Sydney Organ Competition
Total Prize Money exceeds $11,000
Open Section
Repertoire
Round 1: A recording with playing time not to exceed 25 minutes
Three works comprising:
• Any fast movement of a Trio Sonata by J.S. Bach (with the exception of BWV 525)
• An Wasserflüssen Babylon BWV 653 by J.S. Bach
• Any work or movement of your own choice.
NOTE: So that we are able to supply recordings to adjudicators, we ask that you save your recording as either an mp3, .wav or .aiff file to Dropbox and email the link to godelieve@notjustnotes.com.au The email with the audio recording link must include a copy of the signed declaration from a witness (see How to Apply), confirming that the recording was made by the applicant in his/her presence at the stated location in 2020 and that it is a true and unedited recording of the performance. Breaks between pieces are permitted. Please note that .wav or .aiff files are preferred as they are of a higher audio quality.
Round 2: Public Finalists’ Recital -
Playing time must not be less than 30 minutes or more than 40 minutes.
Three works, comprising:
• Any major work by J.S. Bach
• A work written between 1800 and 1940
• Any work written after 1940
No work, or part of a work from Round 1, may be repeated in Round 2. The word “work”
includes multi-
The program for both Rounds must demonstrate a variety of styles, textures and moods and the order of the works is at the competitor’s discretion. In Round 2, the competitor should demonstrate an awareness of suitable programming.
First Round Adjudication
Adjudicators will be asked to return their assessments by Friday 21 August, 2020 and finalists (maximum of 3) will be announced by Friday 28 August, 2020. All competitors will be given comments regarding their performances. In Round 1, the competitor’s identity will not be known to the adjudicators.
Interstate/Overseas Competitors
We welcome interstate/overseas competitors.
All travel and accommodation costs are the competitor’s responsibility.
Conditions of Entry -
General Information
The Competition is administered by the Committee of the Organ Music Society of Sydney Incorporated. The Committee reserves the right to amend the Conditions of Entry as it deems necessary.
The order of performance will be decided by draw conducted by the Committee.
Copies of all music must be made available to the Committee at the rehearsal on the day of the competition. Responsibility for obtaining the necessary permission to copy music rests with the competitor. Original music will be returned to the competitor.
A competitor whose performance does not fall within the time limit will be disqualified. We strongly suggest that you have a safety net of at least three minutes.
Any malfunction of the Competition organ believed by the competitor to occur during the Competition, must be reported at that time to the Committee.
The use in any form of cameras, camera phones, mobile phones, video cameras, sound recorders and the like during the competition is prohibited.
Any instructions given by the Committee must be strictly observed.
Adjudicators -
The competitor may not enter if he/she has been a student of the Adjudicator since 1 January, 2020.
Rehearsal and warm-
Each finalist will receive two hours’ rehearsal time on the Competition instrument
in the week prior to the Competition and 2.5 hours on the day of the Competition,
which includes the warm-
Note: The time may be altered slightly depending on confirmation from the venue. The total time given will be 4.5hrs.
In the week during which rehearsals are scheduled, competitors may not rehearse on the organ at any other time than that allocated to them. Under no circumstances should a competitor during or before this period contact the venue authorities to gain further access to the organ.
Console Assistant
Competitors need to demonstrate that they are able to perform as independently as possible. While it is accepted international practice to use a console assistant, the adjudicators will assess the extent to which excessive assistance has advantaged the competitor over other performers. Competitors may have one console assistant (not their teacher) only and they are encouraged to organise their own, especially if living locally. A request for a console assistant to be organized by the Committee must be noted on the application email. Competitors are advised to rehearse with their console assistant.
Open Section Adjudication
The decision of the Adjudicators is final. The Committee, on the advice of the Adjudicators, reserves the right not to award any or all prizes. The Adjudicators will take into consideration whether the programme is well balanced and varied.
Recording
The performances in the competitions are recorded by Greg Ghavalas and may be broadcast by Fine Music 102.5FM. By entering, each competitor gives permission to the OMSS to use the biographical details and the photograph supplied with the entry for publicity in the Sydney Organ Journal and for other related purposes, including Fine Music for their broadcasts and magazine. Performers will not be permitted to claim any rights or royalties. Performers will be offered an audio dropbox link of their performance. If they wish to have the performance on CD, it will incur a small fee.
How to Apply
As Round 1 is anonymous, please address all enquiries as well as your application as detailed below, to godelieve@notjustnotes.com.au
Competitors will receive a confirmation by email with an identification number. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within seven (7) days, please contact Godelieve Ghavalas by email or call 0404 837 363 as soon as possible.
Please note that all the information (competitors’ details, declarations and payment) has the same closing date of Friday 31 July 2020.
We suggest that you send all the necessary information by email in the week prior to the closing date.
Email all the details listed below in a .docx file including:
1. Full name and birthdate. You may be asked to present a copy of your birth certificate, driver’s licence or passport to verify your age.
2. Full residential address, including Post Code, State and Country.
3. Your contact details including mobile phone and email.
4. Your teacher’s name and contact details including mobile phone and email (where applicable).
5. Your repertoire for Round One. Please ensure you give full details of your pieces: composer’s full name, dates, date of composition (if applicable), movement and opus numbers.
6. List your repertoire for Round 2 in the order you intend to perform the pieces.
Once again, please ensure you give full details of the pieces -
7. Do you require a console assistant?
8. A short biography (about 200 words).
9. A high-
Email the following
Scan the completed Declaration Form and email this along with your Round 1 recording to the Dropbox audio link (preferably three files, one for each piece).
Make your payment of AUD$125 and email receipt.
The Committee understands that, by making his/her payment, the Competitor has agreed
to abide by the Conditions of Entry as provided on the Competition website. The
fee is non-
Westpac
BSB: 032-
Account No: 373962
Account Name: The Organ Music Society of Sydney Inc
** please state OPEN along with your identification number as your payment reference.
Declaration by a witness to the recording for Round 1
Applicant’s Name ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
I, (print name) ………………………………………………………………………… telephone/mobile number…………..…………………..
declare that the audio recording is a true and unedited recording made in my presence
and played by the above-
Location ………………………..........……………………………………… Date of recording / /2020
Signed ………………………………………………………………………….. Date / / 2020
Competitor Declaration
I have read, understand and agree to abide by the terms of the Rules for the Sydney Organ Competition 2020.
Applicant’s Signature……………………………………………………….. Date / / 2020
Thank you for entering.
We wish you all the very best with the competition.