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Eligibility for the Festival

  1. Only participants deemed to be amateur performers, as defined below, may participate on a competitive basis in this Festival. A participant deemed to be a professional, as defined below, may only participate in this Festival on a non-competitive basis except where otherwise specified.
  2. Final determination of a participant’s amateur or professional status, with respect to the Festival as a whole or with respect to a single discipline, rests with the Executive Director.
  3. Participants uncertain as to their amateur or professional status should contact the Festival for clarification before registering for classes.

Definitions

  1. For the purpose of this Festival, an amateur is a music student or any person whose principal means of livelihood is not, and never has been, the performance or teaching of music. Such a person may, however, occasionally receive remuneration for musical services rendered, including teaching but not adjudication.
  2. A full-time student, possessing student membership in a professional organisation or union for the purpose of participating in occasional performances with such an entity, is also considered to be an amateur.
  3. For the purpose of this Festival, a professional is any person with a demonstrable career in performance, teaching, or adjudication, with current or prior membership in a professional organisation, such as ORMTA, or with a current or former full membership in a professional union, such as ACTRA or Equity.

Participant Categories and Eligibility

  1. Ensemble Performers: Members of an ensemble performing on a competitive basis must be amateurs. Each such member must be in good standing with the ensemble or with its host organisation or institution (such as a church, public school, music studio, and so on). Ensembles with professional performers may only participate on a non-competitive basis except where otherwise specified for select categories of ensemble as indicated in their descriptions or classes.
  2. Directors or Conductors: The director or conductor of an ensemble may be either an amateur or professional. Directors, teachers, or conductors may only perform with an ensemble in the capacity of conductor unless otherwise specified.
  3. Collaborative Pianists: Unless otherwise specified, the collaborative pianist of a solo performer or ensemble — also known as an accompanist — may be either an amateur or a professional.