Derry Feis

Rialacha

RULES AND REGULATIONS

General

1. The Feis Committee reserves the right to cancel competitions or to withhold prizes
2. The Feis Committee reserves to itself the right to accept or reject entries
3. In competitions where an age limit is specified, competitors must have reached this age on or before 1st January immediately preceding the Feis and produce evidence if such is required
4. Competitors must confine themselves to one age group and this must be consistent when competing in competitions which have double age groups i.e., 10-12 years etc. Competitors may only compete once in any competition. The only exception to this rule concerns the group work which may go up a year
5. Where the Feis Committee feels that the number of entries is rather large, it reserves the right to sub-divide a competition. Competitors must compete in the competition section on the day and at the time allocated to them on their Competitor’s Ticket
6. Where a competition has only one entrant, it is at the Secretary's discretion whether to run the competition in its entirety. The entrant will be informed just after the Closing Date and the entry fee will be refunded. Where a competition takes place with only one entrant, that performer must attain a minimum of 84 marks to be awarded a trophy. To be awarded any monetary prized with that competition, a minimum of 87 marks must be achieved
7. Late entries will not be accepted
8. Entry fees are not refundable under any circumstances. Non-receipt of entry fees will result in automatic refusal of entry
9. Competitors should be available to perform on any day of the Feis week. Because of the scale of the Feis and attendant organisation requirements, the scheduling of a competition for a particular day cannot be guaranteed. Should a competitor or group be unable to take part in an event for which they have entered, they are asked to inform the Secretary in advance, to avoid gaps in the programme of performances and consequent inconvenience to Adjudicators, audience, and organisers
10.     Entries are accepted on the understanding that all appropriate copyright permissions have been granted where required. Performers and teachers' attention is drawn to the British and International Federation of Festivals' website at www.federationoffestivals.org.uk where further details are available or contact Festivals House on 01625 428297 / 611578 and to any specific requirement as stated in the syllabus
11. Any musician/singer, whose main source of income, whilst not in full time education, is music teaching or performance, is not eligible to enter any music competition
12. Test pieces selected for this Syllabus must be performed as stated - stipulated publisher, key, etc., otherwise they will be disqualified
13. Test pieces selected for this Syllabus must not be used for ‘Own Choice’ classes
14. Test pieces selected under ‘Own Choice’ must not be performed by the same performer in more than one competition
15. No protest will be received against the award of the Adjudicator as to merit
16. No entrant, teacher or interested party may discuss any aspect of the Feis competition with an Adjudicator before, during or after the competition, except at the invitation of the Adjudicator
17. Any protest regarding the violation of the condition of a competition must be made in writing within seven (7) days of the competition accompanied by a fee of £25.00 which will be refunded if the protest is upheld by the Committee, whose decision is final
18.  Use of Audio Recording, Video, Photography and Mobile Telephone is not permitted in the Competition Halls

Award

1.      Prizes will be awarded in each competition as follows , subject to the Adjudicator's decision that the necessary standard has been obtained:                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Number of Performers

Number of Prizes

One, Two or Three

One

Four or Five

Two

Six or more

Three
Highly Commended certificates may be awarded to performers outside the normal prize range.
2.     Previous winners of bursaries in excess of £25.00 may not receive the same award for the following two (2) years. Where a bursary covers more than one competition (and at the discretion of the Adjudicator) the bursary may be awarded to the best eligible performer(s). Exceptionally, bursaries may be shared between not more than two (2) performers having identical marks, although Adjudicators should do this only if in their professional opinion it would be unfair not to do so.
3. Competitions with a bursary will only run subject to their being a minimum of three (3) entrants
4. All Challenge Cups and Shields will be held by the winner for one year. Trophies must be returned to the Cups and Trophies Co-Ordinator in good order at least four (4) weeks before the opening of the next Feis:
 

(a)  any repair costs due to damage of a cup or trophy will be charged to the previous winner

(b)  a charge of £10.00 per cup or trophy will be levied to the previous winner if it is not returned in time for presentation at the following year's Feis

(c)  all trophies are to remain in Northern Ireland
5. Any communication by letter to the Feis Committee requiring an answer, must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope, otherwise a reply will not be sent
6. All decisions made by the Feis Committee will be final.
7. Bursary cheques will no longer be payable during Feis week but will be posted to the teacher or school of the recipient's choice.  Please contact the Feis office during Feis week if you are a winner of a bursary

Music

1. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERFORMER in the ‘Own Choice’ competition:
 

i.      to ensure that the music for the Official Accompanist is sent by post to the Music Co-ordinator by the Closing Date given in the Syllabus

ii.     to ensure that the music is legible, in the correct key and clearly marked with the competition number and performer's name

iii.    the accompanist should not be expected to transpose any music

iv.    failure to comply may require that the performance occurs unaccompanied

v.     music should be handed in advance to the Music Co-ordinator or the Lady Assistant for the competition, and not given directly to the Adjudicator                                                                                                                                                                         
2. Accompanist:
 

i.      An Official Accompanist will be provided for all competitions which have a ‘Set Piece’ only, and for some other competitions as stated in the Syllabus. However, performers may bring their own accompanist for such competitions for such classes if they so wish

ii.     If the Official Accompanist is not required, this must be clearly indicated when making your entry

iii.    Practice sessions with the Office Accompanists *for which the official accompanists may charge a fee) are at their discretion but must not, under any circumstances take place in the hall / room while the Adjudicator is present.
3. Choirs and Choral Ensembles
 

i.      A choral ensemble is defined as a choral group with at least five (5) and no more than 11 voices

ii.     A choir is defined as a choral group between 12-50 voices

iii.    Schools can enter more than one choir into a competition provided the maximum number in each choir is not exceeded

iv.    No person will be allowed to sing in more than one choir competing in the same competition

v.     Choirs must provide their own accompanists
4. Performance
 

i.      In all competitions where a time limit has been imposed, after a leeway of 30 seconds, a penalty of 2% of the marks will be deducted

ii.     Performers are not permitted to practise on the Feis piano except for piano concerto entries. However, immediately before competing they are allowed, and indeed encouraged, to play a couple of scales to get the feel of the keyboard

iii.    In Duet competitions (instrumental or vocal), performers may only play or sing their chosen part once during the competition. If playing or singing with another partner in the same competition, the ‘other part’ must be performed

iv.    All vocal solos, duets, etc., are to be performed from memory. Holding of copy is therefore only permitted in classes where an Oratorio ‘Own Choice’ option has been chosen
5.    Competitors must not present the same song, music or drama pieces for more than one competition during the Feis. Exception to the rule only where specifically stated in a competition

FEIS ENTRIES FOR 2027

There are several ways in which to enter for competitions.

1. Online applications (Individuals and Schools)
  i.      

Register for an account and after completing ALL of your details, please select the competition(s) you wish to enter. Schools can also register their details using the school's email address.  NB all information you provide is in keeping with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018) referred to in our Privacy Policy if you have any concerns about the data, we retain on file
  ii.

If you have more than one child entering, you can do multiple entries
  iii.

Once you have entered, you select the ‘Pay Online’ button which will take you to our online provider ‘Stripe’ to make payment by debit or credit card.
  iv. 

Allow 14 working days after the Closing Date for your registration to be confirmed
2. In Person
  i.

Paper entry forms* may still be used and are available to download here 
  ii.

Your completed form and entry fees can be handed in to Committee Members who will be available at  St Columb's Hall, 10a Newmarket Street, Orchard Street, Derry BT48 6EB on Saturday 30 January 2027 from 10.00am-12noon and from 2.00pm-5.00pm
  iii.

If you are unable to attend on the above-mentioned date, your application form and entry fees can be posted to the Secretary at the address on our contact page.

If you have any queries on any of the categories, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the respective Feis member listed under Contact Details

*To counteract the possibility of mistakes having been made, competitors are advised to keep a copy of their Entry Form. Allowance for genuine mistakes will be made for one fortnight only from the close of entries. Where entries are made in bulk by schools etc., it is the responsibility of the individual competitors or their parents to ensure that the entries are correct.

Derry Feis
Derry Feis
The Derry Feis is registered as: Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland No: NIC 107559