Vocal Syllabus 2024

Entries open 01/01/2024 and close 28/02/2024

Wednesday 8th May, Thursday 9th May and Monday 13th May at Redhill United Reformed Church, Upper Hall.

Adjudicator: Gaynor Keeble B.Ed Hons, ARAM, ARCM, ALCM

Gaynor Keeble gained scholarships to the University of Warwick and the Royal Academy of Music. She combines a busy performing career with teaching both privately and at Warwick University, and adjudicating at many festivals as a Federation adjudicator. She has also worked extensively with English Touring Opera’s Education Programme, is vocal consultant to several local choirs and was recently made patron of Wessex Chorus.

She has been on the panel of the prestigious David Clover Singers Platform Competition and has judged many prizes at Birmingham Conservatoire. Gaynor was a member of Welsh National Opera for three years and has worked for the Royal Opera, English National Opera Opera North, D’Oyly Carte Mid-Wales and English Touring Opera. Roles with these companies include Carmen Delilah (Samson & Delilah), Amneris (Aida), Marchioness (Daughter of the Regiment) , Baba the Turk (Rake’s Progress), Mrs Sedley (Peter Grimes), Meg Page (Falstaff), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro), Orpheus (Orpheus and Euridice), Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Katisha (Mikado), Azucena (Il Trovatore).

Concerts include appearances with the London Mozart Players, London Bach Orchestra, CBSO, Royal Philharmonic and The Philharmonia. Gaynor was made an ARAM in 2009. She maintains a busy operatic career with recent engagements including Katisha & Dame Carruthers (ENO); 3rd Lady (Magic Flute); Voice of the Mother (Hoffmann) and Annina (Traviata) (Royal Opera House); Madame la Croissy (cover) (Poulenc) (Glyndebourne); Hippolyta (Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Gertrude (Romeo and Juliet) both for Opera North; Dame Hannah (Ruddigore) (Opera North); Zita (Gianni Schicchi); Auntie in the highly acclaimed Peter Grimes on the Beach for the Aldeburgh Festival; Florence Pike (Albert Herring) at the Barbican with BBC Symphony Orchestra; Desire Arnfelt (A Little Night Music) Opera Project; Marcellina for Opera North; Mistress Quickly (Falstaff) and Annina ROH; and her role debut as Kostelnicka (Jenufa) for Longborough Festival Opera.

Rules

Backing tracks are not permitted.
A copy of your music must be handed to the adjudicator before the start of your performance.
Juniors should observe the time limit indicated in the class description.
The time limit in Senior classes is 4 minutes unless otherwise indicated.
Simple props are permitted in appropriate classes.

Classes 100-148

Choice of Music: There are no set pieces. You may perform one piece of your own choice, appropriate to the class you are entering. Three pieces to be performed in the Recital class.

Accompanist: If you require an accompanist, please contact one of the accompanists shown on the Festival website and also listed near the beginning of the full Syllabus, giving at least two weeks’ notice. Fees for rehearsal and performance comply with Federation guidelines and should be paid direct to the accompanist. Please note that this is a private arrangement. You are not restricted to the official accompanists however.

The Robert Bouffler Music Trust can help with the cost of an accompanist! The Trust will consider requests for mini-grants of up to £35. Please note that grants are intended to support families of limited means. If you live or go to school in East Surrey/Tandridge, and would like to apply for a mini-grant up to £35, email the Trust’s Hon. Secretary at barbara@rbmt.org.uk, giving your address, school attended, the Section/Class you are entering, and the name and email address of your accompanist (as the Trust will pay them directly).

Junior Vocal Classes

Up to and including 18 years

Time limit is 3 or 4 mins. Please check the time indicated for your class.

100 Solo (Boys and Girls, 18yrs or under) Non-competitive
Own Choice of one song of any genre.
Award: Adjudicator comments only
Fee £5.00
18 and younger
Up to 4 mins

101 Classical Solo (Boys and Girls 8yrs and under)
Own choice of one classical song.
Fee £5.00
8 and younger
Up to 3 mins

102 Classical Solo (Boys and Girls aged 9-10yrs)
Own choice of one classical song.
Fee £5.00
Age 9 and 10
Up to 3 mins

103 Classical Solo (Boys with unchanged voices – 11yrs and older)
Own choice of one classical song.
Fee £5.00
11 and older
Up to 3 mins

104 Classical Solo (Girls 11-12yrs)
Own choice of one classical song.
Fee £5.00
Age 11 and 12
Up to 3 mins

105 Classical Solo (Girls 13-14yrs)
Own choice of one classical song.
Fee £5.00
Age 13 and 14
Up to 3 mins

106 Classical Solo in English (Girls 15yrs)
Own choice of one classical song in English
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

107 Classical Solo in English (Girls 16-18yrs)
Own choice of one classical song in English
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

108 Classical Solo in English (Boys with changed voices – 15 yrs and under)
Own choice of one classical song in English
Fee £5.00
15 and younger
Up to 4 mins

109 Classical Solo in English (Boys 16-18yrs)
Own choice of one classical song in English.
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

110 Classical Solo in Another Language (Girls 15yrs)
Own choice of a classical song in a language other than English
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

111 Classical Solo in Another Language (Girls 16-18 yrs)
Own choice of a classical solo in a language other than English
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

112 Classical Solo in Another Language (Boys with changed voices – 15 yrs and under)
Own choice of a classical song in a language other than English
Fee £5.00
15 and younger
Up to 4 mins

113 Classical Solo in Another Language (Boys 16-18 years)
Own choice of a classical song in a language other than English
Fee £5.00
Up to 4 mins

114 Folk Song Solo (Boys and Girls up to 12yrs)
Unaccompanied folk song in the original language
Fee £5.00
12 and younger
Up to 4 mins

115 Folk Song Solo (Boys and Girls 13-15yrs)
Unaccompanied folk song in the original language.
Fee £5.00
Age between 13 and 15
Up to 4 mins

116 Folk Song Solo (Boys and Girls 16-18yrs)
Unaccompanied folk song in the original language.
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

117 Solo (Boys and Girls, 11yrs and under) Characterful Song
Own choice of song
Simple costume and or prop
Fee £5.00
11 and younger
Up to 3 mins

118 Solo (Boys and Girls 16-18yrs) Humorous song
Own choice of song.
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

119 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Boys and Girls 11-12yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age 11 and 12
Up to 4 mins

120 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys and Girls 11-12 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age 11 and 12
Up to 4 mins

121 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Boys and Girls 13-14yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age 13 and 14
Up to 4 mins

122 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys and Girls 13-14 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age 13 and 14
Up to 4 mins

123 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Boys 15yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

124 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys 15 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

125 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Girls 15yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

126 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Girls 15 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age 15
Up to 4 mins

127 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Boys 16-18yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

128 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Boys 16-18 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

129 ‘Legit’ Musical Theatre Solo (Girls 16-18yrs)
One suitable song from ‘Legit’ style musical theatre (typically pre 1965)
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

130 Modern Musical Theatre and Popular Song (Girls 16-18 yrs)
One appropriate song from modern musical theatre (typically post 1970) or popular song.
No backing tracks may be used.
Fee £5.00
Age between 16 and 18
Up to 4 mins

131 Duet or Trio (11 yrs and under)
One song in any genre and any combination of voices.
Fee £6.00 per group
Group of 2 to 3 people
11 and younger
Up to 4 mins

132 Duet or Trio (12 to 18 yrs)
One song in any genre or combination of voices
Fee £6.00 per group
Group of 2 to 3 people
Age between 12 and 18
Up to 4 mins

133 Singer-Songwriter (16 yrs and over)
One song, unaccompanied or self accompanied, age 16 and over
This class appears in both the Junior and Senior Syllabus but will be judged as one class.
Fee £7.00
16 and older
Up to 4 mins

Senior Vocal Classes

19 years and over
Time limits vary. Please check the time limit for your class. Introductions are welcomed but should be brief.
Please note that entries for the folk/traditional song classes 136 and 137 are to be sung unaccompanied.

134 Singer-Songwriter (16 years and over)
One song, unaccompanied or self accompanied, age 16 and over
This class appears in both the Junior and Senior Syllabus but will be judged as one class.
Fee £7.00
16 and older
Up to 4 mins

135 Novice
Own choice of a suitable song. Open to competitors who have not taken part in a festival before.
Novices may compete in any other class except Operatic and Recital.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

136 Non-Competitive Class
Own choice of one song. Adjudication only.
Fee £6.50
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

137 English Song
Own choice of one song, excluding folk songs.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

138 Lieder
Own choice of one song, to be sung in the original language.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

139 French, Italian, Spanish
Own choice of one song, to be sung in the appropriate language. May include early Italian Operatic
arias.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

140 Folk Song
Own choice of one song from the British Isles to be sung unaccompanied
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

141 Traditional Song from Any Nation
One song to be sung unaccompanied in the original language. Non-competitive.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

142 Operatic
Own choice of one aria, to be sung in the original key and in the original language or in English.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 6 mins

143 Oratorio
Own choice of one aria from Oratorio or Cantata, in the original key and in the original language, or
in English.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 6 mins

144 Recital
Own choice of three contrasting songs, excluding operatic arias. Up to 12 mins.
Fee £10.00
19 and older
Up to 12 mins

145 Songs from Music Theatre
Own choice of one song. Simple props may be used.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

146 Jazz, Swing or Light Entertainment
Own choice of one song.
Fee £7.00
19 and older
Up to 4 mins

147 Humorous Song
One appropriate song. Simple props may be used.
Fee £7.00
Up to 4 mins

148 Duet or Trio
One song in any genre and any combination of voices
Fee £8.00 per group
Group of 2 to 3 people
Up to 4 mins

Singer-Songwriter Classes
Please note that the Singer-Songwriter class is listed in both Junior and Senior sections (133 and 134) as the age range crosses the section age boundary. However it will be adjudicated as one class.