Regulations
THE 22nd INTERNATIONAL STASYS ŠIMKUS CHOIR COMPETITION
May 12-15, 2022
Klaipėda, Lithuania
REGULATIONS
I. PARTICIPANTS
CHOIR CATEGORIES
A – Mixed choirs
B – Choirs of equal voices: B1 – Female, B2 – Male
C – School choirs: C1 – Girls*1, C2 – Youth*2, C3 – Mixed*3
D – Children’s choirs for participants under 16 years old
E – Sacred music*4: E1 – mixed choirs, E2 - female choirs, E3 – male choirs
F – Vocal ensembles*5: F1 – ensembles of equal voices; F2 - mixed voices ensembles
G – Folk choirs
NOTE: Number of singers in a choir is 16–50 individuals. The choirs can participate in several categories:
*1 – participants over 16 years old;
*2 – participants over 12 years old;
*3 – Girls and Youth (over 16 years old); Boys and Youth (over 12 years old);
*4 – in category E only sacred music is performed. Participants over 18 years old.
*5 – participants number in vocal ensembles from 6 to 12, participants age over 18 years old.
II. REQUIREMENTS
1st round
Choirs A, B, C, D and E, perform a freely chosen programme a cappella and an obligatory composition of a Lithuanian composer, Choirs F and G perform a freely chosen programme a cappella and as written below:
A – Donatas Zakaras In monte Oliveti buy music sheet here
B1 – Gediminas Kalinas Ave Maria
B2 – Vytautas Miškinis Faciem tuam
C1 – Stasys Šimkus Ūžia girelė
C2 – Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Ant kalno gluosnis
C3 – Stasys Šimkus Mes padainuosim
D – Bronius Kutavičius Miško varlytė or Onutė Narbutaitė Vasara
E1 – Vaclovas Augustinas Sanctus
E2 – Vytautas Miškinis Tu Es
E3 – Teodoras Brazys Responsorium
F – a folk song of the country in unison
G – collectives of G category perform their national programme a cappella.
NOTE: The total time of the performance of the choir on the stage should not exceed 15 minutes.
Choirs of D category can perform one composition with instrumental accompaniment.
G category choirs may perform compositions with national rhythmic instruments, but not melodic.
The score of the obligatory compositions will be send together with the invitation to the competition.
THE MINOR AMBER prize is granted to the choir of C and D categories with the highest score of points in the 1st round but got not less than 90 points. Under the recommendation of the Jury, the winner of THE MINOR AMBER prize can participate in the competition for THE GRAND AMBER prize.
2nd round
THE GRAND AMBER PRIZE COMPETITION
In this contest participate the choirs of A, B and E categories that have won the 1st places or got not less than 90 points during the 1st round. The Jury have the right to recommend one additional choir for THE GRAND AMBER prize competition.
In the 2nd round of the competition the participants have to perform a free programme of 15 minutes a cappella. There must be at least three compositions in the programme; that includes a composition from the Renaissance or Baroque epoch and a composition by the composer of the country of the choir, written after the year of 2000.
NOTE: In the competition for THE GRAND AMBER prize the choirs are allowed to perform up to 50 % of their 1st round programme.
III. EVALUATION
The international Jury of five members evaluate the choirs performances using the 100 point system.
The Jury evaluates choirs’ performance in 1st and 2nd rounds according to criteria such as the artistic quality of the performance, technical execution, vocal culture and stylistic relevance.
Decisions of the Jury are final and decisive.
IV. AWARDS
Three best choirs and ensembles in each category (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) having scored the highest points, but not less than 80, will be awarded by diplomas (1st, 2nd, 3rd place).
The best choir in each category (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) having scored the highest points but not less than 90 points, and won the first place, will be awarded by 300 EUR prize.
The winner of THE GRAND AMBER prize will be awarded by the Laureate Diploma and prize of 1 500 EUR.
The winner of THE MINOR AMBER prize will be awarded by the Laureate Diploma and prize of 1 000 EUR.
All participants of the competition will be awarded depending on their final score in the 1st round:
1st degree Diploma – 85–100 points;
2nd degree Diploma – 80–84,99 points;
3rd degree Diploma – 75–79,99 points;
Diploma of the Participant – up to 74,99 points.
V. SPECIAL AWARDS
1. The prize of Klaipėda S. Šimkus Conservatoire for the best performance of S. Šimkus’ compositions.
2. The prize of the Lithuanian National Culture Center for the best performance of native choir’s country composer’s composition.
3. The prize of the Lithuanian Choirs Union for the most valuable programme.
4. The prize of Klaipėda Choir Association “Aukuras” for the best performance of obligatory composition of categories A, B and E.
5. Klaipeda Municipality prize for the best performance of a contemporary composition.
VI. APPLICATION FOR THE COMPETITION
Application form for the Competition has to be send till 14th of February, 2022 to:
The 22nd International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition
S. Nėries str. 5, LT-92227, Klaipėda, Lithuania
E-mail: simkus.competition.lt@gmail.com and aukurasorg@gmail.com
Together with the application form the following information has to be send:
· a brief creative biography of the choir in English language;
· a photo of the choir;
· a video or audio recording of the choir;
· the programme for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Competition (in the authentic language and in English).
APPLICATION_FORM_ISSCC_2022_DOWNLOAD
More Information:
e-mail: simkus.competition.lt@gmail.com and aukurasorg@gmail.com
website: www.aukuras.org/simkus
Invitations to participants in the Competition will be send up to the 21th of February, 2022.
VII. PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS
Registration fee for each choir is 100 EUR.
If the choir will not arrive to the competition or decide not to participate in the competition, the registration fee will not be returned.
After having received the invitations, the choirs have to send till 14th March 2022 the following information:
· five copies of the score of the compositions which will be performed in the Competition;
· short summaries of the lyrics in English (except compositions performed in English or Latin languages);
· a copy of the registration fee bank transfer receipt.
The fee has to be send to:
AB bank “Swedbank” Klaipėda branch
Code 73000
SWIFT code HABALT22
Account No LT53 7300 0100 0232 7490
Copies of compositions scores and registration fee bank transfer receipts have to be send to:
22nd International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition
S. Nėries str. 5, LT-92227, Klaipėda, Lithuania
Choirs will not be able to participate in the competition unless all the conditions are fulfilled in time.
All the expences connected with the arrival, accomodation and food are covered by the participants themselves. According to the requests of the participants the contest organizers may provide accomodation and catering. Accommodation:
· hotel – 30–150 EUR for one person per night including breakfast
· hostel – 15–30 EUR person per twenty-four hours.
Benefits:
The choir who paid in advance (before 1st March 2022) EUR 35 per day for each participant receives meals and hotel accommodation.
The organizers reserve the right to make audio and video records of the participants.
Concerts of the participants in different churhes of Klaipėda town and region are also planned.
Organizers:
Klaipėda Choir Association “Aukuras”
Culture Department of Klaipėda Municipality
Contact:
simkus.competition.lt@gmail.com; aukurasorg@gmail.com
website: www.aukuras.org/simkus