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Pearl of NY 2023 Regulations
 

THE PURPOSE OF THE FESTIVAL

The annual international competition will be held in Manhattan, New York, USA. It is intended to be a permanent event, the main aim of the which is the popularization and promotion of children’s and youth art, strengthening friendly relations and supporting creative contacts between the youth from different countries, as well as familiarizing children of different nationalities and giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and specifics of their national culture in the world capital city with participants from more than 15 countries: the USA, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Bulgaria, Armenia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Kosovo and many others!

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THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPETITION

  • Promotion and stimulation of children’s and youth art;

  • Expansion and deepening of international relations in the field of cultural exchange;

  • Support for composers and poets who write songs for children and youth;

  • Stimulate and promote the performing arts creative groups and soloists.

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I.REGULATION OF THE FESTIVAL

  • Vocal groups and soloists (vocal) represent one song in any language, totaling no more than 3 minutes.

  • All phonograms of the vocal performers on CDs or flash drives (it is desirable to have a phonogram on two types of media).

  • In order to popularize national cultures, it is desirable to include in the festival program numbers that convey folklore or national traditions (songs, etc.), as well as the presence of national symbols (flags, costumes, etc.) at the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival.

  • In addition to the numbers and compositions of the competition programs, all groups and performers need to have different numbers for presentation in the Ceremony of the grand opening and the festival's Gala concert.

  • The performance of vocalists under the phonogram is not taken into account!

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II.APPLICATION RULES

 

  • To participate in the Festival, it is necessary to send the Organizing Committee an Application of the established type signed by the responsible persons:

    • the first stage of submission - before February 07, 2023

    • the second stage of submission - until April 19, 2023

  • Obligatory confirmation of the Application for participation is the payment of the administrative fee of 100%:

    • At the stage of submitting an application - for each participant, $ 300, and accompanying person $ 250 registration fee should be received; after receiving visas, the balance of the amount is paid (regardless of the contestant or accompanying person); After that, the Organizing Committee and the Admissions Committee will start working with you.

    • 100% payment in the presence of entry visas to the United States.

    • The Commission meets every two weeks. The commission listens to the contest work submitted by you and gives recommendations on the preparation for the competition and on the repertoire.

    • If you are a happy owner of a Certificate – an invitation to participate in the Final and you have already been listened to, then you still need to fill out a form, send in a scan of the Certificate and make payment of the registration fee $ 300.

    • We kindly ask you to name the file and the E-mail subject to the festival’s regulations. Please quote the e-mail in the following way: participant’s NAME, LASTNAME, NAME OF THE SONG, NOMINATION, AGE.

    • For example, John White, September, WH, 16.

    • For nomination abbreviations, please follow the following:

    • WH – World Hit

    • AV – Academic Vocal

    • F – Folklore and National Song

    • BMS – Broadway Musical Show Song C – Choral and Ensemble Music

    • The Organizing Committee of the festival sends official invitations as the Applications are received.

    • The Organizing Committee also provides consulting assistance to the festival participants in processing the documents required for obtaining US entry visas.

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III.NOMINATIONS

Vocal

  • World Hit (solo, duets, ensembles) - pop, jazz, modern genres;

  • Academic Vocal (solo, duets, ensembles)

  • Folklore and National Song (duet, trio, ensembles);

  • Broadway Musical Show Song

  • Choral and Ensemble Music

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Vocal Contest requirements

  • Participants provide one diverse work. Total duration not more than 3 min.

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Evaluation criteria:

  • Vocal;

  • Matching repertoire with age possibilities and age group of performers;

  • Mastery of performance (clarity of intonation and sound quality);

  • Theatrical effectiveness (plastic, performance culture, props);

  • Musicality, artistic interpretation of musical composition;

  • Disclosure of the artistic image.

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IV.AGE CATEGORIES

 

I Age category: Up to 7 years old

II Age category: from 8 to 11 years old

III Age category: from 12 to 14 years old

IV Age category: from 15 to 17 years old

V Age category: from 18 to 25 years old

VI Age category: Above 26 years old

V.JURY MEMBERS

 

The performances of all groups and soloists are viewed by professional specialists, honored cultural workers, artists, famous musicians, and producers from the countries-contestants of the festival. The jury members are professional and highly qualified specialists in children and youth creativity from different countries, organizers, and producers of festivals and competitions, and leading TV and radio programs about music.

 

Evaluation will be held on a 100-point scale. Evaluation criteria: purity of intonation and sound quality, performance skills, compliance of the repertoire with the performance capabilities and age category of the performer, and stage culture. The decision of the jury on the distribution of prizes and the Grand Prix is confirmed by the protocols and the number of points scored by each contestant. The jury is entitled not to award the Grand Prix in the absence of the required number of points.

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The decision of the jury is not discussed and is not subject to revision.

VI.TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Each contestant performs one work in one nomination and must send a phonogram minus no later than March 15, 2023. A backup version in MP3 format must be carried with you on a memory card. Soloists are allowed to have recorded backing vocals in the phonogram, as well as it is allowed to have a main voice in refrains, but only if the soloist improvises. The phonogram recorded with the main vocal part in the couplets is to be removed from the competition, and the contestant will be disqualified.

 

Participants provide one diverse work. Total duration not more than 3 min.

-     Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to disqualification of the participant!

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VII.PHONOGRAMS

The phonogram is submitted at the same time as the questionnaire, the vocals should not exceed 3 minutes and the limit specified for other categories. Exceeding the specified limit will not be accepted. Please note that in order to avoid force majeure, the phonogram must be in the contest, flashed, without any other recordings, and the file must be named NAME_LASTNAME_ SONG_CATEGORY. Please be responsible for recording phonograms for performances, check the quality.

 

Example: John_White_September_WH.mp3 File name abbreviations used:

WH – World Hit

AV – Academic Vocal

F – Folklore and National Song

BMS – Broadway Musical Show Song C – Choral and Ensemble Music

The technical requirements for the performance (number of microphones, stands, props) must be agreed upon with the organizers when submitting the application.

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VII.THE PRIZES

The fight for the Grand Prix takes place directly at the Gala Concert, and the contestants-candidates for the Grand Prix are evaluated by an independent jury. The jury names the Winners in each category and the overall Festival Winner. Only the winners in each category and participants with jury decisions will take part in a final charity gala concert. 

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  • Grand Prix - prize, diploma, memorable presents

  • I place - a medal, a diploma, memorable presents

  • II place - a medal, a diploma, memorable presents

  • III place - a medal, a diploma, memorable presents

  • For the jury - the diplomas, certificates and memorable presents

  • Participants - certificates, diplomas and memorable presents

  • Special Jury Prize

  • Prize by organizers – Scholarship named after Kakutsa Kldiashvili, the founder of the festival.

  • Prize to the youngest performer

  • Sponsors’ prize

  • Prize for the winner in each category

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IX.CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

  • The current Regulations are placed on the official website of the festival http://www.pearl-fest.com. The organizers pay attention to the need for participants to familiarize themselves with the current Regulations.

  • Participants agree with the right of the Organizers to use audio, video, and photo materials received from applications, concerts, etc. Sources - for marketing and advertising purposes.

  • It is allowed to film only with mobile phones without flashlights. Filming with other technology is allowed only with accreditation; otherwise fine - of $ 200.

  • Participants come to the festival accompanied by their parents or guardians, who are fully responsible for their participant’s behavior and bear full responsibility for him/her.

  • The composition of the delegation, including accompanying persons and managers, must be previously agreed upon with the organizing committee and specified in the Application. Any changes in the composition of the delegation are allowed only upon agreement with the organizing committee.

  • The head of the delegation is required to provide the organizing committee with the following information in advance for each member of the delegation:

    • Full name;

    • Series, number, and validity of the passport;

    • Citizenship;

    • Availability of a valid entry visa to the United States;

    • Air tickets (in both directions) with the indication of flight numbers, and arrival/departure time.

  • The Organizing Committee is not responsible for the problems associated with the incomplete provision of these data or their change without agreement with the organizing committee.

  • Additional Registration Fee: $ 300.00 for each participant and $ 250 for accompanying person (Non-refundable) must be paid by February 1, 2023

  • Included in the price:

    • advice on issues related to obtaining an entry visa to the United States;

    • accommodation in a hotel (2 persons in the room);

    • breakfast;

    • organizational festival fee;

    • rent of a concert hall, rent of light and sound equipment;

    • professional video recording of the performance;

    • advice and assistance in booking accommodation and air travel;

  • Reservation of accommodation and/or meals on additional days (before or after the festival) is possible, subject to a preliminary agreement with the organizing committee.

  • Soloists taking part in additional nominations in the composition of duets or collectives pay an additional fee of 100 USD for each additional nomination.

  • Collectives participating in the festival in several nominations make an additional payment in the amount of 50 USD per participant for each additional nomination.

  • Production of calculations is confirmed by the relevant financial documents

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X.FINANCIAL CONDITIONS:

 

The cost per person (regardless of the contestant or accompanying person) – is $ 2250.00 + tax

The fee includes the following:

  • Accommodation Hotel within the time frame of the festival October 26-30, 2023

  • Breakfast

  • Participation fee

  • Transportation (from the hotel to the concert hall and back) The fee for participation in each category:

 

Participation in the festival will be guaranteed in case of obligatory advance payment of 30% of the total amount before April 19, 2023.

After transferring the sum, the participant should send us an email with a scanned copy of the bank document in which the participant's name and the name of the festival, "Pearl of New York,” should be mentioned. The rest of the sum should be sent to the bank account no later than July 07, 2023.

 

Registration fees in the amount of $ 300 for participants and $ 250 for accompanying persons must be paid simultaneously with the filling of the participation questionnaire. Otherwise, you will not be registered in the database of applicants for participation.

 

You need to specify in the reason for payment: the NAME and LASTNAME of the participant (age) for participation in the festival PEARL OF NEW YORK 2023.

For example John White (16) for participation in Pearl of New York 2023.

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PLEASE NOTE ANY CHANGE IN THE APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION ON APRIL 19, 2023 - $ 80. (changes are not possible after May 15, 2023). Please note that the payment term is April 19, 2023.

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If payment for participation is made later than April 19, 2023, then participation in the competition will cost an extra $ 80! In addition, all other changes after April 19, 2023, will be made at an additional cost of $ 80. Therefore, be careful and correct.

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Attention: A deposit of 30% of the total sum, guaranteeing your rooms in the hotel, are non-refundable in case the participant does not arrive to the festival for reasons beyond the organizers’ competence. Each person must notify organizers at least 30 days before if they are not coming to the festival, otherwise, 100 % of payments are non-refundable.

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Organizers may postpone festival dates depending on the epidemiological situation.

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If the Festival is canceled – the payment, in this case, will be refunded, minus the organizational expenses.

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If a participant does not participate in the competition for his own reason, the deposit will not be refunded.

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If the participant does not participate in the competition, the deposit will not be refunded.

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XI.REQUISITES

 

PEARL ART GROUP INC.

ADDRESS: 364 SAND LN, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305 BANK: BANK OF AMERICA

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You need to specify in the reason for payment: the NAME and LASTNAME of the participant (age), for participation in the festival PEARL OF NEW YORK 2023. For example, John White (16) for participation in Pearl of New York 2023.

 

If the participant does not participate in the competition for their own reason, the payment will not be refunded.

 

The organizers can cancel or postpone the dates of the festival depending on the epidemiological situation. Payment, in this case, will be refunded minus organizational (Administrative) costs.

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XII.VISA APPLICATION

 

To issue an invitation for a visa, you must send data in Latin letters:

  • Name, Lastname – exactly as in passport Date of birth

  • Place of birth (city, country) Citizenship

  • Residence registration (in the registration, in addition to the address itself, specify the country and city)

 

After registration of the invitation, the Organizing Committee will send you the invitation for visa.

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For accompanying parents, it is necessary to send a scanned birth certificate of the child.

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XIII.PARTICIPATION BY CORRESPONDENCE

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  • To participate in the festival are allowed in absentia, appearing on the YouTube service.

  • For correspondence participation in the festival, it is necessary to send to the Organizing Committee, before February 1, 2023, an Application of the established type signed by the responsible persons (for the team - the leader, for the soloists - parents).

  • Mandatory confirmation of the application for participation is a prepayment of 100%.

  • Production of calculations is confirmed by the relevant financial documents.

Heads of performers and collectives are given Gratitude letters and certificates for the participation of pupils in the V International Festival "PEARL OF NEW YORK", as well as Nominee Diplomas of Honor for the creative achievements of collectives and performers.

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XIV.HOTEL

 

On the dates of the festival, accommodation must be booked through the festival organizers. Accommodation in Wingate by Wyndham with breakfast provided at one local accommodation. For single occupancy, breakfast surcharge is $ 25 per day.

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XV.TRANSPORTATION

 

Fee for transfer from JFK Airport to Hotel and back to Airport is $ 150 extra cost per person;

Each participant (with the accompanying person) must be in New York no later than October 26, 2023. The deadline for the departure of each participant (with the accompanying person) from the hotel is the morning of October 30, 2023, at 11:00 AM.

Therefore, please correctly calculate the time of your arrival and departure at the FESTIVAL.

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THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM IN BRIEF

 

Thursday, October 26, 2023

  • Arrival at JFK airport and transfer to Hotel.

  • 20:00 Registration and drawing lots

 

Friday, October 27, 2023

  • 09:00 – Breakfast

  • 13:00 – Preparing for the contest and Gala Concert

 

Saturday, October 28, 2023

  • 09:00 – Breakfast

  • 10:00 - 11:30 – Transfer to the concert hall

  • 12:00 - 04:00 – Contest

  • 04:00 – 05:00 – Break

  • 05:00 – 07:30 – Gala Concert and Awarding Ceremony

  • 08:00 – 09:00 – Transfer to hotel

 

Sunday, October 29, 2023

  • 09:00 – Breakfast

  • 11:00 – Free time or tour to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets for extra cost (guest’s choice)

 

Monday, October 30, 2023

  • 09:00 – Breakfast

  • 11:00 – Departure

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* The organizers reserve the right to make changes in the program in time and days of the contest under the circumstances beyond their control.

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For more details, mail us on: 

info@pearl-fest.com

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Or give us a call: 

1 917 3596555  For English Speakers
1 646 9946318 For English Speakers
1 917 5303402 For Non-English Speakers

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