Article 1: Competition discipline is the Diatonic Accordion
Article 2: Contestants may sign up for one of four categories:
a) Youth up to 17 years of age, male or female
b) 18 to 64 years of age, male or female
c) 65 years of age and older, male or female
d) a group of musicians comprised of two or more individuals, having any combination of males and/or females, of any age
Article 3: Registration forms must be submitted no later than June 15, 2018
Article 4: Accordionists shall compete in a free program with their own selection of compositions, in a 3-step process
Step 1: All competitors shall play a short composition (from 3 to 5 minutes in length) before the Judges, on Aug. 4th, 2018
Step 2: Semi-finalists shall play a technical composition (from 4 to 7 minutes in length) before the Judges, on Aug. 5th, 2018
Step 3: Finalists shall have the opportunity to perform a short program (up to 20 minutes) in front of the wider audience.
Article 5: The competitors with the highest average points in their respective category will be crowned champion.
Article 6: The public audience will also have an opportunity to select their favorite performer.
Article 7: The organizing committee shall inform the contestants of their scheduled time of appearance on stage.
Article 8: Contestants are encouraged to perform in national costumes typical of their place of origin. The contestants shall not wear inappropriate clothing (e.g. sport shoes, track suites, T-shirts, shorts, etc.).
Article 9: During the competition the judges shall dedicate their attention to the following types of musical elements:
• Complexity
• Technical perfection
• Harmony
• Interpretation
• Tempo
• Rhythmics
• Dynamics
• Bellow technique
• Bass technique
• Sentimentality or originality
• Competitors authorship
Article 10: Regrettably, some contestants will be eliminated from the competition after the first step, but the experience will provide them with important constructive feedback for their competitive and personal musical growth. Others will go on to qualify for the second stage of the championship competition.
Article 11: The contestants in the grand finale with the highest average scores in their respective categories will be crowned champions of the Canadian Slovenian Button Accordion Championship.
Article 12: The Canadian Slovenian Button Accordion Championship moto is:
Every button accordion player is a champion and should be respected and encouraged at whatever stage of musical development. Everyone can improve at any time in their life. We believe success is a result of dedication and practice, as well as courage to express your own personal creativity.