2010 Sacred Music International Competition

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Competition

the 2010 edition

Competition rules

1. The Accademia Musicale Europea of Rome, institutes the 2010 "Sacred Music" International Competition open to lyric singers born after the first of January 1974 of every nationality and religion. The Accademia Musicale Europea with this event aims not only to implement and to promote the performance and knowledge of Sacred Music, but also mutual understanding among People everywhere.
2. The Competition will take place in Rome, from November 9th to 13th, 2010 at S. Caterina da Siena Church (Via Giulia 151/b) and at SS. XII Apostoli Basilica (Piazza Santi Apostoli, 51). The Final round - the Gala Concert which is scheduled for November 13th, 2010 - will be broadcast live and worldwide by satellite by the Vatican channel: TELEPACE.
3. All the winners and outstanding finalists will become members of the music ensemble "Celeste Armonia". As part of this ensemble they will perform in the Prize Winning Concerts selected by the Artistic Direction of the Accademia Musicale Europea. These concerts will be held in Italy and/or abroad, starting from the artistic season 2010/2011. All the winners and finalists will participate in the CD and the DVD that will be recorded live during the Final Round.
4. Every competitor must present 5 pieces from the Sacred Music repertoire of their own choice (Solo Arias from Masses, Motets, Oratorios, Sacred Cantatas, Prayers, Traditional Religious Song, etc.), in at least 2 different languages and/or two different periods. The singers will not be required to know the pieces by heart.
5. The competitors who certify that they have won a Main Prize in a Lyric International Competition in any Country including Italy will be directly admitted to the Semi-final. These competitors must still present a programme of 5 arias like all other participants.
6. The Competition will be divided into three rounds: Qualifying round, Semi-final and Final in the form of a Gala Concert.
7. For the qualifying round competitors will have to perform one aria of their own choice, as notified on the registration form, under the heading "Qualifying Round". Those singers that are awarded the majority of votes from the Jury will be admitted to the Semi-final. At the end of the judging session the Jury will officially announce the list of the singers admitted to the Semi-final round and will give all other competitors a certificate of participation.
8. The competitors admitted to the Semi-final will have to perform two arias of Sacred Music chosen by the Jury, which will be communicated to them directly by the Piano Repetiteurs during the rehearsal session.
9. The singers directly admitted into the Semi-final (see art. 5) will sing a maximum of 3 arias, the first of their choice, as notified on the application form and the other two chosen by the Jury and directly communicated by the Piano Repetiteurs during the rehearsal session.
10. At the end of the 2 days of Semi-final sessions the Jury - with a majority vote - will officially announce the list of the singers admitted to the Final round and will give all the other competitors a certificate of participation as a Semi-finalist.
11. The Final round is a Gala Concert that will take place in SS. XII Apostoli Basilica on November 13th at 8:30 pm. During this round competitors must perform one aria, exclusively chosen by the Jury from the five notified by the singers on the registration form.
12. Each session of the competition will be open to the public. The competitors will be called to the stage in alphabetical order (using the beginning of the first surname as it appears on passports or identity cards in case of multiple surnames) for the Qualifying round, in alphabetical order beginning from the letter that results from a draw for the Semi-final and following a list decided by the Jury for the Final - Gala Concert. The competitors, just before their first performance (Qualifying round or Semi-final for those under the prescription of art. 5) will have to show their identity card or passport. Each competitor must leave with the Jury two copies of every piece they wish to perform.
13. Any competitor who cannot be present for any reason at the Final - Gala concert will be immediately disqualified from the Competition. The finalists will rehearse their pieces according to the decision of the Organizers, at the time and in the place that they indicate and the Final rehearsal is compulsory. For every round the candidates will have the right to a rehearsal with the piano repetiteur, that will take place as scheduled and shown on the website.