11° Concorso Internazionale "Tito Schipa" per giovani Cantanti Lirici

Art. 1

The Association Amici della Lirica "Tito Schipa" in Lecce is proud to announce the 11th International edition of the "TITO SCHIPA" CONTEST FOR YOUNG OPERA SINGERS

Art. 2

The aim of the Contest is to select the best young opera singers and bring their talent to the attention of artistic directors of theatres and opera houses, finalising their sucess with possibility of appearing in actual performances taking place during the Lecce opera season.
The Association Amici della Lirica "Tito Schipa", however, reserves the rights eventually to name the opera, the roles, the dates and any possible payment, with participation of any winner or finalists of the afore mentioned contest.

Art. 3

The Contest will take place in Lecce from 15th November to 19nd November 2004.
Sopranas, tenors, mezzasopranos/contralti, baritones and basses of all nationalities are invited to take part in the contest providing that they are still under the age of 35 on the closing date for applications. Participants over the age of 35 on the date of 6th November shall be excluded from the contest.

Art. 4

All applications should be written on plain paper conforming to the example provided by attachment A.
Participants should include their personal details and voice register on application.
All completed application forms should be sent to the following address by registered post; ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA"- Viale Otranto n. 80, 73100 LECCE.
In addition to this participants should also include the following details; date and place of birth, nationality, place of residency, national insurance number, details of past and present studies in a music conservatory, music college or university, or with a private teacher, a declaration complying to law on treatment of personal details law number 31.12.1996, n.675 allowing the ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA"- full use of such details, along with a brief curriculum of artistic activity until now.

Art. 5

The following documents should be included in the application:

a) Copy of an identity document.
b) Receipt of proof of payment of the entrance fee made by postal order for the sum of Euro 60,00, which is not under any circumstances refundable, in the name of ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA"- and sent to Viale Otranto n. 80, 73100 LECCE;
c) 2 passport sized photographs signed on the back;
d) complete list of musical pieces chosen to perform, completed and conforming to the example shown in attachment B.

Art. 6

The application form should be sent and received no later than 6th November, the post mark will be proof of this.
Any applications sent by fax must be presented in their original form before the beginning of the contest.

Art. 7

All participants are responsible for their own expenses.

Art. 8

The Contest consists of three phases:
1. Preliminary, open to all those found to be possession of the contests requirements and regulations.
2. Semi final, all of those who have fufilled the requirements of the jury, or have passed directly to the semi final stage having already won first prizes at similar contests at a national or international level.
3. Final, for all participants who received a score of at least 8/10 in the semi final.

Art. 9

For the eliminory stage the participant should perform in their entirety two pieces indicated on attachment B.

Art. 10

For the semi final the participant should perform in their entirety two pieces indicated on attachment B, however different from those performed in the eliminory stage.

Art. 11

For the final stage the participant should perform in its entirety one piece indicated on attachment B, but should different from those performed in the previous stages.

Art. 12

Each piece should be sung in original language and from memory.
Participants should present themselves for the contest with all the scores of the selected pieces.
The association provides a piano accompaniment, however the participant may provide their own at their own expense.

Art. 13

At the end of the final stage, the Jury will announce three absolute winners and will award:

- a first prize of 5.000,00 euro;
- a second prize of 2.500,00 euro;
- a third prize of 1.500.00 euro.

According to unobjected decision of the Judging Board, the prizes can also not be awarded.
In case of ex-aequo, the prizes will be divided among the winners.

Art. 14

The applicants admitted to the final stage, apart from the winners, will be awarded an attendance
prize of 250,00 euro.

Art. 15

The jury's decision is final.
The jury's decision will be given at the end of each performance.
The final judgement is expressed numerically and is the average of each score taken from each jury member excluding the highest and lowest score.
Scores will be displayed after each performance on the contest notice board.

Art. 16

The winners and the finalists will receive a "certificate of attendance", and will be recommended to the Artistic Managements of the Local Organizations and to the Tradition Theatres which give opera performances.
The winners will also be signalled to the Fondation I.C.O. Tito Schipa Lecce wich has provided a concert with the winners, during the Simphony Season 2004 held in decentralization the following day, together with the Orchestra throughout the final evening of the contest.

Art. 17

The ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA" reserves the right to record or film any part of the contest without asking permission from any of the participants.

Art. 18

The first two rounds; the preliminary and the semi finals are open to the public. The final however, will held if possible at the theatre " Politeama Greco" di Lecce and will also be open to the public.

Art. 19

The Jury consists of:

a) the Chairman of the Association or one of his representatives;
b) two experts of italian nationality;
c) four experts of foreign nationality.

Either the representative (see point a) or the experts (see points b and c) must be chosen among opera singers, singing-masters, orchestra conductors, and artistical managers of great renown.
The recording secretary will be a councillor or a member designated by the Board of Directors, who will take part in the Jury's work without right to vote.
In case of absence or impediment either of one of the members of the Jury or of the recording secretary the Chairman of the Association will designate a substitute.
Candidates' relatives or kindreds are not allowed to be part of the Jury and the same is for the members of the board of examiners who have in private teached to one or more candidates in the last two years before the beginning of the selection.
The members of the board of examiners who have teached in public structures to one or more candidates are not allowed to take part to the debate or to express their vote on such candidates' competitive examination.
This abstension must be expressly mentioned on the minutes of the meeting.

Art. 20

During its first meeting the Jury will appoint a Chairman and a ViceChairman, in order to determine the grading criteria and the formalities of its own decisions.
At the same time the commitee will draw up the contest calendar, deciding on the time, date and order of events, calling participants in alphabetical order for each audition.

Art. 21

In order to participate in the preliminary stage of the contest participants in accordance to rules must present themselves at the headquarters of the ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA" found in Viale Otranto n.80 at 9 o' clock on 15th November 2004.
It is at this time that other contests may be admitted at the discretion of the jury should there places available in the preliminary stage of the contest.
Semi finalists, (by the right of art. 8 n.2) should present themselves at the afore mentioned headquarters on 17th November at 9 o'clock.

Art. 22

The right of participation is dependent on the unconditional acceptance of the rules of the contest.

Art. 23

The full and accurate completion of attachments A&B form an integral part of the regulations of the contest.

Art. 24

All the rules and regulations of the contest are written in both Italian and English and the Association reserves the right to make any changes to the programme for organisational or technical reasons.

Art. 25

For any eventual controversial decision the legal courts of Lecce (forum of Lecce) are deemed competent to deal with any decisions.

This current list of rules and regulations has been approved by the Board of Directors of the ASSOCIAZIONE AMICI DELLA LIRICA "TITO SCHIPA" in the meeting on 18th December 2003.