2026 Syllabus - Speech Arts

Speech Arts Division participants may enter a maximum of SIX Solo classes.

Repertoire & Class Selection:

• Syllabi of the major Canadian examination bodies provide guidance in making suitable choices regarding repertoire levels. Repertoire not included in a Canadian syllabus must be at the appropriate level for the class. If conservatory examination requirements indicate that the repertoire should be performed as one unit, it may be performed as one unit at the Festival. 
• Open classes are for participants who have completed their Diploma, OR are over 18 years of age OR have previously won the respective Diploma level class. There are no restrictions on the number of years the Open division classes may be entered.

Important:

• Participants must enter the age they are as of December 31st, 2025 when registering.
• Once a piece has been performed it may not be performed again in another class.
• Participants who have achieved first place may not perform again in the same class the following year, except in "Open" classes.
• Accurate performance times are necessary for class scheduling, and to avoid disqualification for exceeding class time limits.

• To be eligible for recommendation to the Provincial Festival:

  • The maximum age for any competitor is 22 years across all disciplines.

  • Junior Division (11-13 years): repertoire must be at least Level 6.

  • Intermediate Division (17 years and under): repertoire must be at least Level 7.

  • Senior Division (22 years and under): repertoire must be at least Level 8.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions have been established as guidelines for competitors at the Provincial level:  

Prose: A prose passage is a selection from a story, novel, essay or similar writing that forms a concise unit. Prose is non-metrical writing: thus, stories written in verse are not appropriate. In prose, the speaker is the narrator.

Drama: In drama the speaker is the character. The selection should be taken from a play written to be presented on the stage by an actor assuming language, movement and dress of the character portrayed. The selection should be the words of one character only with words of other characters omitted.

Shakespeare: Speech of one character from a play by William Shakespeare 

Poetry: In poetry, the language is moulded into some kind of design; in prose it is not. Speakers may choose to perform any type of poetry including but not limited to:

• Lyric - a short unified poem expressing the poet's own experience and emotion usually presented in a relaxed stance with no movement. 

• Narrative - a poem which tells a story and usually has dialogue: the telling of a story is the primary concern of the speaker.

• Dramatic – in a dramatic poem, a character distinct from the performer and poet speaks, revealing personality and attitudes. The primary concert of the poem is to reveal character, rather than tell a story.

• Free Verse – poetry or ‘a poem’ without regular rhythm or rhyme, yet still providing artistic expression.

• Slam Poetry - Idea or thematic connection poems with voice, humour, rhythm, exaggeration, wordplay, written for performance to an audience.

• Sonnet – a sonnet is a fixed form lyric poem, traditionally consisting of 14 lines of iambic pentameter with a set rhyme scheme.                                                                                           

Public Speaking: Is the act or process of making speeches in public. The selection of Public Speaking must be an original extemporaneous speech and not memorized. Notes should be used but not read from. The speech can be persuasive, informational, or entertaining. 

Storytelling: Is the interactive art of using words to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener's imagination. The selection of storytelling can include an original story or the competitor’s adaptation of a folktale, fairy tale, myth, legend or story. Stories must be told and must be in the competitor’s own words without the use of notes. 

To view a more complete guide, please see the PABC Syllabus: https://www.bcprovincials.com/syllabus.aspx

In addition to this syllabus, please ensure you have thoroughly read all of the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festivals GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS.