11TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND PASTORALES IN RZESZÓW
25 January (Saturday) 2025

1. The competition is organised by:
Polish Union of Choirs and Orchestras, Branch in Rzeszów,
Institute of Music, University of Rzeszów.

2. International Festival of Christmas Carols and Pastorales in Rzeszów will be held on 25 January 2025.

3. The competition is intended for amateur choirs and orchestras.

4. Objectives of the competition:
a. to improve the quality of artistic expression of amateur choirs and orchestras,
b. to evaluate artistic accomplishments of the groups,
c. to promote integration of amateur artistic initiatives in the Podkarpackie Region,
d. to evaluate conductors' work (professional progress).

5. The competition is open to:
• Adult choirs
a. choirs of equal voices
b. mixed choirs
c. chamber choirs up to 16 singers
• Senior choirs (55+)
• Children's and youth choirs and groups (up to 18 years of age):
a. children's choirs (up to 15 years of age)
b. youth choirs (over 15 years of age)
e. girls', boys' choirs of equal voices
• Orchestras
a. symphonic
b. string
c. brass bands

6. Please, send your registration form, with an up-to-date picture (in electronic jpg format, fine resolution) and information about the group, to the following address: festiwal.rzeszow@gmail.com To enter the competition you need to submit properly completed registration form by 31 December 2024.

7. The Artistic Board appointed by the organisers shall qualify the groups for the Festival. The groups will be notified whether they have qualified to participate by 2 January 2025.

8. The groups taking part in the competition shall pay a registration fee of 500 PLN, and the groups which are members of Polish Union of Choirs and Orchestras (PZCHiO) pay a fee of 450 PLN, to the bank account of Polish Union of Choirs and Orchestras, Branch in Rzeszów, at PEKAO Bank 63 1240 2614 1111 0000 3958 5930
The registration fees shall be paid by 6 January 2025. If participation in the competition is cancelled at a later time, the fee shall not be refunded.

9. The groups can only participate in one category of the competition.

10. Liability for using works subject to copyrights rests with the performing entities. The fact should be reported to the relevant entities.

11. Rules of the competition for vocal groups:
a) at least one song by a Polish composer;
b) freely selected songs, varying in style (historical period); one song may be performed with the accompaniment of an instrument - piano or any other instrument of choice, possibly a small chamber ensemble. The program may comprise works related to Christmas or winter season;
c) obligatory Christmas carol or pastorale, selected by the organiser, to be performed during the competition and the final concert. In 2025, the obligatory carol is Lulajże Jezuniu, with an arrangement of your choice;
d) the performance may not exceed 10 minutes! You can present up to three stanzas of the selected carol or pastorale. The performance may not be shorter than 5 minutes with the entry;
e) the specified program cannot be changed; any changes which have not been reported to the organisers may result in disqualification from the competition.

12. Rules of the competition for orchestras:
a) the performance may not exceed 15 minutes! You can present up to three stanzas of the selected carol or pastorale. The performance may not be shorter than 7 minutes.
b) instrumental acoustic presentation, no sound amplification available. Freely selected works, varying in style, related to Christmas or winter season.
c) obligatory song selected by the organiser, to be presented in a freely selected form. In 2025, the obligatory piece is Lulajże Jezuniu, with an arrangement of your choice.
d) the specified program cannot be changed; any changes which have not been reported to the organisers may result in disqualification from the competition.

13. For detailed information, please contact:
Director of the Festival: dr hab. professor of the University of Rzeszów Anna Marek - Kamińska
ul. Okrzei 7, 35-959 Rzeszów
Tel. 600159077,
festiwal.rzeszow@gmail.com

Jury Regulations
1. The Jury appointed by the organisers comprises renowned musicians.
2. The Jury passes the verdict, and assigns the awards.
3. Awards:
a. Subject to resources, the organiser will award financial prizes to four groups with the highest scores in each category;
b. The Jury may distribute the prizes in a different way than stipulated in these Regulations;
c. The choirs that win top prizes will also receive an additional award, such as a commemorative statuette, medal, etc.;
d. All the groups participating in the competition will receive commemorative diplomas;
e. The amount of the financial prizes will depend on the resources acquired.
4. The Jury evaluates: choice of repertoire, intonation, vocal emission, interpretation, song difficulty.
5. Each member of the Jury evaluates each performance by assigning a score for each factor subject to assessment.
6. The Jury shall announce the results of the competition on its final day, i.e., 25 January 2025.
7. The verdict of the Jury shall be final and may not be contested.

Final Provisions
1. The group which has won the highest financial prize may not receive such prize during the subsequent festival (this does not apply to the special prize), but may participate in the festival. The organiser reserves the right to change or supplement the terms and conditions of the competition.
2. Possible copyright costs are borne by the performer.
3. Proprietary right, image and personal data clause.
1) Participants transfer, free of charge, any proprietary rights to the artistic performance presented during the competition to  Polish Union of Choirs and Orchestras, Branch in Rzeszów, for use by the latter entities in an unlimited territorial and temporal manner in the following fields of exploitation:
a) preservation (recording) in any possible forms such as photography, audio and video,
b) reproduction on any audio and video media,
c) marketing,
d) uploading to computer memory and the Internet,
e) public presentation, display.
2) Participants of the competition also grant permission to reproduce their likeness, recorded using any photographic and recording techniques in connection with their participation in the competition.
3) Participants agree for PZCHiO to process their personal data for the needs of the competition, in compliance with the statutory objectives of the competition organiser (this applies also to posting such data on Internet sites).
4. By submitting your Registration Form you accept the terms and conditions specified herein.