Gospel Online Festival Guidelines

2023 Gospel Online Solo and Ensemble Festival

Before submitting an application form, please read the full festival guidelines below. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible application submission.

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ONLINE APPLICATION INFORMATION

● Deadline: Friday, 12/15/2023

● (1) Complete online application; (2) Provide a YouTube link of *video recording; (3) Pay application fee through PayPal.

● Participants can ONLY apply either Live Festival or Online Festival. It is acceptable if participants apply different categories in Live and Online.

● Participants may apply to both classical and gospel festivals but will need to apply separately.

● Best performer winners of the 2022 Metropolitan Music Festival and/or students of this year’s judges may not participate.

● Best performer winners of the 2022 Metropolitan Music Festival are not allowed to participate in the same Category and Division as students participated in the 2022 Metropolitan Music Festival.

● In the event of a high volume of applications, participants will be organized to compete in groups.

● The Metropolitan Festival is a national level Festival.

AWARD

● $100 Cash Award: Best Performer(s) in the Gospel Festival.

APPLICATION FEE

Solo (Piano, String, Wind/Brass) application and processing fee: $50 (non-refundable)
Chamber application and processing fee: $40 per applicant (non-refundable)

○ All chamber fees must be submitted together.

Confirmation emails will be automatically sent to the parent's email address once the application is submitted. If it does not appear in your inbox, we advise to double check whether it went into your junk or spam box.

*VIDEO RECORDING

● YouTube Video Naming Rules:

- Title: Metropolitan Classical Music Festival 2023 – Instrument, Full Title of piece, Full Composer Name

- Description box: Grade, date/year of recording (this information should NOT be in the title)

- The participant's name should NOT appear anywhere on the YouTube video, including channel name.

- If the information for the title does not all fit due to character limit, please include the remainder of the title in the description box.

Example of Correct Video Title: Metropolitan Gospel Music Festival 2023 - Piano, Praise to the Lord the Almighty, M. Hayes.

● Videos must be taken horizontally.

● Save/publish the video’s visibility to UNLISTED.

● Videos will not be accepted if they are not titled/described accordingly.

● The video being submitted may be made anytime during 2023.

● Participants’ face, hands, feet with pedals as well as keyboard/instrument, must be visible for the entirety of the video.

● Piano and String will require memorization. For all other instruments, memorization is recommended but not required.

● Video recording MUST be a one-take; editing, such as cutting and merging multiple takes, is prohibited.

● Formal and appropriate attire must be worn, otherwise the video will not be accepted.

● Piano accompaniment is required for all pieces that have an existing accompanying part.

● The applicant must prepare the movement or piece in its entirety. We recommend uploading a full performance that falls within the assigned time limit; however, if the video time length is longer than the designated time limit, judges reserve the right to listen to different sections of the piece. Participants may not upload an incomplete movement/piece.

RESULTS

Results will be announced Saturday, 12/30/2023.

Judge decisions are final, no exceptions.

● 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and Honorable Mention will be awarded.

● Certificates and comments sheets will be emailed to the participant’s and the teacher’s email address. Awards will be mailed to the teacher's address listed on the application form. YMIC is not responsible for any awards that get lost in the mail due to incorrect address information or transit issues and will not send an additional copy. Please ensure that the teacher's address is accurate and up-to-date, as there will be no follow-up confirmation.