes maximum.  13 years & over - 4 minutes maximum unless otherwise stated in individual classes.  For time penalties, refer to each section.
 
12.       ITEMS:
a.         In all classes - Instrumental, Vocal and Speech - competitors may not render any item which they have previously won with at the Tauranga Competitions, except that in the instrumental or vocal section a complete work may be submitted in any subsequent year or years following an entry of a movement or part of a work that has won.
b.         The title of all items to be inserted on the entry forms and entries will be rejected if this rule is not complied with.
c.         Speech items to be taken from the work of good Authors.
d.         No change in the title or substance of any items stated on the entry form will be permitted except in the case of any item rejected by the Committee.
e.         Competitors must provide a second copy of their selection for the Adjudicator.  This copy must be handed to the steward 15 minutes before commencement of the class.
f.          Competitors may not enter the same item in more than one class, except that restricted items may be used in age group classes of dancing section only, unless otherwise specified.
 
13.       ENTRIES:   
a.         Entries in all classes must be lodged in writing with the Secretary on or before the closing date specified the section of the syllabus   Fees must be paid AT THE TIME OF ENTRY and no entry will be recorded which is not accompanied by fee in full.  Any competitor found entering otherwise than under his or her own name will be disqualified.
b.         The Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry.  Only one entry per person will be allowed for each class, except in items of two or more persons.
c.         No late entries will be accepted, except at the discretion of the section convenor.
d.         Fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.  The submission of any entry on behalf of persons in any of the classes implies acceptance of these General Conditions.  No receipts will be sent out unless entry is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
 
14.       RESTRICTED CLASSES: Are for competitors who have never won a first prize in that class at the commencement date of Competition at any similar Competitions in that section.
 
15.       CONDUCT & OBLIGATIONS: Communications with the Adjudicators, either by competitors, teachers or other interested parties, prior to or during the competitions, is strictly prohibited, and the Committee reserves the right to disqualify any competitor who breaches this rule.   Committee members and official helpers are permitted to speak to the Adjudicator on their official duties only.
 
16.       PROMPTING: No prompting or assistance of any kind may be rendered during performance except by the Adjudicator.
 
17.      PROPERTIES:
a.         No heavy or large properties will be allowed.  Light properties able to be handled by one person only may be permitted at the discretion of the Stage Manager.
b.         Any electrical equipment used by the competitors must be accompanied by a certificate of safety from a certified electrician.
c.         Blackout lighting will be used ONLY at the beginning and end of each item in place of a curtain.
 
18.       PASSES: Competitors passes will be available at door of hall at which competitor is competing. Please wear your pass at all times. 
 
19.      BALLET CLASSES: No Pointe work under 11 years.
 
20.      AMPLIFIERS: Will not be allowed in Instrumental or Vocal Classes (unless stated otherwise).
 
21.      PHOTOCOPIES:  TO BE USED FOR ADJUDICATORS ONLY. Instrumental and Vocal competitors must not use photocopies for their performance.
 
22.       GENERAL RESERVATION:  The Committee reserves to itself the right of applying and interpreting all the rules and the decision of the Committee in any matter will be final.