TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The following terms and conditions apply to all contestants of Music and Stars Awards:

1. “Music and Stars Awards” is open to participants of all countries in the world. 
2. Since Music and Stars Awards is an online competition, contestants will be judged upon material sent online.
3. Videos should be available for watching online (YouTube or similar).
4. Complete live performance of each piece is to be performed like on regular competition, and sound editing or playback are forbidden. 5. Stopping the video camera during the entire recording of the same piece is not allowed. Contestants can submit multiple videos, with different pieces, as long as the total time for each category is respected.
6. Multi-camera recordings are allowed, as long as it is clear that the sound is completely live, and the sound has clearly not been edited. (TV recordings are allowed).
7. Instrumentalists other than piano can send their performances with or without accompaniment.
In case of having accompaniment in the video, the accompanist will not be judged. Only the contestant’s performance will be judged and scored by the jury members.
8. On the recording, instrument, hands and face of the performer must be clearly seen.
9. The videos provided by the contestants should be labelled correctly, with the name of the contestant and with the program performed written in the description of the video.
10. The jury will not judge upon fans or followers in Social Media or other accomplishments. The judgement will be made exclusively upon material received.
11. The contestants whose teacher is in the jury will not be judged by him / her. All jury members will inform beforehand to the organisation, of any relationship with any of the contestants, so they will not be able to adjudicate those competitors.
12. – By applying, the participant accepts the regulations, the general policies, the terms of use, and the privacy policy of the competition.
13. – Applications of minor musicians must be filled and submitted by their parents or legal guardian (tutor).
14. – Once the application fee is submitted, it cannot be reimbursed.
15. – The international jury’s decisions are final and not to be discussed. The individual jury’s votes and opinions are strictly confidential and will not be published.
16. Each candidate consent to “Music and Stars Awards” the processing of their personal data for putting all materials sent on the website or Social Media or any other communication and publicity materials of “Music and Stars Awards”. The consent of the processing data of minor contestants will automatically be given by their parents or legal guardians, upon application.

PERFORMING SPECIALITIES
Music and Stars Awards is set in different specialities, according to the following:
1. INSTRUMENTALISTS
PIANO: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur          
STRINGS (Violin, Cello, Viola, Double Bass, Others): A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur 
GUITAR: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
HARP: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
WINDS (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Others): A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
PERCUSSION (Timpani, Drums, Marimba, Other): A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
2. CHAMBER MUSIC
Piano duo (four hands / Two pianos): A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
Duo: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
Trio: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
Quatuor or more: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
3. VOICE                             
Female singer: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
Male singer: A, B, C, D, Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
4. CONDUCTORS
Junior, Emergent, Professional, Amateur
5. CHOIRS                          
Children choir (up to 14 year old), Junior (13-21), Emergent, Professional, Amateur
6. BAND                
Children Band (up to 14 year old), Junior (13-21), Emergent, Professional, Amateur
7. ORCHESTRA                
Children Orchestra (up to 14 year old), Junior (13-21), Emergent, Professional, Amateur
* Instrumentalists other than piano can send their performances with or without accompaniment. In case of having accompaniment in the video, the accompanist will not be judged. Only the contestant’s performance will be judged and scored by the jury members.

AGE CATEGORIES
The following categories are set considering the age of the contestants on the date of the deadline.
A: UNTIL 6 YEAR OLD
B: 7 TO 9 YEAR OLD
C: 10 TO 12 YEAR OLD
D: 13 TO 16 YEAR OLD
JUNIOR: 17 TO 20 YEAR OLD
EMERGENT: 21-27 YEAR OLD
PROFESSIONAL: 28 AND BEYOND.
AMATEUR: Non-professional musicians, 16 and above, without limit.
CHAMBER MUSIC: As per chamber music groups, the category has to be chosen according to the average age of all the members.
* All contestants can always apply for a higher category, if they wish, despite their real age.
REPERTOIRE
Each contestant presents a free repertoire with the following lengths:
Category A: up to 6 minutes long.
Category B: up to 10 minutes long.
Category C: up to 12 minutes long.
Category D: up to 15 minutes long.
Categories Junior, Emergent: up to 20 minutes long.
Category Professional: Up to 25 minutes long.
Category Amateur: 15 minutes maximum.
*Contestants can submit more than one video, as long as the total number of minutes is respected.
“Concertos” are welcome to the competition.
Separate movements of Concertos or Sonatas are allowed.
SCORING SYSTEM
GRAND PRIX “CROWN OF STARS”:
9 “CROWN OF STARS” awarded to the best performer of the following specialities, regardless of age (minimum score: 95)
                3 for Best instrumentalist
                1 for Best Chamber group
                1 for Best Vocalist
                1 for Best Conductor
                1 for Best Band / Orchestra
                1 for Best Choir          
GOLDEN STAR: 90-100
SILVER STAR: 80-89
BRONZE STAR: 70-79
“HONOR MENTIONS” can be as well awarded, following juries recommendations.
BEST PERFORMANCE AWARDS
The competition has set several “Best performance” awards for the following styles of music:
Ancient Music / Baroque / Classical / Romantic / Impressionist / Nationalistic / Modern (s.XX—XXI) / Traditional / Original (own compositions)
As well as for the following musical forms:
Prelude / Prelude and Fugue / Etude / Sonata / Variations / Concerto / Symphony / Song / Opera Aria
Those awards will be given to the best performance of a specific style and/or musical form in within the same age category, and with a minimum mark of 91/100.
To opt to this special prize, the contestant must apply specifically to the special prize “Best performance award”
BEST TEACHER AWARD / BEST MUSIC SCHOOL AWARD
Music and Stars Awards aims to give tribute and reward to outstanding educators, for the eminence and effectiveness of their teaching and their leadership on encouraging and preparing young artists to a music career.
The “BEST TEACHER AWARD” and the “BEST MUSIC SCHOOL AWARD” will be given to the teachers and music schools with the most outstanding students in the competition.
To opt to the “BEST TEACHER AWARD” and/or the “BEST MUSIC SCHOOL AWARD”, the contestant will have to submit their teacher’ name or music schools’ name and email, upon application. The applicant (or their legal guardian) is responsible to give this information with the previous consent of the teacher and/or the school.
BEST CD RULES
1- “Music and Stars Awards” is open to participants of all countries in the world.
2- To opt to the Best CD award, the submitted CDs must be published and available online. Contestants have to provide the proper link to a streaming public platform. (Spotify, YouTube…)
3- The candidate will define the category or categories of the submitted CD. The recording can opt to more than one award.
4- A jury, composed of experts in the recording field, as well as musicians and professors, will award the prize, according to the obtained scores.
5- The jury will not judge upon fans or followers in Social Media or other accomplishments. The judgement will be made exclusively upon material received.
6- The contestants having a personal or professional relationship with any of the jury members, shall not be judged by them. All jury members will inform beforehand to the organisation, of any relationship with any of the contestants, so they will not be able to adjudicate those competitors.
7- By applying, the participant accepts the regulations, the general policies, the terms of use, and the privacy policy of the competition.
8- Applications of minor musicians must be filled and submitted by their parents or legal guardian (tutor).
9- Once the application fee is submitted, it cannot be reimbursed.
10- The international jury’s decisions are final and not to be discussed. The individual jury’s votes and opinions are strictly confidential and will not be published.
11- Each candidate consent to “Music and Stars Awards” the processing of their personal data for putting all materials sent on the website or Social Media or any other communication and publicity materials of “Music and Stars Awards”. The consent of the processing data of minor contestants will automatically be given by their parents or legal guardians, upon application.
BEST CD CATEGORIES
1- Best piano solo CD
2- Best piano duo CD (one piano four hands / two pianos)
3- Best instrumentalist CD (other than piano)
4- Best duo CD
5- Best chamber music CD (three or more performers)
6- Best Female Singer CD
7- Best Male Singer CD
8- Best Conductor CD
9- Best Choir CD
10- Best Band CD
11- Best Orchestra CD
12- Best cover (all categories)
13- Best CD concept (all categories)
14- Best sound editing (all categories)
*Participant’s age in these categories is not taken into account.
SCORING SYSTEM
GRAND PRIX “CROWN OF STARS”:
There will be 2 Grand Prix “Crown of Stars” awarded to the best score of the following specialities: (minimum score: 95)
1- Best performer (between solo, chamber music, choirs, bands, conductors, singers, orchestras)
2- Best CD (between best cover, best sound editing, best concept)
GOLDEN STAR: 90-100
SILVER STAR: 80-89
BRONZE STAR: 70-79
BEST VIDEO RULES
1- “Music and Stars Awards” is open to participants of all countries in the world.
2- Creative edited videos are welcome in Music and Stars Awards, in the Best Video Section.
3- The candidate will define the category or categories of the submitted music video.
4- The video length may not be longer than 10 minutes.
5- Videos must be available online (YouTube or similar)
6- A jury, composed of people of the cinematographic, musical and cultural world, will award the prizes, according to the obtained scores.
7- The jury will not judge upon fans or followers in Social Media or other accomplishments. The judgement will be made exclusively upon material received.
8- The contestants having a personal or professional relationship with any of the jury members, shall not be judged by them. All jury members will inform beforehand to the organisation, of any relationship with any of the contestants, so they will not be able to adjudicate those competitors.
9- By applying, the participant accepts the regulations, the general policies, the terms of use, and the privacy policy of the competition.
10- Applications of minor musicians must be filled and submitted by their parents or legal guardian (tutor).
11- Once the application fee is submitted, it cannot be reimbursed.
12- The international jury’s decisions are final and not to be discussed. The individual jury’s votes and opinions are strictly confidential and will not be published.
13- Each candidate consent to “Music and Stars Awards” the processing of their personal data for putting all materials sent on the website or Social Media or any other communication and publicity materials of “Music and Stars Awards”. The consent of the processing data of minor contestants will automatically be given by their parents or legal guardians, upon application.
BEST VIDEO CATEGORIES
1- Best video
a. Instrumentalist
b. Chamber music
c. Voice
d. Conductor
e. Choir
f. Orchestra
g. Band
2. Best concept
3. Best photography
4. Best editing
*Participant’s age in these categories is not taken into account.
SCORING SYSTEM
GRAND PRIX “CROWN OF STARS”:
There will be 2 Grand Prix “Crown of Stars” awarded to the best score of the following specialities: (minimum score: 95)
1- Best performer (between solo, chamber music, choirs, bands, conductors, singers, orchestras)
2- Best video (between best concept, best photography, best editing)
GOLD STAR: 90-100
SILVER STAR: 80-89
BRONZE STAR: 70-79
SCHEDULE
DEADLINE OF SUBMISSIONS: 17th of June, 2024 (11.59PM PST)
RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT: 30th of June, 2024
FEES
ENTERING FEE: 75 € / + 25 € PER CATEGORY

BY MAKING A SUBMISSION TO THIS COMPETITION, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FOREGOING RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND THEREBY.