Rules and Regulations

The following rules apply to all disciplines in the Niagara Festival of Performing Arts.

General

1. The competitor's age is as of January 1, 2026.

2. All entries and payment must be received by January 31, 2026. Late entries will be subject to a $25.00 late fee until February 10, 2026 (this date may change depending on number of entries). Changes to entries (class change, repertoire changes)will only be allowed until February 8, 2026 accompanied by a fee of $15.00 for each change.

3. Competitors must enter at the same grade/age level for classical voice, piano and strings. Competitors cannot compete in two different grade or age levels. Competitors can only enter ONE selection per class unless it is a concert class.

4. Competitors in all classes will declare their selections on their entry forms. Incorrect repertoire and changes to repertoire will be subject to the change fee of $15.00 and must be completed by February 8, 2026.

5.All competitors must be amateurs.

An amateur shall be defined as:

Any person whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the performance or teaching of music in the particular category/discipline in which he/she is competing, even though from time to time they may receive remuneration on an occasional basis (not full-time).

CHILDREN (ages 6 – 18)

A child under the age of 18 who is cast or performs in an unpaid local community theatre production, or who participates in an educational program (eg. Drayton Youth Ensemble), for a period of less than eight weeks, is eligible to compete at the OMFA Provincials Finals.
A child performer who is enrolled as a full or junior member of either ACTRA or Equity is eligible to compete at the OMFA Provincial Finals in any discipline if they have not had paid work for a six month period within the calendar year.
The festival calendar year is September 1 – August 31.
A professional child performer is one who is under the age of 18 and works in paid performance contracts of six months or more within a calendar year (eg. Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, touring productions, Mini-Pops, opera, orchestra, etc.).
These performers will not be eligible to enter ANY of the four voice disciplines – classical voice, musical theatre, songs from the screen or popular voice during the calendar year in which they are under a professional contract.
A professional child performer who receives payment when cast in a commercial or in a movie with spoken lines or who does voice-over work, will not be eligible during the calendar year (when the commercial or movie was filmed) to enter the Speech Arts discipline.

ADVANCED (ages 19-28) and ADULTS (29 years and over)

Advanced and/or Adult professional performers who are full members of ACTRA or Equity are not eligible to compete at the OMFA Provincial Finals.
An exception is made for performing in another different discipline that is unrelated to the reason for professional membership (eg. a professional musical theatre performer can be recommended to classical piano).
An individual earning income from teaching full-time privately or in the school system is not eligible to compete.
An exception is made for a music teacher in one discipline who is recommended as an amateur in another different discipline (eg. a piano teacher may enter as an amateur in strings, woodwinds, brass, voice, etc.).
An individual with a music degree in one instrument is eligible to compete in another discipline different from that of the instrument for which they received their degree.
An individual who has completed a Master’s degree in Music is considered professionals and is not eligible to compete.
An individual who has completed a Bachelor degree in Music or is currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in Music is eligible to compete if not teaching or performing professionally full time within the festival calendar year.
A professional performer or music teacher who is a member of a choir, band or orchestra, is eligible to compete as part of the group, provided that the majority of the other members are amateurs and the group itself is amateur. Conductors or accompanists may be professional.
If the individual has received professional income after they were recommended to the OMFA Provincial Finals, they are ineligible to participate and their entry fee would be refunded, if applicable.

6 . Deportment and appearance are important to a polished performance. Footwear and suitable stage attire should be worn.

7. A selection may be used in one class only at the festival and cannot be re-used in future years in the festival.

8. Original scores, books and/or music are to be given to the Festival Secretary for the Adjudicator. Receipts for digital copies must be provided showing payment with title and amount – digital title pages are not receipts.

9. Competitors do not announce their name or selection when performing in Musical Theatre or SSAM. For all other disciplines, competitors can announce their selection if they wish but it is not mandatory.

10. Competitors must stay until their class is completed to receive the adjudicator's comments and in order to receive placement.

11. Videotaping of competitor's performances is allowed but only by a family member.

12. Videotaping of the adjudicator's comments is not allowed.

13. The Niagara Festival of Performing Arts does not provide refunds FOR ANY REASON including inclement weather. The festival will proceed and will not cancel.

Classical Voice

Please read the specific rules for each class.
Songs may be transposed to suit the entrants voice within reason.
Songs do not need to be chosen from the RCM or CC Syllabi.
Singers may introduce their song(s) and composer(s) but it is not mandatory.
Singers may not sing musical theatre, pop or jazz selections from RCM List C or List D.
Singers in Beginner - Elementary levels may choose songs from the art song and folk song repertoire.
Singers in Intermediate levels may choose selections from art songs, folk songs and baroque or Mozart opera arias suitable for the developing voice.
All selections must be sung from memory.
All selections must be sung with acoustic piano accompaniment.

Popular Voice

Singers must sing a popular voice selection in one of the following genres: pop, pop folk,R & B, soul, rock, alternative, indie, jazz or country. Selections should be covers from commercial artists in these genres and/or original compositions. Selections from Musical Theatre (both staged and non-staged), cabaret, revues and stand-alone songs in musical theatre style are not allowed. Rap and Hip Hop are not allowed. Selections from Conservatory Canada Contemporary Idioms Voice lists and the RCM List C (Levels 1- 6 ) and RCM List D (Levels 7 – 10) are eligible excluding musical theatre and operetta. Age appropriate repertoire and suitable lyrics/offensive language must be taken into consideration when choosing selections that are suitable for all audiences. All selections must be sung from memory.
Accompaniment can be either acoustic piano OR instrumental backtracks without vocal background tracks. Self-accompaniment is allowed for self-accompanied classes.
If an original copy of the music is not obtainable, competitors must provide lyrics for the adjudicator and purchase the music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc and provide a receipt.
A microphone and bluetooth speaker will be supplied. Singers must use the microphone or bring their own.
Selections should be age appropriate and suitable for audiences of all ages. Offensive language (profanity) found in song selections must be replaced with alternate word(s) to ensure a 'clean' version up to the Intermediate level. The NFPA reserves the right to reject any selections that have an inappropriate tone, either in style or content.

Musical Theatre

Costumes may be worn in musical theatre, but are not taken into consideration in the adjudication. Costume changes in concert classes should be added into the total time allotment.
Only 2 hand help props may be used in musical theatre. A chair will be provided at the venue if needed.
Songs may be transposed to suit the entrants voice within reason.
No cuts are allowed in vocal sections of the songs – only instrumental cuts (eg extended piano interludes) are allowed if necessary and repeats should not be observed. Additional music should not be added for dance breaks.
Junior or simplified versions of musical theatre selections are not allowed.
Age and culturally appropriate repertoire and suitable lyrics/offensive language should be taken into consideration when choosing selections. Offensive language (profanity) found in song selections must be replaced with alternate word(s) to ensure a 'clean' and family friendly version up to the Intermediate level.
All selections must be sung from memory.
All selections must be sung with acoustic piano accompaniment.

Songs from the Screen and More

Costumes may be worn in Songs from the Screen and More, but are not taken into consideration in the adjudication.
Only 2 hand help props may be used in this category. A chair will be provided at the venue if needed.
Songs may be transposed to suit the entrants voice within reason.
No cuts are allowed in vocal sections of the songs – only instrumental cuts (eg extended piano interludes) are allowed if necessary and repeats should not be observed. Additional music should not be added for dance breaks.
SONGS THAT ARE PERMITTED - see the SSAM Song List for suggestions.
Instrumental cuts are allowed in extended piano interludes
Duets that can be performed as a solo,( eg. I See the Light, Tangled, Shallow, A Star is Born, A Whole New World, Aladdin)
SELECTIONS NOT PERMITTED - Songs that were originally written for live fully staged musicals and that were later made into movies, (eg. The Sound of Music, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Hamilton, In the Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, 13). Songs that have been originally released as a commercial pop song and are later included in films should be entered in the Popular Voice (eg. songs from Mamma Mia, Sing, & Juliet). Songs that were originally released as a commercial pop song and are later used in a jukebox musical should be entered in Popular Voice. (Moulin Rouge, Beautiful, Mamma Mia)
Age and culturally appropriate repertoire and suitable lyrics/offensive language should be taken into consideration when choosing selections. Offensive language (profanity) found in song selections must be replaced with alternate word(s) to ensure a 'clean' and family friendly version up to the Intermediate level.
All selections must be sung from memory.
All selections must be sung with acoustic piano accompaniment.

Classical Piano

Please read the specific rules for each class.
Pianists must perform at the graded level they are currently studying.
Selections must be played from memory.
Pianists may introduce their selection and composer but it is not mandatory.
Open Classes are for pianists who are currently working at the ARCT level or higher.

Popular/Contemporary Piano

Competitors must perform selections in any of the following genres: contemporary, pop, pop/ folk, R & B, soul, rock, alternative, indie, jazz or country.
Selections must be either contemporary composers such as Christopher Norton, eg or covers from commercial artists in these genres.
Selections from Conservatory Canada (CC) Contemporary Idioms Piano lists and the Royal Conservatory of Music Popular Lists (RCM) that meet the criteria listed above and are covers of pieces that have been heard on the radio or in TV and movies from 1950 onward.
Selections that are NOT permitted:
• Rap and Hip Hop. • Songs listed in the RCM or CC classical piano syllabi
If playing an original composition, the score must be provided to the adjudicator.

Classical Upper and Lower Strings

Please read the specific rules for each class.
String players must perform at the graded level they are currently studying.
Selections must be played from memory except for non-competitive classes.
String players may introduce their selection and composer but it is not mandatory.
Open Classes are for string players who are currently working at the ARCT level or higher.

Scholarships

Scholarship recipients will be chosen at the Adjudicator's discretion. Each scholarship has specific requirements as to age, residency, class entered and may change year to year. Competitors MUST enter a minimum of 2 classes to be eligible to qualify for a major scholarship.
Scholarship winners and their teachers will be notified by email.
Scholarship winners may or may not be chosen by the Adjudicator to perform on the Gala concert.
Scholarship winners will receive their awards either by cheque or e-transfer.
Overall winners will be awarded a large trophy which they have on loan for one year. The trophy must be returned to the NFPA by the date of the festivals opening.

OMFA Provincial Finals

The Adjudicator can recommend up to 3 competitors per level/age category/class to the Provincial Music Festival. Recommended competitors must accept their first festival recommendation from the local festival they are competing in.
Recommended competitors will be informed by email immediately following The Niagara Festival of Performing Arts and must accept or reject their recommendation within TWO (2) days of notification. Competitors are responsible to read the rules on the OMFA website for their recommended discipline/level to make sure they are entering the correct selections, pay their own entry fee and provide their own accompanist if needed. Recommended competitors must submit their entry form and fees by May 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. online to the OMFA website.
All virtual competitors must submit their entry by May 12th which may include one or more contrasting selections. Please plan accordingly and have your contrasting selections prepared in advance.
The OMFA Provincial Finals will be held from June 8 - 13, 2026 in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Adjudication

A listing of classes and competitors will be posted on the website by February 15, 2026 as a digital program for download.
Competitors may be required to certify that they have followed the festival rules. If an infringement occurs, adjudication may be given, but no mark will be awarded.
The minimum mark to win a scholarship and to be recommended to the OMFA Provincial Music Festival is 85 in competitive classes.
All competitors will receive the Adjudicator's written comments.
Adjudicating will be by a qualified Adjudicator in each discipline. Criteria for judging/adjudicating will be for overall artistry and as well, musicianship, musicality and expression, choice of repertoire, communication, presentation and attire. In Classical Voice, Musical Theatre and Songs from the Screen and More, voice quality, diction, characterization and acting will also be taken into consideration.
No participant or their parents may approach or contact the Adjudicator. This may result in disqualification. Any questions from a participant or their family must be directed to the Festival Coordinator or Welcome Desk Volunteer.
No video or audio recording of the Adjudicator’s comments is allowed.
No coaching from audience members is allowed.
The Adjudicator's decisions are final.