CartSign In
Home

General Rules & Regulations

 

Registration Period: November 17, 2025 – January 18, 2026.

Solo and Small Ensemble Festival Dates: April 7 – May 3, 2026.

VKMF Contact Information: krista.pederson@vkmfestivals.org

General Rules

  1. The Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festivals Society (VKMF) is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director. Questions arising from any of these rules must be made in writing and will be referred to the Board of Directors through its Festivals Chairman.

  2. Entry is open to amateurs only and who reside in North America. “Amateur”, being one whose principal income is not derived from the provision of musical services. This condition does not apply to bona fide students of music who teach or perform for the purpose of applying money earned to further their musical education.

  3. Eligibility for scholarships and advancement to Provincial Festival* competitions and MusicFest Canada nationals is open only to those entrants who are:

    1. Canadian citizens or
    2. residing in Canada with permanent residency status or
    3. students of a recognized Canadian educational institution.

  4. VKMF reserves the right to refuse any entry or cancel any class.

  5. It is the responsibility of the entrant or entrant’s parent or legal guardian to ensure all registration information is correctly entered at the time of registration.

    Registration information can be corrected online until the registration close deadline, after which time no changes will be accepted. Read the Syllabi carefully. Entries in the wrong class are subject to disqualification from competition.

  6. Performers ages are required at the time of registration for all Solo and Small Ensemble classes. Participants must enter the age they are as of December 31st, 2025, when registering.

  7. VKMF reserves the right to substitute adjudicators.

  8. Specific rules applicable to each Instrument and Division must be observed. Please review the Syllabus carefully.

COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS

  1. This will only be reviewed when made in writing via the online COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS page on the website. This should be completed immediately after the class or action, addressed to the Executive Director and/or the Festivals Chairman, together with a protest fee of $50.00. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned. The Protest Committee’s decision will be final.

CLASSES AND REPERTOIRE

  1. VKMF reserves the right to combine or divide classes based on entry quota, and alter performance order if necessary.

  2. Syllabi of the major Canadian examination bodies provide grade level guidance in making suitable repertoire choices. Repertoire not included in a Canadian syllabus must be at the appropriate grade level for the class.

  3. Competitors whose music choice does not fit with the STYLISTIC TIME PERIOD named in the VKMF syllabus will be disqualified from receiving a mark, and will receive a written adjudication only. 

  4. Any competitor who does not comply with the GRADE LEVEL in which he or she has entered forfeits their eligibility for a mark. He/she will receive adjudication only.

  5. Once registration has closed, corrections will only be accepted until January 30th.

  6. Allowable changes include: Repertoire title, movements, composer, timing, class, and competitor’s names. All this information will appear as listed on all festival documents and should be correct at time of registration. 

  7. A $25.00 correction fee is required to initiate any correction request after a registration has been submitted. The fee must be paid through the festival website before the correction request will be processed.

  8. Participants will not be allowed to alter repertoire selections at the time of performance.

  9. No participant may perform in the same class more than once during the current festival.

  10. Once repertoire has been performed, it cannot be performed again in a different class.

  11. Unless otherwise stated in specific class requirements, all instrumental Concert Group class participants must perform two selections at the chosen grade level, but may choose the third selection at one grade level higher, if desired.

  12. Repertoire played in the Concert Group Class and/or the Provincial Excellence Class may not be played in any other class.

  13. In all classes, once a composition has been used, it may not be used by the same competitor for a period of two consecutive years if that competitor placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.

  14. Repeats are optional, unless stated otherwise in specific class requirements. Performance time limits must be adhered to.

  15. Memorization of performance material is expected in solo competitive classes. 

    • 2 marks will be deducted to participants who choose to perform their selections from music. 

    • This does not apply to those instruments or festival divisions in which the use of music at performance is a standard norm, for example: chamber ensembles, violin sonatas with piano, etc.

  16. All participants must provide an original copy/score for the adjudicator of the music to be performed. A participant who uses their music to perform from, must be performing from an original copy/score.

  17. Photocopied music will not be permitted. Failure to comply with copyright rules will disqualify a participant from competition. Please note the following exceptions:

      1. Out of print music: Written notice of permission to copy from the publisher, must be provided at the time of performance.

      2. Downloaded sheet music from internet sources will only be permissible when accompanied by a receipt indicating proof of purchase or proof of public domain status. Music downloaded from imslp.org is permitted. Please include the full URL of the work being performed on the first page of all parts and copies being used.

      3. An accompanist must clearly display the original score on the piano if using a copy to facilitate page turns. Failure to do so will disqualify a participant from competition. Music downloaded from imslp.org is permitted. Please include the full URL of the work being performed on the first page of all parts and copies being used.

SCHEDULES

  1. Once scheduling has been completed, participants may view their class schedule online via the Festival’s website.

  2. It is the responsibility of the participant to ensure they are aware of when they are to perform by viewing their online class schedule.

  3. Proof of class registration may be requested at the time of performance.

  4. Classes may occur on any day during the Festival event, and at any time of day when the Festival is in session. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they are available to perform at the time of their scheduled class.

  5. No competitor will be allowed to perform at an alternate time from their scheduled class.

  6. Large Ensemble Festival entrants (Concert Band and Orchestra, Choral and Jazz) receive adjudication (bronze, silver or gold standing) and a clinic.

  7. Participants who intend to withdraw from any class, are requested to notify the Festival in advance.

PERFORMANCE PROTOCOL

  1. Unless the score contains bar numbers, participants must number the first bar of each line to help the adjudicator in making references to the music.

  2. Unless stated otherwise, rehearsal and warm-up facilities are not provided.

  3. Participants must arrive at the beginning of their scheduled class.

  4. Participants must be ready to perform when they have been called upon. No performer may alter performance order. Sole discretion of a change in order lies with the adjudicator or the Festival administration.

  5. The Adjudicator has the discretion to stop any performance at any time.

  6. Performers exceeding time limits will be disqualified from competition.

  7. Questions and disputes may not be directed to adjudicators. Please direct all questions and complaints to the Festival administration.

  8. Adjudicators should not be approached for lesson requests during the entirety of the Festival event. Participants, teachers and parents are requested to refrain from conversation with the Adjudicator before, during and after any performance. 

  9. First, second and third place winners of competitive classes in the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, will be announced.

  10. Concert dress for performers is encouraged.

CERTIFICATES

  1. Performers in non-competitive classes receive adjudication and a participation certificate.

  2. Any performance disqualified from competition, will receive adjudication only. No mark or certificate will be given.

COLLABORATIVE MUSICIANS

  1. Participants are responsible to supply their own collaborative pianist.

  2. Schedules will not be altered due to pianist scheduling conflicts.

  3. Accompaniment is to be performed on piano only, with the exception of “instrument of choice” allowed for Contemporary Voice classes.

  4. Recorded accompaniment is not permitted for in-person classes.

AWARDS AND PROVINCIAL NOMINATIONS

  1. Participants in the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival must achieve a minimum mark of 85% to be eligible for any award. Regardless of the fulfillment of this requirement, the final decision to award a scholarship rests with the Adjudicator.

  2. In subdivided classes, placements are awarded for first, second and third in each class. The overall winner of the class is the participant who has achieved the highest mark among the subdivided classes.

  3. Participants who have achieved first place may not perform again in the same class the following year, except in “Open” classes.

  4. Participants who have previously competed at a given level may not return the following year and compete at a lower level. i.e. Open to Senior, Senior to Intermediate or 14 years & under to 13 years & under.

  5. To be eligible for recommendation to the Provincial Festival, a competitor must have performed in two or more solo classes for their instrument at VKMF and have received a mark of 85% or higher in at least two classes. Small Ensemble (Chamber group) entrants are exempt from having to compete in two solo classes. Large Ensemble participants are exempt from this requirement.

  6. To be eligible for nomination to the Provincial Festival to compete in the Provincial Excellence Class, a competitor must have performed in two solo classes AND the VKMF RECITAL CLASS - EXCELLENCE for their instrument and received a minimum mark of 85% in at least two classes. Small Ensemble (Chamber group) entrants are exempt from having to compete in two solo classes.

  7. Large Ensemble Festival entrants (Concert Band and Orchestra, Jazz and Choral), whose performance is deemed to meet or exceed the criteria established by MusicFest Canada, may be selected to receive an “Official Invitation to Perform” at the MusicFest Canada nationals. This invitation will be valid for two consecutive years.

  8. Award recipients will be notified by Festival administration after the close of all Festivals’ events.

  9. *Effective August 2019, Performing Arts BC (the Provincial Festival) has withdrawn from National Festival classes. This means VKMF will be unable to send any performers to the National Festival through the Provincial Festival. Please refer to the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival Syllabus available on their websites for specific rules.