RICHMOND UPON THAMES

PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

www.richmondfestival.org.uk

INSTRUMENTAL SYLLABUS 2025

 SECTION SECRETARY – JANE WILLOUGHBY
[email protected]

ADJUDICATOR (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY) HILARY STURT

Hilary Sturt studied the violin with Sheila Nelson, David Takeno, and Felix
Andrievsky, graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal
College of Music with solo, chamber and contemporary music prizes. As a
violinist and violist she performed and recorded worldwide with Ensemble
Modern for 20 years, including notable projects with Frank Zappa, Peter
Eotvos and Pierre Boulez. Chamber music has played an important role in
her life, previously as a member of the Rasumovsky Quartet and Apartment
House, winners of the Philharmonic Society Award for the Most
Outstanding Chamber Music in 2011. Most recently she is delighted to have
joined the Bingham quartet.

Hilary is much in demand as a teacher, adjudicator, and conductor, sitting on audition and interview panels
throughout the UK and was Head of Strings at St Paul’s Girls’ School for twenty-four years. Hilary was
awarded an MA in Education from the University College London in 2018. Currently, she is the Head of
Chamber Music at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music and Instrumental Teaching Tutor and
mentor to the MA Ed course at the Senior RCM. She has worked with the ABRSM as a Diploma examiner,
recording the violin syllabus Grades 1-4 in 2015, and a member of the advisory panel for the 2020 ABRSM
violin syllabus.

ADJUDICATOR (SUNDAY) ROSIE WHITFIELD

Rosie’s vast experience as a performer, teacher, examiner and presenter,
teamed with an innate love of music, underpins her unstoppable drive as a
dedicated campaigner for music in education. Her natural ability to captivate
audiences and inspire young musicians to achieve their dreams stems from an
unquestionable belief that music can change lives.

Rosie studied oboe with Michael Winfield at the Royal College of Music
achieving an Exhibition Award in her first year. She went on to study at
Durham University and gained a PGCE in 1996. As an experienced adjudicator
member of The British and International Federation of Festivals, Rosie is
regularly called upon to adjudicate in the UK and abroad and has forged long-
standing links with specialist music schools in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, China, Taiwan and Hong
Kong. Her positive, interactive adjudicating style inducing young musicians to participate, year on year.As
Director of Music at Whitgift School, Rosie devised numerous educational projects and regularly presented
interactive concerts and masterclasses to thousands of primary school pupils.
Instrumental in developing the Whitgift International Music Competition in 2013, she continues to support
and mentor young musicians hoping for a career in the profession. As an International Consultant, Rosie has
worked with numerous families to assist them in finding the perfect UK school and applying for Music
Scholarships and funding.
Rosie was appointed as Head of Junior Guildhall in January 2020.

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 PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
Saturday/Sunday 29th/30th March 2025 (all day and evening)

St Richard Reynolds Catholic College, Clifden Road, Twickenham, TW1 4LT

The College is a ten-minute walk from Twickenham railway station and the H22, 33,
267, 281, 290 and 490 bus routes. Parking available on site.

ENTRY INFORMATION
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: FRIDAY 7th February 2025 (MIDNIGHT)

Please use the online entry system which can be found by going to our website
www.richmondfestival.org.uk

Fees are payable through the online system via Paypal

Although we will try to run all classes, if sufficient entries are not received we reserve the right to cancel
classes and return fees paid. Richmond upon Thames Performing Arts Festival will hold data solely for the
purpose of running the Festival.

Please read this syllabus in conjunction with the Rules and Regulations for the Festival together with the
Festival’s Safeguarding Policy. Both documents are downloadable from the website.

Special Awards
YOUNG INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR 2025:
Award £100 for any orchestral instrumentalist – Strings, Wind or Brass.
2nd place - £50.

Performers must be aged between 13 & 18 years, and must enter 2 classes, one of which MUST be a recital
class.
Young Instrumentalist Awards are made at the discretion of the adjudicator and are subject to the winner
receiving a mark of Distinction or Outstanding. Previous first placed winners of this award are not eligible.
This winners will be expected to perform at the Festival Showcase in April/May when the cash awards will be
presented.

THE RICHMOND BOROUGH CUP

This will be awarded at the discretion of the adjudicator to the outstanding player in the instrumental
Section who is resident in the borough of Richmond upon Thames or attends school/college or has music
lessons within the borough. All awards are made at the adjudicator’s discretion.

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 Additional Information
TIMETABLING: The Section Secretary will create a timetable and program of classes for the events and
efforts will be made to comply with performers’ other musical commitments where these are reported to
the Section Secretary at time of entry. Please note that requests for changes to the timetable and program
which are made following the closing date for entries will not be accommodated.

TIME LIMITS: Time limits for each section are given and must be observed. The Time limit includes the whole
performance. Performances may be stopped by the adjudicator if Time limits are exceeded. A performance
exceeding the Time limit will be marked and adjudicated, but will not be eligible for a first prize or trophy.
Performances may be stopped if they grossly exceed the Time limit.

NOTIFICATIONS: Notifications will be by email only. Performers will be given approximately 2 weeks’ notice
of the date of their competition.

ACCOMPANISTS:
There are NO OFFICIAL ACCOMPANISTS for the instrumental section. Entrants MUST provide their own.

The following experienced Festival accompanists may be available:

Lisa Garson: Tel: 0787 5553874 [email protected]
Olivia Travers: [email protected]
Jon Booth: Tel: 07860 472398 [email protected]

It is the responsibility of the performer to contact them and make their own arrangements over fees,
rehearsals and timings, giving a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. The Festival organizers cannot help with these
arrangements.

MUSIC: An original copy of the music must be provided for the adjudicator on the day of the competition. A
photocopy may be made for the use of the adjudicator provided that the competitor has already purchased
their own copy. The photocopy will be retained and destroyed by the Section Secretary immediately after
the event.

DRESS CODE: Whilst the Festival does not have an official dress code, competitors are reminded that dress
should be appropriate for a platform or concert performance.

DUPLICATION OF PIECES: The same piece may not be played in different classes.

CLASSES: Depending on the number of entries it may be necessary to combine or divide classes.

GRADE STANDARDS: Where a grade standard is specified this refers to the standard of the performer. All
music chosen must be appropriate to that standard. Any performer who is clearly in an inappropriate class
may be moved to the correct class at the sole discretion of the adjudicator. For the ensemble classes we ask
that ensembles follow the spirit of the rules – any questions should be addressed to the instrumental
secretary.

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 ENSEMBLES
Any style of music: classical, jazz, rock etc. Ensembles (101,102,103) may be any combination of instruments.
3 or more players.

Friends and Family (105) is any group which includes at least two members of the same family or close
friends. Any instruments, any style. One piece or movement.

Names of all performers, instruments and style of music to be stated on the entry form. Performers may
enter the same class in different groups. Classes may be divided by music style.

Class Class Title Standard Time Limit Fee. Trophy/award

101 Beginner G3 and below 5 mins Pringle Cup
Ensemble
102 Intermediate G6 and below 7 mins Ensemble cup
£18 per group
Ensemble
103 Advanced G7 and above 10 mins Shield
Ensemble
104 Musical Any 4 mins per £9 Edward
Versatility* instrument no Bostock Cup
more than 10
minutes total
105 Friends and Any 5 mins £12 Silver Salver
Family

*Players to perform on at least two different instruments in any style (wind, brass, strings, voice). The same
piece may not be performed in a different class or section.

SOLO CLASSES
Open to ALL instruments (including guitar, harp and recorder).
Players may enter the same class multiple times on instruments from different categories (string, wind or
brass). Players may not enter any class on multiple instruments in the same category, however they may
enter different classes on different instruments.

One piece or one movement ONLY, with or without accompaniment. If time limits are insufficient for the age
stated, performers should be entered in the age group with the appropriate time limit.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER CLASS

This is for performers of any school age. The performer must not have studied ANY instrument for more than
1 year to be eligible for this class.

Class Class Title Standard Time Limit Fee

108 Absolute Beginner 3 mins £6

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 JUNIOR SOLO CLASSES

These are for performers in Year 6 and below.

Class Class Title Standard Time Limit Fee

110 Beginner G3 & below 3 mins £6
111 Intermediate G5 and below 5 mins £9
112 Advanced G6 and above 7 mins £12

YOUTH SOLO CLASSES

These are for performers in Year 9 and below.

Class Class Title Standard Time Limit Fee

120 Beginner G4 & below 3 mins £6
121 Intermediate G6 and below 5 mins £9
122 Advanced G7 and above 7 mins £12

SENIOR SOLO CLASSES

These are for performers in Year 10 and above.

Class Class Title Standard Time Limit Fee

130 Beginner G4 & below 3 mins £6
131 Intermediate G7 & below 5 mins £9
132 Advanced G8 & above 7 mins £12

CONCERTO CLASSES
One Movement only. Performers must provide their own accompanist.

Class Class Title Age Time Limit Fee

140 Junior Year 6 &below 6 mins £12
141 Youth Year 9 &below 8 mins £15
142 Senior Year 10 &above 10 mins £18

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 RECITAL CLASSES
Open to all String, Wind, Brass and Percussion instruments including harp and guitar.

Time limits should be calculated as ‘total performance time’ including breaks between items. Credit will be
given for choice of program, which would usually include 2 or more contrasting pieces, and may include
sonata movements, but not concerto movements. For harp entrants - the Hugo von Sydow Memorial Junior
& Senior Challenge Cups presented by Mrs E Seale may be awarded.
.
Class Class Title Age Time Limit Fee
160 Junior Year 6 &below 7 mins £12
161 Youth Year 9 &below 11 mins £15
162 Senior Year 10 &above 15 mins £18

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 INSTRUMENTAL CUPS TO BE AWARDED 2025
Cup/Award Class No.
Young instrumentalist of the Year Winner.
Cyril Kemplay trophy and Award £100 All Wind & Strings
Young instrumentalist 2nd £50 +cup All Wind & Strings
Richmond Borough Cup Richmond residents
Violin solo - Frazer Cup 110-132
‘Cello solo - ‘Cello Cup 110-132
Beginners Strings – Pringle cup 108, 110,120,130
Ensemble Junior – Pringle cup 101
Ensemble Cup- Intermediate 102
Ensemble Shield 103
Bostock cup for Musical versatility 104
Family and Friends - Salver 105
Concerto Senior 142
Concerto Youth 141
Concerto Junior 140
Wind & Brass Cup Age 15 & under 120-122
Wind & Brass cup Age 12 & under 110-112
Recital Senior - £20 162
Recital Cup Youth 161
Recital Cup Junior 160
Harp – Hugo von Sydow Senior/Youth Harp performers
Harp – Hugo von Sydow Junior Harp performers