South Bay Guitar Society
GUITAR solo & ensemble FESTIVAL

Friday, Saturday & Sunday March 9, 10 & 11, 2012
Evergreen Valley High School, 3300 Quimby Road, San Jose, California
F building theater foyer & classrooms
Park in the student lot across from the F Building

• Open to elementary, middle school, high school, college and adult players
• Open to classical, jazz and popular guitar players
• Open to soloists and guitar ensembles or guitar with other instruments (flute & guitar, violin & guitar,etc. - no combos)

• Concert: Friday 8pm, Susan McDonald - Le Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 N. 5th St., San Jose
• Concert:Saturday 8pm, featuring the Matt Palmer – Le Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 N. 5th st.,San Jose
• Master Classes by Susan McDonald on Saturday and on Sunday by Matt Palmer
• Adjudication, 8 free guitar clinics, lectures and vendor displays on Saturday and Sunday at Evergreen Valley High School

Obtain a Certificate of Adjudication!

• Receive constructive written and verbal comments from a qualified guitar adjudicator
• If participants choose, you may have your performance rated as superior, excellent, good or fair
• Guitarists rated superior will be invited to perform at future South Bay Guitar Society events

• Cost: $15 for a soloist or $25 for an ensemble
• Prepare 8-10 minutes of music for performance
• 20 minutes is allowed for each performance, including entry and exit
• The adjudicator will make written comments and will speak to and work with the musicians after each performance - as time permits
• APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 30, 2012

You do not have to be a member of SBGS to participate in the Festival: however, please consider joining (http://sbgsdonation.eventbrite.com)

Adjudication Guidelines

I. Entry

•  Application form must be accompanied with a check.
•  NO REFUNDS after Jan. 30, 2012 deadline
•  Entries are accepted on a postmark basis. Early entries receive preferred scheduling times.

II. Requirements

• Eligibility: open to elementary, middle school to post high school/adult participants
• While guitarists are encouraged to perform from memory, should they chose to perform with music and to be rated, students will not be penalized.
• Ensembles, including duets are defined as follows:
• Two or more parts
• There are no restrictions as to instrumentation of the ensemble except that it must contain a guitarist
• For this festival, a combo will not be considered as an appropriate ensemble
• In all cases, participants should select appropriate music: classical guitar, jazz guitar, flamenco and Latin (sambas, bossa-nova, etc.) would be appropriate as well as some popular guitar styles such the blues or fingerpicking. Heavy metal rock styles are not appropriate.

III. Procedures

• Twenty minutes is allowed for each performance, including entry and exit. If the time limit is exceeded, the adjudicator may stop the performance, however, this will have no adverse bearing onthe rating. One adjudicator will be provided who will give written comments, and will speak to, or work with the performers after each performance - as time permits.
• Three weeks before the festival, participants will receive notification of scheduling, maps, and specific information regarding the festival. There can be no changes in the schedule the week of the festival.
• A warm-up area will be provided and performances will immediately follow warm-up.
• Guitarists must present a copy of the solo or score to the adjudicator upon entering the performance area. The performer(s) should pick the music up upon leaving the performance area.

IV. Ratings (Optional)

If the participants elect to receive a rating, they are based on:

• Musicality - interpretation, style, phrasing, expression, sensitivity, dynamics;
• Technique - rhythm precision, accuracy, articulation - (legato, staccato, flow);
• Quality of Sound - tone quality, intonation, blend and balance;
• Other Factors - choice of music, overall presentation.

• Superior: This rating represents the finest conceivable performance for the event and the level of participant(s) being judged.
• Excellent: This rating reflects a fine performance in many respects but not one worthy of the highest rating due to minor defects. It is however, a performance of distinct quality.
  
• Good: This rating is awarded for a good performance, but one that is not excellent. The performance shows accomplishments and marked promise, but is lacking in one or more essential qualities.
  
• Fair: This rating describes a performance that shows some obvious weaknesses. There are numerous errors in most of the fundamental categories.
• Poor: This rating would be for a poorly prepared performance that includes many errors.

Festival sponsored by the Alfred Publishing Co.; La Bella Strings; the East SideUnion High School District; Evergreen Valley H. S. and a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José.