REGULATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF WIND ORCHESTRAS IN PRAGUE FROM JANUARY 2-5, 2009

I. The competition is advertised by the Federation of Wind Orchestras of the Czech Republic. The festival has been taking place under the auspices of CISM.
Date: 3rd January – 4th January 2009

II. The accredited organiser of the festival is Agency Millennium and Agency or-fea Prague.

III. The competition is open in following categories:
1/ Concert category of wind orchestras in the following efficiency classes:
a/ harmonies
- middle class
- higher class
- top class
b/ fanfare orchestras
- middle class
- higher class
- top class
c/ brass bands
- middle class
- higher class
- top class

2/ The wind orchestras (harmonies, fanfare orchestras) that correspond to the usual international level are allowed to participate in the competition.
3/ The time limit of each appearance is 30 minutes. Within this time the compulsory composition as well as the other compositions, which adequate the efficiency class (free choice of a programme), will be performed. Each orchestra can perform their favourite composition to warm up, which won't be judged but should not exceed the time limit.
4/ A singing repertoire in the competition performance is not allowed.

IV. 1/ The orchestras are supposed to participate in the competition with their own amateur players. The eventual check on is reserved for the organiser.
2/ In case that one of the players becomes suddenly ill or cannot participate for other serious reasons the orchestra is allowed to take a help of another amateur player.

V. 1/ Application forms are to be sent latest by 30th September 2008.
2/ The compulsory compositions are prescribed for each category and the orchestras are supposed to provide the compulsory compositions by themselves.
3/The orchestra is supposed to inform the organisational committee about the programme latest two months before the date of the competition.
4/ The orchestras are supposed to send the compositions of their programme (in 3 original pieces) in a form of scores to the organisational committee latest 1 month before the competition.

VI. 1/ The international jury will be formed by the organiser and their work will be led by the chairman of the jury.
2/ The jury will inform about results after the competition. The orchestras will receive a written resolution of each member of the jury in a form of appraisal papers.
3/ Decisions of the jury are final.
4/ If there are fewer than 3 orchestras applied in a category, the prize “Winner of the Category” cannot be awarded.

VII. The order of performances will be decided by drawing lots on the eve of the competition according to an appropriate class.

VIII. On the basis of achieved points the orchestras will be assigned according to the international rules:

a/ gold band with honours from 96 points given by each juror
b/ gold band from 91 up to 95 points given by each juror
c/ silver band from 81 up to 90 points given by each juror
d/ bronze band from 71 up to 80 points given by each juror

IX. Evaluation of the competition
1/ Concert category
1/1 In conformity with the international rules the compulsory and optional programmes will be separately evaluated.

1/2 The evaluation of the jury:
- harmonizing
- tone and sound quality
- phrase making and articulation
- technical performance
- rhythmical performance/coordination
- dynamics and sound balance
- feeling through the style/interpretation
- tempo
- choice of the repertoire with regards to the orchestras level and classification
- overall artistic impression (teamwork, keeping the time limit, entering and leaving the stage).

X. The awarding ceremony will be held at the end of the festival. During this time all orchestras will play together a traditional march by Frantisek Kmoch "Muziky, Muziky". The scores will be provided by the organiser.

XI. Seats and a percussion set (will be specified later) will be provided by the organiser.