XXII MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

"MOSCOW SOUNDS"

Dates: April 27, 2024 - May 1, 2024

 1. General Regulation

Festival “Moscow Sounds” is the largest youth music forum in Russia, known far beyond the borders of the country. The festival was first held in 1990. Among the participants in the previous twenty-one festivals are bands from Austria, Armenia, the Bahamas, Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Hong Kong, Georgia, Spain, Italy, China, Korea, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, USA, Thailand, Ukraine, France, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan and other countries, from dozens of Russian cities.

Festival “Moscow Sounds” includes gala concerts, solo performances by participating groups in the best concert halls in Moscow, creative meetings, open lessons and master classes, a scientific and practical conference on the development of children's and youth's musical creativity.

An integral part of the festival is an international competition held in several nominations. The participants of the festival can choose the format of participation in the Festival when filling out an online application.

Possible participation format:

1) participation in an international competition, which takes place in various nominations (see № 5) and the festival program;

2) participation only in the festival program (performances in the program of one or more friendship concerts).

For the participants of the festival and competition, cultural and leisure programs are traditionally developed, introducing them to the history, culture, museums, theaters, architectural monuments and other sights of the Russian capital.

 Festival “Moscow Sounds” is supported by:

 • Moscow International Union of Musical Figures

 • All-Russian Choral Society

 • Union of Composers of Russia

 • State Russian House of Folk Art

 • Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky

 • St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov

 • The Gnesin Russian Academy of Music

 • Moscow Musical Society

 • Union of Moscow Composers

 • Single information portal "Music Festivals"

2. Goals and objectives of the festival

 • preservation and enhancement of the cultural and historical heritage of Moscow and Russia

 • promotion of culture, art, creativity of the peoples of Russia in the framework of international cooperation

 • strengthening mutual understanding and friendly ties between children and young people from different countries

 • solving urgent problems of spiritual and moral education, the formation of moral values ​​of youth

 • fostering in children and youth respect and personal interest in the traditions of the artistic culture of different countries of the world

 • mass attraction of children and youth to the art of music

 • raising the musical and performing level of children's and youth creative collectives

 • support of acting children's and youth creative collectives, showing their achievements at the international level

 • creation of conditions for creative self-realization of young musicians-performers and their social adaptation in the field of culture

 • identification and support of gifted creative youth in Russia and other countries

3. Organizing committee of the festival

The founder of the festival is the Department of Education and Science of the city of Moscow. The direct organizer of the festival is the Moscow City State Budgetary Educational Institution "Center for Creative Development and Musical and Aesthetic Education of Children and Youth "Radost", the leading institution of the Russian capital in the field of musical and aesthetic education of youth, operator of the Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow for the implementation of the city comprehensive target program  education of youth "Moscow Children Sing", on the organization of mass creative events.

4. Conditions of participation

 Choral, folklore, musical and instrumental collectives take part in the festival.

 Collectives present competition programs in accordance with the declared nominations (see №5: "Nominations of the competition and composition of participants").

 • To participate in the festival, the collective performs a free program with a duration of no more than 15 minutes.  Each participating collective receives a diploma of the participant of the festival.  Also, by decision of the Organizing Committee, special diplomas can be awarded.

 • To participate in the competition, the collective performs the program (s) in accordance with the requirements of the competitive nominations (see №7: “Requirements for the competitive program”).

5. Nominations of the competition and the composition of participants

 As part of the festival “Moscow Sounds”, an international competition is held in the following nominations:

 1. "Academic choral singing"

 2. "Performance of Orthodox sacred music"

 3. "Performing of Western European Sacred Music"

 4. "Folk choral singing"

 5. "Instrumental performance"

 6. "Choral theatricalisation"

 In the nominations "Academic choral singing", "Performance of Orthodox sacred music", "Performance of Western European sacred music" participate:

 • choirs - from 20 participants,

 • vocal and choral ensembles - 12-19 participants.

 The nomination "Folk Choral Singing" includes:

 • choirs - from 20 participants,

 • folklore ensembles - 5–19 participants.

Folk, brass, symphonic, pop orchestras and ensembles participate in the "Instrumental Performance" nomination:

 • orchestras - from 20 participants,

 • instrumental ensembles - 10-19 participants.

 The collective is allowed to participate in competitive auditions of several nominations.

6. Competition categories

Choral groups:

I - children's groups (participants up to 16 years old),

II - boys' choirs or ensembles (before mutation),

IIIа - homogeneous youth collectives (participants from 15 to 22 years old inclusive) male choirs and ensembles,

IIIb - homogeneous youth collectives (participants from 15 to 22 years old inclusive) female choirs and ensembles,

IVa - mixed youth collectives (participants from 15 to 22 years old inclusive),

IVb - boys' choirs (pre-mutation) and boys' choirs (under 22),

Va - adult homogeneous collectives (participants from 23 years old) male choirs and ensembles,

Vb - adult homogeneous collectives (participants from 23 years old) female choirs and ensembles,

VI - adult mixed groups (participants from 23 years old),

VII - class-choir (I-IV classes),

VIII - class-choir (from the V class),

IX - school choir (I-IV grades),

X - school choir (from grade V).

 Folklore groups:

 I - children's collectives (participants up to 16 years old),

 II - homogeneous youth collectives (participants from 15 to 22 years old inclusive),

 III - mixed youth collectives (participants from 15 to 22 years old inclusive),

 IV - adult homogeneous collectives (participants from 23 years old),

 V - mixed adult collectives (participants from 23 years old),

 VI - class-choir (I-IV classes),

 VII - class-choir (from the V class),

 VIII - school choir (grades I-IV),

 IX - school choir (from grade V).

 Instrumental groups:

 I - younger age collective (participants up to 12 years old),

 II - mixed age collective (participants 6-18 years old),

 III - middle age collective (participants 12-18 years old),

 IV - student collectives of organizations of secondary vocational education (schools, colleges),

 V - student collectives of organizations of higher professional education (universities),

 VI - adult instrumental collectives (from 21 years old).

NOTES:

 ♦ Class-choir - choral collectives consisting of students from one class of a general education school; school choir - choral collectives consisting of members of several classes of a comprehensive school.

It is allowed to include in the composition of performers up to 15% of participants from other age categories.

 ♦ Competitive auditions in all nominations are held separately by category.

 ♦ Professional collectives (including from organizations of secondary and higher professional education) and amateur collectives are assessed separately.

7. Requirements for the competition program

 7.1.  NOMINATION "ACADEMIC CHORAL SINGING"

 7.1.1.  FOR COMPETITION CATEGORIES I, II, III, IV, V, VI

 Each collective-participant performs a program consisting of at least 3 (three) pieces, in which the following must be presented:

 1. A piece of sacred music or choral classics.

 2. Folk song.

 3. One of the compulsory works (see list of compulsory works below). This item does not apply to foreign participants. Foreign collective can include a compulsory piece in the competition program at will, which will be additionally taken into account and noted by the jury when evaluating the performance.

No longer than 12 minutes of pure playing time.

Attention!

♦ The competition program must include at least one piece without musical accompaniment (a cappella).

♦ Do not include more than one piece of the same genre (spiritual, classical or folk).

LIST OF COMPULSORY PIECES

- for age category I (children's groups up to 16 years):

1) M. Partskhaladze, words by V. Kupatashvili “OZERO”, russian text by A. Gurin   choral part

2) Y. Tugarinov, “Ave Maria” from the Oratorio “ALMAZNYY SVET ZVEZDY”  clavier  choral part

- for age category II (boys' choirs or ensembles up to mutation):

1) T. Popatenko, words by E. Avdienko “VESENNIY NAIGRYSH”  choral part

2) K. Jenkins “AVE VERUM” from “Stabat Mater”  clavier  choral part

- for age category IIIа (homogeneous youth ensembles):

- male choirs and ensembles:

1) A. Dargomyzhsky, words by M. Lermontov “SOSNA”  choral part

2) Ts. Cui, words by O. Belyaevskaya “DNI VESENNIYE”  clavier  choral part

- for age category IIIb (homogenous youth ensembles):

- female choirs and ensembles:

1) V. Agafonnikov, words by Hierodeacon Ioann (Korniyenko) “SERDTSE BOGOMATERI”  choral part

2) V. Kalistratov “VOCALIZE”  clavier  choral part

- for age categories IVa and IVb (mixed youth ensembles and choirs of boys and young men) (participants from 13 to 22 years old inclusive)

1) V. Golikov, words by N. Yakunin and L. Oshanin “SOLNTSELIKAYA RUS”, transcription for incomplete mixed choir by A. Yurkevskaya   choral part

2) S. Ekimov, words by Archbishop Pitirim (P. Volochkov) “VOLSHEBNOYE ROZHDESTVO”, arranged for an incomplete mixed choir by T. Zhdanova  clavier  choral part

- for age category Va (homogenous adult ensembles of 23+):

- male choirs and ensembles:

1) F. Schubert, words by F. Krumacher “NOCH”, Russian translation by A. Efremenkov  choral part

2) Ts. Cui, words by S. Nadson “PUST SMYATENYA I GROMA”  clavier  choral part

- for age category Vb (adult groups of the same age from 23):

- female choirs and ensembles:

1) V. Kalistratov, words by V. Borozdinova “SVET DALEKOY ZVEZDY”   choral part

2) G. Faure “AVE VERUM”  clavier  choral part

- for age group VI (adult mixed groups from 23 years old):

1) B. Snetkov, words by K. Khetagurova “THE POET’S TESTAMENT” translation by P. Panchenko  choral part

2) C. Gounod “GLORIA” from the Mass in C-dur  clavier  choral part

7.1.2.  FOR COMPETITION CATEGORIES VII, VIII, IX, X

 Each collective-participant performs a program consisting of at least 2 (two) pieces at the choice of the collective-participant without an obligatory piece.

 Performing a work without musical accompaniment (a cappella) is encouraged, but not required.

 The total duration of the program is no more than 7 minutes.

 7.2.  NOMINATION "PERFORMANCE OF ORTHODOX SACRED MUSIC"

 Each collective-participant performs a program that includes at least 2 (two) pieces of the participant's choice, belonging to the Orthodox singing tradition.

 The total duration of the program is no more than 10 minutes.

 I, II, III, IV, V, VI age categories: at least one piece must be performed without musical accompaniment (a cappella).

 Age VII, VIII, IX, X age categories: performance of a work without musical accompaniment (a cappella) is encouraged, which is evaluated additionally.

 7.3.  NOMINATION "PERFORMANCE OF WESTERN EUROPEAN SACRED MUSIC"

 Each collective-participant performs a program that includes at least 2 (two) pieces of the participant's choice, belonging to the Western European singing tradition.

 The total duration of the program is no more than 10 minutes.

 In all age categories, performance of at least one piece without musical accompaniment (a cappella) is encouraged.

 NOTE: Russian ensembles can take part in the competition for the best performance of Western European sacred music only if they participate in the competition for the best performance of Orthodox sacred music.

 ALL ENSEMBLES ARE RECOMMENDED TO PARTICIPATE IN CONCERTS AS PART OF THE MOSCOW GRAND CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CHOIR.

Consolidated works for the Great Moscow Composite Choir of Moscow Schoolchildren:

Repertoire of the Festival Opening Gala Concert:

 1. A. Alexandrov, words by S. Mikhalkov "The Hymn of Russia"  clavier  choral part

2. I. Dunayevsky, words by M. Lisyansky "Moya Moskva"  clavier  choral part

3. A. Kalnyns, words by V. Purvs, Russian text by O. Ulitina "Muzyka"  clavier  choral part

4. V. Belyaev, words by Nun Maria "Tvorite dobryye dela"  clavier

5. D. Lvov-Kompanets, words by V. Viktorov "Druzhat deti vsey Zemli"  clavier  choral part

6. L. van Beethoven, words by E. Aleksandrova "Druzhba"  clavier  choral part

7. V. Shainsky, words by M. Matusovsky "Vmeste veselo shagat'"  clavier  choral part

Repertoire of the Festival Closing Gala Concert:

1. A. Alexandrov, words by S. Mikhalkov "The Hymn of Russia"  clavier  choral part

2. I. Dunayevsky, words by M. Lisyansky "Moya Moskva"  clavier  choral part

3. A. Kalnyns, words by V. Purvs, O. Ulitina's Russian text "Muzyka"  clavier  choral part

4. A. Babadjanian, words by L. Derbenev "Luchshiy gorod Zemli"  clavier  choral part

5. E. Krylatov, words by Yu. Entin "Krylatyye kacheli"  clavier  choral part

6. M. Minkov, words by Y. Entin "Dorohoyu dobra"  clavier  choral part

7. Y. Chichkov, words by M. Plyatskovsky "Detstvo - eto ya i ty"  clavier  choral part

 7.4.  NOMINATION "FOLK CHORAL SINGING"

 Participants in the nomination are folk choirs and folklore ensembles, focused both on ethnographic and stage reading of song material, folk song and dance ensembles, folklore ensembles of small compositions.

 Each collective-participant performs a program consisting of at least 3 (three) compositions of different characters at the choice of the participant.

 The performance of a lyrical, ritual song with elements of variation is encouraged.

 The program of the competitive performance may include folk games, poetic folklore, fragments of folk rituals and holidays, household dances (round dance, square dance, dance).

 The total duration of the program is no more than 8 minutes.

 NOTE: At least one piece of the competition program is performed without

 musical accompaniment (a cappella).

 7.5.  NOMINATION "INSTRUMENTAL EXECUTION"

 The nomination participants are orchestras and ensembles of different compositions - folk, brass, symphonic, variety.

 Each collective-participant performs a program consisting of at least 3 (three) compositions of different characters at the participant's choice.

 The program may include:

 • work (or arrangement) by a classical composer or a work by a contemporary composer;

 • work (or arrangement) of symphonic, jazz or pop music;

 • processing (arrangement, instrumentation) of a folk song or dance;

 • large form or accompaniment to a soloist - instrumentalist or vocalist.

The total duration of the performance of one group, taking into account the seating arrangement and the setting of the sound of the program, is no more than 20 minutes.

 Requirements for the composition of the orchestra:

 • The number of illustrators in orchestras of general and additional education organizations, children's music schools and children's art schools should not exceed 20% of the group's members.

 • The number of illustrators in the orchestras of secondary vocational education organizations should not exceed 10% of the collective members.

 • Only one microphone per soloist is allowed.

 • Using a synthesizer or grand piano in an orchestra is only permissible as a missing orchestral voice.

The organizing committee can provide the participants with the following instruments: drum kit, big drum, grand piano, keyboard harp.  Music stands for orchestra and conductor, microphone for soloist, chairs are also provided.  Special wishes must be indicated in the online application and must be agreed with the curator of the nomination!

7.6. NOMINATION "CHORAL THEATRICALISATION"

Academic choirs and ensembles can participate.

In the nomination "choral theatricalisation", participants apply programmes in which the vocal and choral genre is presented in unity with other artistic genres: theatre, instrumental, choreography, etc. The jury evaluates all elements of the presented composition: vocal and choral skills, performers' artistry, choreography, costumes, scenery, movement plastique, script.

The programme may include several independent pieces, fragments of musical performances or present a complete composition.

The total duration of the competition programme shall not exceed 15 minutes.

NOTE: The use of phonograms is not allowed in all nominations of the competition.

8. Forms of the competition

 The competition is held in one stage in full-time or part-time form.

9. Dates of the festival

 The time of the competitive auditions, as well as the rest of the competition, will be announced later.

10. Jury of the competition

The jury of the competition is formed of specialists in the field of culture and art of Russia and foreign countries, who have outstanding achievements in the field of musical performance and pedagogy, as well as famous composers and conductors, representatives of the world music community.

11. Criteria for evaluating a competitive performance

 The winners of the competition are determined according to the following criteria:

 • compliance of the program with the requirements of the competition,

 • the depth of disclosure of the imagery of the performed works,

 • artistic and imaginative solution,

 • performing skills,

 • the complexity and originality of the repertoire.

12. Awarding of winners and participants of the competition

 Competitive auditions are rated on a 10-point scale.  According to the arithmetic mean of all members of the jury, the participants of the competition are awarded the following titles:

• 10 points - Grand Prix,

• 9-9.9 points - laureate of the I degree,

• 8–8.9 points - laureate of the II degree,

• 7-7.9 points - laureate of the III degree,

• 6–6.9 points - diploma winner.

 There are special diplomas, including "Best Conductor", "For Concertmaster" and others.

The collectives that took part in the competition and scored less than 6 points receive a Diploma of the participant of the competition.

The jury's decision is not subject to appeal.

Any violation of the competition regulations entails a loss of points when evaluating the performance of the collective.

Attention! Contestants from Moscow (both full-time and part-time forms of participation) are not sent diplomas of winners and participants by Russian Post, by e-mail or by any other means. The diplomas remaining in the Organizing Committee at the end of all the competition events can be obtained at Moscow City State Budgetary Educational Institution Center for Creative Development and Musical and Aesthetic Education of Children and Youth "Radost" (Mikhalkovskaya st., 22) by individual agreement with the project coordinators until May 31, 2024.

13. The procedure for filling out an online application for participation in the festival

 To participate in the competition (full-time and part-time), you must fill out an online application no later than March 1, 2024 

 Acceptance of video recordings of participants in the correspondence form - until April 1, 2024.

 If you participate in several nominations for each nomination, you must fill out a separate application.

Attention! Submission of an application for participation in the competition confirms the consent to the processing of the personal data of the participants by the Organizing Committee.

The information provided in the application will be used for the issuance of diplomas. Only teachers and accompanists specified in the application can be awarded with the gratitude of the competition.

Feedback and information on the schedule of the competition events will be carried out exclusively by phone numbers and e-mail specified in the application.

To place the presentation page of the collective in the brochure of the festival in your personal account on the website getinfo.choirsofmoscow.ru, you must attach:

• colour photo of the collective (jpeg, tiff file; at least 3 MB);

• characteristics of the collective, indicating creative achievements for the period from 2021 to 2023 (Word file; text size - 2,000 printed characters with spaces);

• color photo of the artistic director of the collective (jpeg, tiff file; at least 3 MB);

• characteristics of the artistic director with an indication of education, creative achievements for the period from 2021 to 2023 (Word file; text volume - 1000 printed characters with spaces);

• a list of collective members, which will contain the following data for each participant: name (in full), surname, year of birth, age.

Participants of the correspondence form must also attach a link to the video recording of the competitive performance to the online application.

The video recording must meet the following requirements:

• the members of the collective and the conductor must be visible on the video;

• a video recording presented in the format of a concert performance must be made without turning off and stopping the video camera, from the beginning to the end of the performance of the competition program;

• subsequent editing is not allowed;

• the provided video should be of high quality resolution (preferably 1920×1080 with a video aspect ratio of 16:9), horizontal screen orientation; the use of a tripod is mandatory;

• the sound should not contain extraneous noise;

• A video recording of the competitive performance must be created no earlier than September 1, 2023.

The video recording of the competition performance must be posted on the YouTube video service (youtube.com).

Videos posted on other Internet services or sent by e-mail will not be accepted for participation in the competition.

When uploading videos to YouTube, you must specify:

In the "Video Title" field:

- country;

- town;

- name and surname of the soloist / name of the group.

In the Description field:

- the name of the competition: "Moscow Sounds - 2024";

- nomination;

- age of the participant / age range of the collective members;

- the executable program;

- surname, name, patronymic of the teacher / collective leader.

Videos that do not meet these requirements will not be scored.

14. Entry fee for participation in the competition

The entry fee for participation in the competition is:

 • for collectives from Russia, CIS countries:

 - for participation in the festival - 1000 rubles per collective;

 - for participation in the competition - 2000 rubles per collective (if you participate in several nominations, the organizational fee is paid separately for each nomination).

 • for foreign collectives:

 - to participate in the festival - 50 euros;

 - to participate in the festival and in the competition:

 - 80 euros for participation in one nomination,

 - 120 euros for participation in two nominations,

 - 160 euros for participation in three nominations.

Collectives-participants from organizations subordinated to the Department of Education and Science of the city of Moscow, take part in the festival free of charge.

For members of the Moscow Musical Society there is a preferential participation fee

(it can be ensembles and singers from any region of Russia):

- for participation in the festival - 500 roubles per collective;

- for participation in the competition - 1 000 rubles per collective.

Note. If you have any questions about joining the Moscow Musical Society, please call: +7 (936) 240-12-20 (Daria Nefyodova).

 Attention! For participation in the nominations "Performance of Orthodox Sacred Music" and "Performance of Western European Sacred Music" all participating groups make an entrance fee once.

 In case of refusal to participate in the competition, the entry fee is not refundable.

 A receipt with the details for paying the entrance fee can be downloaded from the website of the Moscow City Comprehensive Target Program for Youth Education "Moscow Children Sing" http://choirsofmoscow.ru.

Payment confirmation must be attached to the online application.

 Attention! Samples of receipts from previous seasons of the competition are not valid!

 Corrections in the receipt are not allowed!

 Attention! The performances of the participants who did not send the complete application package will not be evaluated.

15. Contacts

 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

 "Center for Creative Development and Musical and Aesthetic Education of Children and Youth "Radost"

 125008, Moscow, Mikhalkovskaya str., 22

 Tel: + 7 (495) 708-96-25

 E-mail: ms@choirsofmoscow.ru

NOMINATION COORDINATORS

 "Academic choral singing", "Choral theatricalisation"

 Galiya Bukaeva

 E-mail: g.bukaeva@radost-moscow.ru

"Folk choral singing"

 Olesya Karaseva

 E-mail: olesyadnx@mail.ru

 "Orchestral performance"

 Dmitry Bazanov

 E-mail: dmitrii_bazanov@mail.ru

 "Performance of Orthodox Sacred Music",

 "Performing Western European Sacred Music"

 Elena Zharova

 E-mail: ellenavalentin@list.ru