Rules and Regulations
Participants:
The Festival Organizer welcomes all choirs to join in the activities of the festival. Entry will not be granted to private accompanying persons (e.g. parents) other than the conductor, teacher, official delegates or chaperons. In special cases, entry may be considered for private accompanying persons if a notice is sent to the Festival Organizer in advance stating a valid reason (to be determined by the Festival Organizer).
Requirements / Repertoire:
1. The Festival Artistic Committee provides common songs to be sung together with other choirs. The participating choir at the festival has to prepare these common songs accordingly.
2. There are two Categories for the participation at the festival: “Celebration Category” (non-competitive category), and “Competition Category”.
3. For the choirs participating at the “Celebration Category”, there are no restrictions on which songs to be showcased. Classical as well as traditional folk songs, especially ones reflecting the characteristics of the country, are welcome.
4. For the choirs participating in the “Competition Category”, special rules and guidance will apply. Please read the chapter “Celebration and Competition”.
5. Information about the songs (title, length, music scores, short introduction about the content, name of composer, text writer, copyrights owner, etc.) must be sent to the Festival Organizer 3 months in advance at least.
6. Choirs may perform a-cappella or with accompaniment. In case of accompaniment, choir must provide their own accompanist. The festival organizer will provide piano or keyboard free of charge (availability subject to demand during rehearsals). A relating notice must be given to the Festival Organizer 3 months in advance.
7. Choirs may be accompanied by traditional instruments of their country of origin. Other instruments except piano or keyboard should be arranged by the choir itself.
8. Playback is not allowed.
9. National costumes are greatly recommended.
Broadcasting & Recording Rights:
The conditions of participation which each choir must agree to are as follows:
1. All audio, video and photography rights to any performance at the festival belong to the Festival Organizer, free of any charge from side of the choir.
2. Any performance given during the festival by the choir can be recorded, without payment to the choir and its musicians. The Festival Organizer shall be entitled to possession of any such recording and shall furthermore be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, let for hire, offer for sale or hire, distribute or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any way that it sees fit.
3. All audio, video and photography materials provided by the choir can be used, free of charge, for any promotional purpose relating to the festival.
Merchandising:
Participating choir can bring CDs, DVDs and souvenirs to be given away or sold. In some cases where special regulations and restrictions apply (such as Golden Hall of Musikverein in Vienna), permissions must be purchased in written in advance.
Deadline for application 2025:
1st May 2025
Application Procedure:
In order to be considered for participation in the festival, choirs are required to submit an application including the following:
1. the application form, completed in its entirety;
2. A short biography of the choir, including the choir's history and other items of interest. (For example: a list of recordings made, awards received, etc.);
3. A color photo of the choir;
4. A recent recording of the choir on CD or DVD or MP3 etc. if available;
5. A Curriculum Vitae or brief resume of the choir's conductor;
6. A color photo of the choir’s conductor;
Application can be completed online or sent by post to the Festival Organizer.
After receiving all required documents, the Festival Committee will evaluate and send the decision to the choir accordingly. If the evaluation is positive, an official invitation letter will be sent out to the choir and the participation of the choir at the festival is banding to the choir.
* please note, that the application materials will not be returned.
Registration Fee:
For the registration, each choir has to pay a registration fee of Eur 450.-- to the festival organizer’s account. The registration fee will be refunded to the choir according to the following rules:
1. In case of cancellation from the side of the festival’s side, 100% of the paid application fee will be refunded to the choir.
2. In case of cancellation from the side of the choir:
- 100% of the paid application fee will be refunded to the choir when the cancellation happens 6 months before the opening date of the festival.
- 50% of the paid application fee will be refunded to the choir when the cancellation happens 3 months before the opening date of the festival.
- 0% of the paid application fee will be refunded to the choir when the cancellation happens within 3 months before the opening date of the festival.
3. All banking charges shall be paid by the choir.
Participation Fee:
The festival is self-financed and the whole costs of the festival have to be shared by all participants in form of paying a Participation Fee which varies from the packages the choir will take during the festival. Please ask the Festival Organizer for offers of different packages.
Travelling and Costs:
Each choir has to arrange this own travelling (visa, flights, transfers, hotels, accommodation etc.) and take over its own travelling costs. The Festival Organizer takes NO responsibility for the travelling of the choirs.
To ensure the smooth run of the festival and to ensure that the choir will be good informed and always on time at the events of the Festival, it is suggested that participating choir takes the travelling package offered by our co-operating travelling agencies and co-operating partners. The co-operating travelling agencies are listed on our website under “contact”.
Others:
1. All application materials will not be returned.
2. The Festival Organizer reserves the right to refuse any entry.
3. The Festival Organizer reserves the right to alter the timetable and activities according to the number of choirs participating in the festival.
4. All decisions made by the Festival Organizer shall be deemed final.
5. No dramatic or musical work shall be performed without the license of the copyright owner, and all such licenses shall be obtained by the choir itself. The choir has to indemnify the Festival Organizer against any infringement of copyright that may occur.
6. It is the responsibility of the choirs (not the Festival Organizer) to ensure they have necessary visas etc. to enter Austria.
7. The Festival Organizer will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.
8. Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the rules and regulations of the Festival.