Singing

SINGING

The 2021 online Blackheath Music Festival has now concluded

Details of the 2022 Blackheath Music Festival will be posted as soon as Covid-related decisions have been made.
We hope for an in-person festival in May 2022

Dates:	To be announced
Closing date for entry:	To be announced
Age qualification	Age as at 1 March 2022
Venue:	To be announced
Adjudicator:	To be announced
The Singing Secretary is: Fiona Rogers:	Address: Flat 4, Priory Lodge, 15 Priory Park, London SE3 9UY Tel: 020 8852 4502 Email: singing@blackheathmusicfestival.co.uk

Official Accompanist:

There will be no official accompanist for the 2022 festival.

Singers are invited to submit recorded performances either as an unaccompanied performance or as an accompanied performance.

Performance:
Performances can be given either from memory or from the score. It is the performer’s own choice. If the score is used, the music stand should be set a little to one side and used as an aide-memoire.

Performances will be accepted in all classes either accompanied or unaccompanied

Junior Singing Classes for 2022

Class 200: 11 years & under.
Entry £8.50. Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one song.

Class 201: 12 & 13 years.
Entry £8.50. Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one song from any genre.

Class 202: 14 & 15 years.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins.
Own choice of one song from any genre.

Class 203: 16 to 18 years inclusive.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins.
Own choice of one song from any genre.

Class 204: 12 to 15 years inclusive. Recital.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins
Own choice of two contrasting songs (one of which may be an unaccompanied song), excluding songs from the shows, films or musicals. The programme should not include any song sung in other classes in this year’s festival.

Class 205: 16 to 18 years inclusive. Recital.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins
Own choice of two contrasting songs (one of which may be an unaccompanied song), excluding songs from the shows, films or musicals. The programme should not include any song sung in this year’s festival.

Class 206: Songs from the Shows – 15 years & under.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 4 mins.
Own choice of one song from any show, musical or film. Please name the show, musical or film on the entry form. Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item, ie, with no costume or movement without need for copyright permission. Where movement or costumes are included in performance, copyright permission is required and the festival committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been given.

Class 207: Songs from the Shows – 16 to 18 years inclusive.
Entry £9.50.   Time limit 4 mins.
Own choice of one song from any show, musical or film. Please name the show, musical or film on the entry form. Songs from shows in current production may be sung as a concert item, ie, with no costume or movement without need for copyright permission. Where movement or costumes are included in performance, copyright permission is required and the festival committee accepts these entries on the basis that the appropriate copyright permission has been given.

Class 208: Junior vocal duet – 12 years and under.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one duet from any genre. There must be a substantial element of vocal harmony within the duet i.e. at some point(s) the two singers should be singing together, but singing different lines. Examples of repertoire could include 'The China Mandarin' (Bantock), 'Choosing Shoes' (Easson), any Disney duet etc. or anything similar.

Class 209: Junior vocal duet – 18 years and under.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins.
Own choice of one duet from any genre. There must be a substantial element of vocal harmony within the duet i.e. at some point(s) the two singers should be singing together, but singing different lines. Examples of repertoire could include 'Greeting' (Mendelssohn), 'You're Just in Love' (Berlin), 'I can show you the world' (Aladdin), or anything similar.
No entries

NEW Junior Singing Class for 2022

Class 210: Ivor Novello class - 18 years and under
Entry £9.00.
Any song by Ivor Novello. Suggested sources: The Ivor Novello Song Album' (published by Faber), any Ivor Novello show score or any Ivor Novello song set by the examination boards. This class (and class 213) have been generously sponsored by Mr. James Hay, the grandson of Fannie Pearson, a good friend of Ivor Novello between 1909 - 1920. The Fannie Pearson Memorial Prize will be presented to the overall winner of this class and class 213 by Mr. James Hay.

Class 211: Association of English Singers and Speakers - 13 to 18 years inclusive.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 10 mins
Performers should present two Art Songs in English (not opera or translations) plus a piece of poetry or prose and a spoken introduction. A cup (returnable) and an award of £25.00 will be given to the overall winner of this and Class 212. This prize is endowed by the Association of English Singers and Speakers.

NEW for 2022

Please note the following class will be held within the piano section and will be heard by the piano adjudicator. All entries for this class should be made online by going to the Piano Syllabus section of the online entry form in order to find the correct class number. The below is for information only. Entries for this class cannot be made by selecting the Singing Syllabus section of the online entry form.

Class 113:  11 years & under - Own composition.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 3 mins

The composition can be for any group from 1 - 4 players, singers or a mixture of both and can be a free or fixed-form composition. The composer must be one of the performers
The composition must be written down and a copy provided for the adjudicator.
A paper copy of the composition must be submitted to the Piano Secretary by Friday 19 March so that it can be sent to the adjudicator for pre-festival assessment
All performers must perform ‘live’ - no pre-recorded parts
Only the composition (not the performance) will be adjudicated

No entries

NEW for 2022. Please note the following class will be held within the piano section and will be heard by the piano adjudicator. All entries for this class should be made by going to the Piano Syllabus syllabus in order to find the correct class number. The information given below is for information only. Entries for this class cannot be made by selecting the Singing Syllabus section of the online entry form.

Class 114: 12 years & over - Own composition.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 3 mins

The composition can be for any group from 1 - 4 players, singers or a mixture of both and can be a free or fixed-form composition. The composer must be one of the performers
The composition must be written down and a copy provided for the adjudicator
A paper copy of the composition must be submitted to the Piano Secretary by Friday 19 March so that it can be sent to the adjudicator for pre-festival assessment
All performers must perform ‘live’ - no pre-recorded parts
Only the composition (not the performance) will be adjudicated

ADULT SINGING CLASSES

Performances will be accepted in all classes either accompanied or unaccompanied

SPECIAL CLASSES FOR 2022

Class 212: Association of English Singers and Speakers – 19 years and over.
Entry £10.00. Time limit - 10 mins
Performers should present two Art Songs in English (not opera or translations) plus a piece of poetry or prose and a spoken introduction. A cup (returnable) and an award of £25.00 will be given to the overall winner of this and Class 211. This prize is endowed by the Association of English Singers and Speakers.

Class 213: Ivor Novello class - 19 years and over
Entry £9.00.
Any song by Ivor Novello. Suggested sources: The Ivor Novello Song Album' (published by Faber), any Ivor Novello show score or any Ivor Novello song set by the examination boards. This class (and class 210) have been generously sponsored by Mr. James Hay, the grandson of Fannie Pearson, a good friend of Ivor Novello between 1909 - 1920. The Fannie Pearson Memorial Prize will be presented to the overall winner of this class and class 213 by Mr. James Hay.

NEW Adult classes for 2022

Class 214:   20 years and over. Any song in the English language - non competitive
Entry: £9.00.
This class will be non-competitive. Performers will receive a full written assessment of both their achievement and the way forward. This class is suitable for the inexperienced solo singer who does not want the competitive element to affect the performance experience.

Class 215:   20 years and over. Any song NOT in the English language - non competitive
Entry: £9.00.
This class will be non-competitive. Performers will receive a full written assessment of both their achievement and the way forward. This class is suitable for the inexperienced solo singer who does not want the competitive element to affect the performance experience.

Other Adult classes for 2022

Class 216: British composers – 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins
Own choice of one song by any British composer (excluding opera and musicals).

Class 217: French Song - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins
Own choice of one Art song by any French composer born after 1800.
To be sung in French.

Class 218: Lieder - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins
Own choice of one lied to be sung in German.

Class 219: Open Song – 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins
Own choice of one song not covered by any other class.

Class 220: Sacred Music - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins
Own choice of one sacred song (this can include arias from oratorios, masses etc).

Class 221: Opera - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins
Own choice of one aria, with or without recitative from any opera.

Class 222: Humorous Song - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 4 mins
Any song with a humorous feel.

Class 223: Songs from the Shows - 18 years and over.
Entry £9.00. Time limit 5 mins
Own choice of one song from any show, musical or film. See Class 206 for details concerning copyright law.

Class 224: Recital - 18 year and over.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 12 mins
Own choice of THREE songs, (not opera, oratorio or musicals). Songs should be contrasted in style and period and may include one unaccompanied song. The programme should not include any song sung elsewhere in this year’s festival.

Class 225: Over 60.
Entry £4.00. Time limit 4 mins
Own choice of one song.

Class 226: Classical Duet, Trio, Quartet, Quintet - 16 years and over.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 5 mins
Operatic items can be included in this class.

Class 227: Show/film Duet, Trio, Quartet, Quintet - 16 years and over.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 5 mins
One work from any musical or film.
Class 228: Ensembles - Open, any age. 6 to 20 singers.
Entry £15.00. Time limit 8 mins

OTHER CLASSES FOR SINGERS
Please note the following class will be held within the piano section and will be heard by the piano adjudicator. All entries for this class should be made by going to the Piano Syllabus section of the online entry form in order to find the correct class number. The information given below is for information only. Entries for this class cannot be made by selecting the Singing Syllabus section of the online entry form.

Class 139: Family ensemble – any age.
Entry £8.50. Time limit 6 mins
Two, three or four players from the same family, including adults.  Any combination of instruments or voices. Own choice of one or two pieces.
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.

TWO INSTRUMENT/VOICE CLASSES

Performers should present one instrument from any two of the following categories – piano, strings (including guitar), brass, wind or singing – i.e. combinations such as singing & recorder, piano & trumpet, flute & trombone – but not two instruments within a category. Performers need to provide their own accompanist (if being used). Instruments/voices and pieces are to be declared at the time of entry. These classes will be heard by the piano adjudicator.

Class 140:  12 years & under, two instruments. Pre-recorded accompaniments are allowed for non-piano instruments
Entry £9.00. Time limit 6 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.

Class 141:  13 years & over, two instruments. Pre-recorded accompaniments are allowed for non-piano instruments
Entry £9.50. Time limit 8 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.

The online entry system is now open. Please click here to make your entry.