2012 Sacred Music International Competition - Rome 6 -10 November

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the Competition

the 2012 contest rules

THE COMPETITION

1. The Accademia Musicale Europea of Rome, institutes the 2012 "Sacred Music" International Competition open to lyric singers born after the first of January 1976 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 6th to 10th, 2012 at Basilica S. Lorenzo in Damaso (Piazza della Cancelleria, 1) and at SS. XII Apostoli Basilica (Piazza Santi Apostoli, 51). The Final round - the Gala Concert which is scheduled for November 10th, 2012 - will be broadcast 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, integral and substantial part of the awards, 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 2012/2013. All the winners and finalists will participate in the CD 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. The candidates who wish to be eligible for the special prize "Oratorio" must present at least 2 arias from 2 different oratorio of a sacred subject and will have to notify this expressly in the application form.

5. The Competition will be divided into three rounds: Qualifying round, Semifinal and Final in the form of a Gala Concert.

6. 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 Semifinal. At the end of every 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.
7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The Final round is a Gala Concert that will take place in SS. XII Apostoli Basilica on November 10th 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.

10. 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 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.

11. 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 Repetiteurs, that will take place as scheduled and shown on the website.