Syllabus - Voice - Classical
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2027
- For housekeeping purposes, popular voice is treated as a distinct discipline.
- Novice and set piece classes are being regrouped into categories sorted by age (8 and under, 9-10, and so on). Class numbers will be revised as a result.
- Offerings for performers aged 8 and under, 10 and under, and 12 and under have been expanded slightly.
- Adult classes have been split into categories for adults with lesser or greater degrees of technical proficiency. Classes for adult performers newer to voice training and performance will be tagged as "beginner".
- The Festival has added virtual classical voice classes.
HOUSEKEEPING
Adjudication Classical voice classes are customarily divided among two adjudicators: junior and senior.
- The junior adjudicator, by convention, oversees classes for performers aged 16 and under.
- The senior adjudicator, by convention, oversees Open classes as well as classes for performers aged 17 through 20. The senior adjudicator has customarily overseen all adult classes, though classes for beginner adults may be overseen by the junior adjudicator as required by scheduling constraints.
DEFINITIONS
Vocal Ranges For the purpose of the Festival, performer vocal ranges are grouped into the categories listed below. Performers may enter classes that best fit either their own gender (whether corresponding to their assigned gender at birth or not) or their vocal range, at their discretion.
- Girls treble;
- Boys treble;
- High voice - soprano, mezzo, alto;
- Low voice - counter-tenor, tenor, baritone, bass.
Voice Duet, Trio, or Ensemble A voice duet, trio, or ensemble is any duet, trio, or ensemble consisting entirely of vocalists. If the duet, trio, or ensemble is accompanied, the accompaniment part may be played by an amateur or professional performer. Members of a vocal ensemble may be of any voice range.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Adjudication Classes in this discipline are adjudicated competitively except where otherwise specified.
Vocal Range and Instrumentation Unless a class specifies either kind of treble voice, high voice, or low voice, a performer of any vocal range may enter that class. If a class specifies voice duet or trio or voice ensemble, the ensemble entering such a class must satisfy the definitions of voice duets, trios, or ensembles.
Repertoire Each class specifies the quantity of repertoire selections required for that class in its description. If a class permits performance of more than one selection, multiple selections must be contrasting - distinct from one another in style, mood, tempo, and so on. Selections may be accompanied or unaccompanied. When in doubt, the adjudicator determines the suitability of a repertoire selection for its class.
Classical Repertoire Selections in classical categories must be art music or "classical" repertoire. Selections from films or video games written in "classical" genres or idioms are also permitted. They may be the performer's own choice, including (but not limited to) Conservatory selections drawn from an RCM or CC repertoire list. Selections must match any historical characteristic, stylistic characteristic, or other restriction specified in a class name, if there are any. Selections must be suited to the technical proficiency of the performer or performers.
Language A Set Piece selection must be performed in its own language. Unless otherwise specified, any other selection may be performed either in its original language or in a language available in any standard published edition of the selection.
Multi-Movement Works When performing two or more movements from a multi-movement work, you combine such movements into a single selection, and may not perform them as distinct selections. These movements must be contrasting where possible. When performing multiple movements from a multi-movement work in a class, you may combine two or more movements from the work together according to the rules specific to the class's category.
Solo Classical Voice Adult Beginner
Eligibility Performers entering a class in this category must be young adults or adults, as defined in the Rules & Regulations, with 4 or fewer years of vocal training.
Multi-Movement Works When performing a multi-movement work, you may combine any number of movements from such a work together into a single selection, as long as the total performance time does not exceed 10 minutes. You may not split movements from the same work into multiple selections in a single class.
| Class | Earlybird | |
|---|---|---|
| Class:VC207 - Novice Voice Age 28 and Under Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 15 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated as participation only. Repertoire may be chosen from any "classical" style or historical period, including folk songs. Opera and oratorio selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC208 - Novice Voice Age 40 and Under Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated as participation only. Repertoire may be chosen from any "classical" style or historical period, including folk songs. Opera and oratorio selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC209 - Novice Voice Age 60 and Under Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated as participation only. Repertoire may be chosen from any "classical" style or historical period, including folk songs. Opera and oratorio selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC210 - Novice Voice Age 61 and Over Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated as participation only. Repertoire may be chosen from any "classical" style or historical period, including folk songs. Opera and oratorio selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC211 - Adult Beginner Voice Canadian and First Nations Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Folk song is not permitted in this class. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC212 - Adult Beginner Voice Classical Repertoire Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Repertoire may be chosen from any "classical" style or historical period. Folk song, opera, and oratorio selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC213 - Adult Beginner Voice Folk Song Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from standard or conventional folk music, excluding contemporary "pop" folk (such as, for instance, Pete Seeger or Stan Rogers). Accompaniment Traditional or historically-appropriate accompaniment is encouraged. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC214 - Adult Beginner Voice Women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Folk song is not permitted in this class. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC215 - Adult Beginner Voice Operetta Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from an operetta, including works by Gilbert & Sullivan or French opéra comique. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC216 - Adult Beginner Voice Non-Competitive Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated non-competitively. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC217 - Adult Beginner Voice Sight Reading Repertoire Selection is provided by the Festival at the time of the participant's scheduled performance. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC218 - Adult Beginner Voice Quick Study Repertoire Selection is provided by the Festival two (2) business days before the participant's scheduled performance. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
Solo Classical Voice Adult
Eligibility Performers entering a class in this category must be young adults or adults. Performers may have any amount of experience, although inexperienced performers are encouraged to consider adult beginner classes. An adult performer who enters at least one competitive adult class may enter up to one competitive Open class.
Multi-Movement Works When performing a multi-movement work, you may combine any number of movements from such a work together into a single selection, as long as the total performance time does not exceed 10 minutes. You may not split movements from the same work into multiple selections in a single class.
| Class | Earlybird | |
|---|---|---|
| Class:VC219 - Adult Voice Art Song Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from the standard or conventional art song repertoire. Multiple selections must all be drawn from the same historical or stylistic period. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC220 - Adult Voice Canadian and First Nations Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Folk song is not permitted in this class. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC221 - Adult Voice Early Music Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must have been composed before 1800, and may be of any genre excluding folk song. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC222 - Adult Voice Folk Song Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from standard or conventional folk music, excluding contemporary "pop" folk (such as, for instance, Pete Seeger or Stan Rogers). Accompaniment Traditional or historically-appropriate accompaniment is encouraged. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC223 - Adult Voice Opera Repertoire One selection; Time Limit 10 minutes. A selection in this class must be an operatic aria, with or without recitative as appropriate. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC224 - Adult Voice Sacred Music Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from the standard or conventional “classical” sacred song repertoire, including arias from a Mass, sacred cantata, Magnificat, sacred oratorio, and so on, with or without recitative as appropriate. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC225 - Adult Voice Women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Folk song is not permitted in this class. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC226 - Adult Voice Concert Recital Repertoire Three or four selections; Time Limit 20 minutes. Selections in this class must be drawn from two or more historical or stylistic periods. Up to one selection may be an operatic or sacred aria, including recitative as appropriate. Folk song or operetta selections are not permitted. | Earlybird:$55.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC227 - Adult Voice Operetta Repertoire Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. A selection in this class must be drawn from an operetta, including works by Gilbert & Sullivan or French opéra comique. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC228 - Adult Voice Non-Competitive Repertiore Two selections; Time Limit 12 minutes. Adjudication This class is adjudicated non-competitively. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC229 - Adult Voice Sight Reading Repertoire Selection is provided by the Festival at the time of the participant's scheduled performance. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |
| Class:VC230 - Adult Voice Quick Study Repertoire Selection is provided by the Festival two (2) business days before the participant's scheduled performance. | Earlybird:$50.00 | Closed |