ADJUDICATORS
Festival adjudicators.
Each year, the Vernon Performing Arts Festival brings in expert adjudicators to evaluate performances across our four disciplines. Adjudicators provide written feedback, mark performances, recommend recipients for scholarships and awards, and select performers to represent VPAF at the BC Provincial Festival.
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What an adjudicator does
What an adjudicator does.
A festival adjudicator does five things during the Vernon Performing Arts Festival.
- Listens to or watches each performance in their discipline. Adjudicators sit through every entry in their assigned discipline, often across multiple days and venues.
- Provides written feedback. Each performer receives written comments from the adjudicator, focused on what worked, what could improve, and what the adjudicator noticed.
- Marks each performance (for competitive entries). Marks are based on technical accuracy, musicality or artistry, presentation, and overall impression. The adjudicator's mark determines award eligibility.
- Recommends recipients for awards and scholarships. After hearing all entries in a category, the adjudicator selects which performers receive awards or scholarship spots.
- Selects performers to represent VPAF at the BC Provincial Festival. Each year, VPAF sends competitors, alternates, and merit recipients to the BC Provincial Festival in each discipline and age category. Adjudicator selections determine who goes.
Communication rules
Communication rules.
Festival adjudicators are professionals selected for their independent, expert judgment. To protect that independence, the festival enforces the following rules.
- No unauthorized contact with adjudicators. Teachers, performers, parents, and audience members may not contact the adjudicator directly before or during the festival. This includes social media messages, email, and informal conversation at the venue.
- Unauthorized contact results in disqualification. If a performer or their parent or teacher contacts the adjudicator, the performer is disqualified from competition.
- Adjudicator decisions are final. The adjudicator's marks and award recommendations are not subject to appeal.
- No complaints or protests directly to adjudicators. Concerns about adjudication should be directed to the festival board, not to the adjudicator.
- Adjudicators may stop a performance at their discretion. This is rare, but the adjudicator has authority to end a performance early if needed.
If you have a question or concern, please contact the festival at vpafestival@gmail.com. The board will handle it appropriately.
Competitive and non-competitive entries
Competitive and non-competitive entries.
Performers can enter the festival in two ways.
- Competitive entries. The performer receives a mark from the adjudicator in addition to written feedback, and is eligible for awards and provincial nominations. Most performers enter this way.
- Non-competitive entries. The performer receives written feedback from the adjudicator but no mark, and is not eligible for awards. Non-competitive entries are scheduled separately from competitive entries.
The choice between competitive and non-competitive is made on the registration form. Most performers enter competitively, but non-competitive entry is a good option for younger performers or those new to festivals.
Level placement
Level placement.
Most music classes follow the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) or Conservatory Canada syllabi. Performers must enter at the level they are currently studying. Pieces must come from the current or one previous RCM or Conservatory Canada syllabus.
If a piece has changed levels in different syllabi, the current RCM syllabus determines the level. Pieces entered at the wrong level, or pieces not from an approved syllabus, will be disqualified.
Some categories (Non-Competitive, Ensembles, and certain designated Vocal classes) do not require RCM-syllabus pieces. Check the relevant section of the syllabus for your discipline.