Simon Fischer Online YouTube Competition #1

Purcell Chacony

Nearly £1000 worth of prizes!

Put a video on YouTube of your performance of Simon Fischer's arrangement for violin and piano of the Purcell Chacony.
Register here to enter it for the competition. In January 2011 the entries will be adjudicated by two independent musicians who will award the prize for the best performance in each of three classes.

What is the competition for?
The purpose of the competition is firstly to raise awareness of this wonderful piece by Purcell in its new arrangement for violin and piano.
Secondly, to provide a novel and enjoyable goal for players to aim towards.
Thirdly, to give players the opportunity - for some, a rare one - to receive objective appraisals of their playing.

Three classes
Enter in one of the following:

Open         Anyone
Student      School or college student. Enter in this category or instead enter the Open.
Amateur    Enter in this category or instead enter the Open. 

Prizes

• Open            £500 + Basics, Practice, Scales, Secrets of Tone DVD
                      Total prize value £620
• Student        £100 + Basics, Practice, Scales, Secrets of Tone DVD
                      Total prize value £220
• Amateur       Basics, Practice, Scales, Secrets of Tone DVD, Brahms CD.
                      Total prize value £130

Closing date for entry
Purchase your registration in the Online Store on this site by 1st December 2010.
The video must be posted on YouTube date-stamped on or before 31st December 2010. The results will be announced on 10th January 2011

Post your video for public view, or for private view only
The video can be posted for public viewing, or for private view only. If posted for private view only, you will be sent the YouTube handles of the adjudicators to add to your Friends list.

Does whether the video is public or private affect its chances of winning?

Whether your video is public or private will in no way affect the decision of the adjudicators. They will appraise your video only in terms of your performance.
By entering the competition you agree that if your entry is for private view only, public viewing will be enabled should it win a prize.

Will the quality of the picture, or the place where it was filmed, affect the outcome?
The adjudicators will not rate more highly a performance on stage than a performance in your living room. However, if the sound or picture in your video is not sufficiently clear, this could impact on the adjudicator's assessment. 

Who will adjudicate and decide the winners of the competition?
Two leading professional musicians, one a violinist and one a non-string-player (to be announced in due course), will watch and listen to the submitted performances.
Simon Fischer will not take part in the process of selecting the prizewinners, and will have no influence on the outcome of the independent panel. Their decision will be considered final.

What is the entry fee?

• Open: £25
• Student: Free
• Amateur: £25

Two levels of entry

• Level 1   Enter competition only
• Level 2   Enter competition and get detailed assessment of your performance

What sort of assessment will I get?
Following the announcement of the winners, Level 2 entrants will receive an assessment of their performance from Simon Fischer. A few brief comments will be given under some or all of the following typical headings:

• Overall performance
• Tonal, dramatic and expressive contrast
• Phrasing and expression
• Intonation, sound quality, rhythm
• Violin hold, bow hold, general posture

Additional assessments
Additional assessments can also be obtained from either or both of the adjudicators:
Add £10 for a further general report from one of the adjudicators.

Non-profit
This is a not-for-profit competition.