GENERAL CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS
 
Entry Form is to be submitted online through the Stardom system.
The complete official Schedule and Rules is available on our website at https://lve.org.au/ - please ensure you read that carefully.
  
1.  THE COMPETITIONS, except in sections otherwise indicated, are open to Amateurs only.  'Amateur' to mean one whose regular income is not derived from the exercise of his/her talents in the particular class for which he/she may enter. Teachers may enter specifically marked sections. Entrants in scholarship sections must be students studying music, speech or dance.
 
2.  ENTRIES. All entries must be made online and lodged on or before 30^th June 2025.   Duets/Trios will not be accepted without names and dates of birth of each participant/performer. If necessary we reserve the right to close dance entries early due to time constraints and entry numbers.

3.  DISTRICT to mean principal residence in Gippsland. (East of Pakenham and Koo-Wee-Rup)

4.  ENTRY FEES. All entry fees to be paid for at the time of online entry at www.stardom.com.au.  No entry fee will be refunded.
 
5.  AGE LIMIT.  In all sections subject to an age limit other than dance, the age at the date 30^th June 2025, shall be deemed to be the age of the performer, and proof of age may be requested.
All Dance sections will use 1^st January 2025 as the age of the performer to keep in-line with other local events.

 
6.  OWN CHOICE ITEMS. It is a condition of entry that Music or Script be provided for the Adjudicator and Official Accompanist. All bars of music for the adjudicator are to be numbered. Originals must be provided for the Official Accompanist and used by the performer on stage. N.B. Performers in open vocal and instrumental sections and scholarships should forward a copy of the work to be performed by them to the particular accompanist prior to the 31st July 2025. Unauthorised photocopies submitted for Adjudicators will be destroyed immediately after adjudication.                                                                                                                        The Committee holds an APRA and PPIC licence only, and holds individual performers responsible for all copyright issues.

 
7.  NO PERFORMER may perform the same item twice during the competitions.
Competitors in Duets/Trios/Quartets and Quintets may only appear once in the particular section.
 
8.  NOVICE PERFORMERS shall be those who have not won a first or second Prize in any Eisteddfod in that named section during the last 3 years as at the closing date of entries 30^th June 2025 OR at the earlier date of closing of Dance if entries are full. Full responsibility rests with the performer for correct entry. 

 
9.  AFTER THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PRINTED, performers will not be permitted to change the allotted performance order or nominated co-performers without written permission of the Committee and no substitutions will be allowed.
 
10. TIME LIMITS as specified will be adhered to strictly. Performers exceeding time limits will incur a deduction of points. Exceeding time limits by more than 30 seconds will result in performance for critique only.
 
11. TIES. In the event of a tie for first prize in any section, the first and second prizes will be divided between performers thus tying, and the performer with the next highest points will be awarded third prize. This rule also applies for second and third prizes.
 
12. PRIZES Will be presented at the conclusion of each section at an official table, excepting special Trophies and Awards. Cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer to an account nominated by the prize recipients.
 
13. PERPETUAL TROPHIES May be retained by the Eisteddfod Committee and engraved with the winner’s name. If a winner accepts a trophy, it is his/her responsibility to attend to the necessary name and year engraving, and to return the trophy to the committee by 30^th June of the following year in a clean condition in readiness for presentation to the winner of that particular trophy at the next Eisteddfod. Any change of address or contact details should be notified to the committee.
 
14. SCHOLARSHIPS. These will take the form of payment of accounts for expenses incurred by the winners to further their studies, to the value of the relevant Scholarship. Entrants in Scholarship sections must be students studying voice, music, speech or dance. Students entering scholarships and championships are responsible for checking the specific qualification requirements. Scholarships need to be claimed within 12 months or else they will be forfeited. Previous winner may not re-enter for 12 months.
 
15. THE EISTEDDFOD COMMITTEE has the right to refuse any entry and may cancel or combine any section for which less than five entries are received.
 
16. THE ADJUDICATOR holds the right to withhold any prizes where insufficient merit has been displayed. Communication with adjudicators during the competition, whether by performers, teachers or other interested parties, is strictly prohibited. No prompting or assistance of any kind may be given, except by the Adjudicator.

17. OFFICIAL ACCOMPANIST will be provided for performance only free of charge for Brass, Vocal and Instrumental Solo Sections. (Entrants in the Instrumental Concerto must arrange privately with the official accompanist, if required, which may incur a fee). Please Note: Condition 6. Please contact the accompanist early to arrange rehearsal time and send him/her a copy of the music by 31^st July 2025. The accompanist's details are provided at the start of each discipline's list of sections and on our website at lve.org.au

18. PROTESTS are to be made in writing and presented to the Convenor’s table within 15 minutes of the Adjudicator’s decision and accompanied by a fee of $20, which will be forfeited if the protest is deemed unwarranted.
 
19. PERSONAL COMPLIMENTARY BADGES will be issued to teachers at the Box Office and must be applied for by 30^th June 2025 by emailing our office.

To give equal consideration to all performers the committee recommends one teacher or supporter is sufficient in the backstage area. This applies to all sections.   No prompting is permitted.
 
20. MUSIC AND EQUIPMENT. (a) All electrical equipment for use must be tested by a licensed technician prior to eisteddfod and fitted with a valid appliance test tag.
(b) The committee will not accept responsibility for music or equipment left in the hall by performers.
(c) Please remove all music, props and equipment at the conclusion of Section.

Please check individual 'Discipline Rules' for specific details.

21. THE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT to appoint a substitute Adjudicator for an announced Adjudicator, to divide any section for programme purposes, to alter the competition time if necessary, and to record, broadcast and/or video the whole or any part of the Eisteddfod without fee.
 
22. VIDEO CAMERAS ETC: No photography or video to be taken in the dressing rooms in order to comply with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy. It is an infringement of copyright laws and the Privacy Act to use recording equipment to record a performance without permission of all performers and possession of the appropriate licence.
Unlicensed recording by video will not be allowed. The use of flash photography at any time during performances is prohibited. Mobile phones and pagers must be turned off before entering the auditorium.
 
23. ANY PERFORMER who is unable to compete in an item is requested to notify the Convenor or our office by email at least 24 hours before the time appointed for that particular item.
 
24. STUDENTS who have received individual private tuition from the Adjudicator within the last 12 months are ineligible to compete in this Eisteddfod. Students must also not have had contact with the adjudicator through any form of social media within the last 12 months.  

25. THE DECISION of the committee shall be final in all questions and disputes arising out of, or not provided for, by these conditions. All entries received are subject to this provision and shall not be subject to any appeal.
 
26. PERSONAL INFORMATION - By entering your personal details into the Stardom registration system and entering into Eisteddfod sections, you acknowledge that you consent to us using the provided information: (a) in order to prepare a programme containing your name in lists of competitors in each section that you enter; (b) in order to include your name in results lists published on the internet (e.g. our website, Facebook), or in local newspapers and on display at the venue during the Eisteddfod; (c) to contact you to advise you of the following year’s Eisteddfod being open for entry; (d) to notify you of information pertaining to the running of the Eisteddfod sections you have entered; (e) to contact you for surveys about your experience or views regarding our Eisteddfod or to offer you a chance to give feedback in any consultations about our Child Safety and Wellbeing policies. If you are providing personal information about another person (such as your child, or a student), you acknowledge that you have obtained the relevant consent or have the authority to provide that information to Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod. Access to personal information supplied to us is restricted to current elected members of the Management Committee of Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, and authorised staff, and the service provider of the Stardom platform (Trend Logic Pty Ltd). We will not provide any personal information we receive from you to any other organisation or person unless required by law, except as mentioned in (a) or (b) above. The information you provide will be retained as long as it remains within the Stardom system, and any other copies will be destroyed by the end of the year following the year that the entry was submitted.

27. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO RECORDING. Unlicenced video/sound recording and photography is not allowed. The committee may take photographs of prize winners of some sections, if the winners give consent. For some sections, media organisations may take photographs or video recordings - Please inform the committee in writing by 30^th June (of the competition year) if you do not wish publication of your named photo in the local press when taken by a press photographer.

28. PERFORMER ETIQUETTE - Neat and appropriate dress is to be worn at all times on stage. Performers should acknowledge the audience appropriately from the stage.     
 
29. A PROGRAMME SHOULD BE ORDERED WHEN ENTERING - It contains dates, venues and session starting times and will be posted prior to the commencement of the Eisteddfod. Families with more than one entrant need only order one programme. There will be limited number of programmes available during the Eisteddfod (for a higher cost than pre-ordered ones).
 
30. In the event of accident or illness, an ambulance may be called at the expense of the parent/guardian.
 
31. By entering into any section, you and all people who attend the venue with you, including any of your staff or volunteers (for group-based entrants) agree to abide by all of our policies and procedures, including our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, which is published on our website.

32. "All Abilities" sections are open to individuals or groups (for purpose of All Abilities, a group is 2 or more performers) who are enrolled or registered in either a supported community or supported education program or registered with National Disability Insurance Agency.

MAJOR PRIZES
  Vocal           Lythgo Trust Operatic Aria -      $600 1^st Prize
  Choral         Primary School Choir -              $600 1^st Prize
                      Secondary School Choir -          $600 1^st Prize

SCHOLARSHIPS (see condition 14)
  Teychenne Memorial Scholarship (Instrumental): First Place $750, Second Place $300 and Third Place $100
 
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS (see condition 14)
  First Place $500, Second Place $150, Third Place $50:
    Vocal (16 and Under 25)
    Speech & Drama (Secondary Students)
    Instrumental (15 and Under 25)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Brass (Under 21)
    Intermediate Piano (12-14 years, Gippsland entrants only)
    Lythgo Trust Piano (15-20 years)
    Senior Dancing (16 and over)
 
   Junior Scholarships
      Piano (9-11 years):           1st Place: $250, 2nd Place: $100, 3rd Place: $25
      Dancing (10-12 years):     1st Place: $100, 2nd Place: $75, 3rd Place: $25
      Dancing (13-15 years):     1st Place: $250, 2nd Place: $100, 3rd Place: $25

We encourage you to buy a programme when entering - it includes full details of all competitors and sections listed in order of scheduled performance and dates and will be posted to you in advance.