HOW TO ENTER

1.  READ THE RULES!

Entries are accepted subject to the Rules and General Conditions. You should also read the notes under division or category headings.

2.  CHOOSE THE EVENTS

Find the event(s) you want to enter. Write down the event number(s) and entry fee(s). Make sure the conditions for the event(s) you want to enter are appropriate to you. Make sure you are the correct age - determined @ 31 December 2012.

3.  FILL IN THE ENTRY FORM

*  The Entry Form is folded into the back of the Syllabus. This form is used for ALL EVENTS, but be careful to attach any separate information for special events as required within their conditions.

*  One person or group can enter up to 8 events on the entry form.

*  Extra forms may be photocopied.

*  DUOS: Entrants can put the name of their partner on the same entry form with their solo events, but be sure to nominate which event(s) they belong to.

*  TRIOS IN DANCE DIVISION: A separate entry form, with NAMES OF ALL THREE PARTNERS, is required in the Dance Division.

*  TRIOS/QUARTETS - GROUPS IN ALL OTHER DIVISIONS: A separate entry form, with a GROUP NAME, is required for each trio/quartet/group combination, unless the SAME GROUP NAME is entering more than one event. In which case continue to use the same entry form.

*  TEACHERS: Teachers submitting several forms for different students can save time by filling in repetitive information, such as their return address, and photocopy the number of forms required before writing each individual detail. A summary sheet of names, fees and payment total should accompany the batch. Please be sure to list the private telephone number and email address of each student so that in an emergency the Sydney Eisteddfod is able to contact him/her directly.

*  COMPULSORY PROGRAM: A program is compulsory for all entrants except where they come from the SAME FAMILY ADDRESS. Teachers submitting entry forms for individual students MUST include the cost of a program for EVERY ENTRANT except if entrants are at one family address. It is recommended that groups from the same academy or school buy a copy of the Official Program for EACH TEACHER/CONDUCTOR/SUPERVISOR as it contains important information about event conditions, registration, etc.

4.  PAYMENT

*  ENTER ONLINE

    This is a secure online payment site.

*  Payment may be by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only), or cheque/money order payable to SYDNEY EISTEDDFOD. Credit card details must be filled in if emailing or faxing an entry.

*  Forms cannot be processed unless fully completed, including exact fees (late fees if applicable) AND program order. We reserve the right to adjust underpaid credit card totals to the correct amount. Entry Fees and Program include gst. The Entry Form is a Tax Invoice for gst purposes and should be photocopied for your records if necessary.

*  A fee of $30 will be charged towards our reprocessing and bank costs, if a cheque is dishonoured or a credit card is refused by the bank due to incorrect numbers listed.

Amounts remaining unpaid after March 30 will cancel the entry without further notice.

5.  LODGEMENT

Entries close on March 13, 2012. Avoid late fees or disappointment by making sure your entry arrives at our office before the closing date. You can deliver it personally, post it, fax it to 02 9261 8161 or use the electronic form on our website. Do not post an entry that has been emailed or faxed, as this will duplicate the entry and charges. Cancelling the duplicate entry may incur administrative charges.

PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately we cannot be responsible if entries fail to arrive at our office for whatever reason, whether lost in transit, incorrectly delivered, or through failed electronic transmissions by fax or email.

 Late Entries received after March 13 will be subject to additional (late) fees of $25 per event for solos/duos and $40 per event for trios-groups. Late entries are only accepted subject to our timetabling capacity and program deadlines without obligation. We reserve the right to print ‘late entries’ on a separate listing as an insert in the Program and add further names to events lists, which are sent to venues.

6.  WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY

*  YOUR ENTRY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIPT: After your entry has been processed, we will email a receipt to the email address(es) provided on the entry form confirming the events entered and the fees paid. You must call us if you haven't received this email within 10 days of lodgement. You are advised to check the details carefully and notify us immediately of any errors, including spelling of names, etc. Corrections cannot be made after final timetabling.

*  YOUR pink ‘APPEARANCE ADVICE’: Tentative dates have been given with each event in this Syllabus. Sydney Eisteddfod reserves the right to change this in extenuating circumstances. When FINAL TIMETABLING has been completed, a pink ‘Appearance Advice’ will be posted to the address on your entry form, giving the date, session time, place for your events and your entrant number. This document must be produced as identification for admission and the collection of reports and materials.

Please call us if this Advice hasn’t arrived by May 21.

*  STAYING IN CONTACT: For us to keep in touch with you, it is essential that YOU keep in touch with us! Send us an email if you change your address or phone number. Please don’t request changes over the phone. These changes MUST BE EMAILED. As an added benefit we also send you a complimentary Sydney Eisteddfod Syllabus next year. Entrants from the country or interstate MUST give us their Sydney contact details when they arrive.

GENERAL INFORMATION

7.  TIMETABLING

*  Sessions are held daily in the morning, afternoon and evening. We have provided tentative dates for events where possible, based on our statistics over the last three years of numbers entered in each event. These dates have been carefully compiled and are believed to be correct at the time of publication and any error or omission is regretted. However we reserve the right to make changes should it be required. Please check our website for regular updates.

*  Any event attracting a large number of entries could be divided over a number of sessions or days, and a Final may also be held.

*  Adult & Any Age events are mostly held on evenings from 6pm or weekends, although in some instances it may be necessary to use an afternoon. We will endeavour to hold school, junior and student aged events after hours as well, but sometimes this may not be possible.

*  The time given on your pink ‘Appearance Advice’ could be for the start of the Session your event is in, or an Estimated Starting Time (EST) if there is more than one event within the session. A full list of scheduled finals will be on the back of the pink ‘Appearance Advice’. You must check the Program when you receive it for complete details of final timetabling.

8.  YOUR pink ‘APPEARANCE ADVICE’

*  Entrants must perform when called in program order except in circumstances approved in advance by Sydney Eisteddfod.

*  In general, all entrants will be called from the auditorium to the stage including choirs and instrumental groups. Separate ‘warm-up’ areas may not be available. Groups will be sent specific instructions.

 *  All performances are acoustic (non-amplified) except where the use of microphones and amplification is clearly specified.

*  Time limits are strictly enforced and items under the minimum or over the maximum time limit receive 'comments only' on their adjudication report without marks.

9.  YOUR ACCOMPANIMENT

*  Only piano shall be used for accompaniment except in dance or other events where recorded or other instrumental backing is expressly allowed.

*  Official Accompanists will be appointed for Classical Singing Division: Events 21-38 & 40-47; Instrumental Solos Division: Events 247-252; 260-261 & 264-265 ONLY. Names and contact details will be available in May 2012. Our recommended rehearsal fee is $40 (including gst) per half hour. An Official Accompanist is free at the event, but a prior rehearsal is advisable and entrants should make an appointment as soon as possible when details are known after final timetabling, but at least three weeks before the performance date. Accompanists are not obliged to play poorly presented, difficult or illegible music at sight.

*  Recorded accompaniment, where allowed, must be on CD.

10.  PRIZES

*  Following adjudication, written assessments are available for every entrant. No assessments will be written for any finals.

*  All place-getters are presented with a Commemorative Certificate and Medal (or Shield for groups) in addition to any cash award, which may have been sponsored. Certificates are also presented to Highly Commended performers and Finalists.

*  Cash prize cheques are mailed progressively within 21 days of the event and are automatically payable to ‘the entrant’ unless that is a group name. If a group name is ‘the entrant’, the cheque will be payable to the person named on the form as ‘submitting the entry’ unless we recognise the group’s name as a registered entity or school.

*  PLEASE USE YOUR LEGAL NAME on the entry form. Not a ‘stage-name’. Any cheques which have to be altered due to this circumstance will incur additional fees.

11.  ADMISSION

*  All sessions are open to the public and admission charges apply.

*  For entrants, a benefit of participation is to watch and learn from the performances of others, and to take full advantage of this unique opportunity, as well as to give encouragement and support to other entrants. Entrants are to show their pink ‘Appearance Advice’ in order to gain free admission to their own event only. Otherwise admission charges will apply if watching other events.

  *  We regret that the private use of cameras or recording devices in any venue is not allowed.

12.  PUBLICITY, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY

  *  NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE/INTERNET NEWS: You might also like to help us gather news. We take pride in the collection of archives, so if you see anything about the McDonald’s Sydney Eisteddfod in the press or ON THE INTERNET, please send in the printed page to the office as soon as possible or email a link to the internet publicity. We can then follow up whilst they are still available.

*  Performance opportunities, either for other organisations or in the interest of the McDonald’s Sydney Eisteddfod, may arise from time to time. Another reason why you should keep us informed of any address and contact number changes!