Rules and Regulations
Rules and regulations
All entrants will be enrolled as a full-time student at a BSME school and will process their entry through that school.
All entrants will be aged 18 years or under on 31 August 2023.
Solo Category
Recommended minimum entry levels for specific instruments are below. Please note that the use of ABRSM/Trinity examination levels are merely a yardstick and point of reference. Entrants do not need to have passed any examinations. However, it is recommended that entrants be at or around this level in order to compete on equal terms with their peers.
– Piano AB Grade 8
– Flute AB Grade 8
– Cello AB Grade 8
– Violin AB Grade 8
– Vocal AB Grade 7
– Brass AB Grade 7
– Oboe AB Grade 7
– Clarinet AB Grade 7
– Bassoon AB Grade 7
– Saxophone AB Grade 7
– Recorder AB Grade 7
– Double Bass AB Grade 7
– Viola AB Grade 7
– Tuned Percussion AB Grade 7
– Guitar AB Grade 7
In the event of entrants offering different instruments from the above list, clarification should be sought from the Organisers.
Initial Rounds and Awards
All entrants should choose repertoire which reflects the high level of performance expected during this competition. Entrants who wish to improvise may do so provided the stimulus is submitted for the benefit of the judges. General criteria of the type used to assess GCSE/GCE performances which feature improvisation will be applied. Categories which may include improvisation include ethnic instruments where improvisation is intrinsic in the nature of the instrument, and any other instrument. Backing tracks are not permitted.
During the initial heats
-The Instrumental participants will compete against other instrumental competitors from across the musical spectrum.
– The Vocal participants will compete exclusively against other vocalists.
Participants from both the Instrumental and Vocal category will be selected to advance to the Second Round, Semi-Final and Final within their respective categories at the Adjudicator’s discretion.
The following table outlines the approximate percentage of entrants from each category who will advance through each round.
*Please note that this is a guide and subject to alteration at the discretion of the adjudicators.
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Semi-Final | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrumental | 100% | 70% of Round 1 | 30% of Round 2 | 5 Participants* |
| Vocal | 100% | 70% of Round 1 | 30% of Round 2 | 1 Participant* |
Dependent upon numbers of entries in the various categories, it is anticipated that the Semi-Final will comprise of: 10 Instrumental Soloists; 6 Vocal Soloists; 2 Small Ensembles; 2 Small Vocal Ensembles; 2 Vocal Ensembles; and 2 Large Ensembles.
Trophies will be awarded
The following trophies will be awarded:
- Young Musician of the Gulf 2024 Winner (Trophy and Shield)
- Young Musician of the Gulf 2024 Runner Up
- Knights Bequest (Most promising Musician under 15 years of age)
- Owerkowicz Bequest (Best Bahrain-based Musician)
- Young Musician of the Gulf Overall Ensemble winner 2024
- Piano Award
- Brass Award
- Woodwind Award
- Bowed String Award
- Plucked String Award
- Female Vocalist
- Male Vocalist
- Composition Award
- Large Ensemble Award
- Small Ensemble Award
- Large Vocal Ensemble Award
- Small Vocal Ensemble Award
- Finalist Award
Music Selection
The Organisers have decided that the repertoire that will be performed during Round Two of the BSME Young Musicians of the Gulf 2024 will be test-pieces. The selected piece for each instrument and vocal section can be found below.
Test Pieces for YMoG 2024
Instrument Test Piece
| Instrument | Test Piece |
|---|---|
| Piano | Scarlatti: Sonata in B minor K27 |
| Vocal | Fauré: Mandoline (any available key and must be sung in French) |
| Flute | Doppler: Berceuse opus 15 |
| Oboe | C. Nielsen: Humoresque (No.2 from Fantasy Pieces, Opus 2) |
| Clarinet | James Rae: Off to the Nelson! (3rd movement from Southwold Sonatina) |
| Bassoon | Vivaldi: Allegro – 3rd Movement from Concerto in A minor |
| Alto Saxophone | James Rae: East Coast Mainline from Sonatina for Alto Saxophone |
| Tenor Saxophone | Andy Scott: Respectfully Yours for Tenor Saxophone |
| Treble Recorder | Telemann: Adagio and Allegro (3rd and 4th movts from Fantasie in C minor TWV 40:3) |
| Descant Recorder | Edmunds: Sonatina for Descant Recorder and Piano |
| Violin | J. S. Bach: Allemanda – 1st Movement from Partita No. 2 in D Minor BWV 1004 |
| Viola | Vaughan Williams: Prelude – No 1 from Suite for Viola, Group 1 |
| Cello | J. S. Bach: Prelude – Suite No.1 in G BWV 1007 |
| Double Bass | Cimador: Allegro – 3rd Movement from Concerto in G |
| Guitar | Sergio Assad: Farewell from Summer Garden Suite |
| French Horn | A. Cooke: Rondo in Bb |
| Trumpet | Boyce: Trumpet Voluntary |
| Trombone | Ravel: Pavane – pour une infante défunte |
| Bass Trombone | Saint-Saëns: L’éléphant, arr. Green from Solos from Bass Trombone |
| Euphonium | Philip Sparke: Scherzo Finale (No. 10 from Super Solos for Euphonium) |
| Tuned Percussion | Harry Breuer: Waltz in Ragtime |
Instrumental
Round One pieces will be of the performer’s choice and should be one piece lasting no longer than 6 minutes.
The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs any longer than 6 minutes.
Round Two pieces will be taken from the Instrumental Test Piece list YMOG 2024 above and have been selected by the lead adjudicator.
Entrants selected to advance to the Semi-Final must choose a different piece to that performed in Round One and Round Two. This will be one piece of the performer’s choice and should last no longer than 7 minutes. The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs any longer than 7 minutes.
Entrants selected to advance to the Grand Final may include any works previously performed in the Competition or choose new repertoire. Grand Final repertoire should consist of at least two contrasting works. Grand Final repertoire should last no longer than 12 minutes. The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs any longer than 12 minutes.
Vocal
The recommended entry level for all vocalists is Grade 7 and it is expected that pieces will reflect this minimum standard. The Organisers have decided that vocalists must perform repertoire from a variety of genres within the initial rounds of the competition. The three genres they will showcase are:
Round One: An Aria or an Art Song in any language (Maximum 6 minutes)
Round Two: Test Piece – Mandoline by Gabriel Fauré
Semi Final: Musical Theatre – Operetta accepted but not Opera (Maximum 7 minutes)
The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs any longer than 7 minutes.
Chosen pieces should specifically fit the requirements of the category. Performers who do not meet the programme requirements will not progress to the next round or be adjudicated for the round in which the discrepancy was made.
Entrants selected to advance to the Grand Final, may include any works previously performed in the previous rounds or choose new repertoire. Grand Final repertoire should consist of at least two contrasting works. Grand Final repertoire should last for a total of up to 12 minutes.
The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs longer than 12 minutes.
Ensemble Competition
The Ensemble category consists of 4 individual categories:
- Small Ensembles – up to 9 performers
- Small Vocal Ensembles – Between 2 and 9 singers, plus a student conductor and/or an accompanist *Please note if there are 4 entries or less, then the Small Vocal Ensembles will be judged in the Small Ensemble category
- Large Ensembles – 10 or more performers plus a student/adult conductor (if required)
- Large Vocal Ensembles – 10 or more singers plus a piano accompanist and conductor (student or adult). If an ensemble includes both vocalists and instrumentalists, they will compete in this category.
Repertoire must reflect the spirit and merit of the event. For this reason, all instruments being played in an Ensemble should be acoustic. However, if for example, a Jazz Ensemble requires amplified or electronic instruments, then a maximum of two will be accepted (please inform the organisers beforehand).
Ensemble performances which utilise improvisation are required to be supported with an explanation of the stimulus for that improvisation. The Small Ensemble category does not include Rock or Pop Bands.
Each ensemble performance should last no longer than 8 minutes. This should be one piece only.
The Organisers advise that any performance may be terminated if it runs any longer than 8 minutes.
If participating schools wish to enter more than one Vocal Ensemble they must ensure that no more than 3 students are the same in each Vocal Ensemble.
Any performance entries that require the use of 2 pianos will not be accepted.
The format of the Ensemble competition will be as follows:
| Initial Round | Semi-Final | Final | |
| Small Ensembles | All entrants | 2 Ensembles | 1 Ensemble |
| Large Ensemble | All entrants | 2 Ensembles | 1 Ensemble |
| Vocal Ensemble | All entrants | 2 Ensembles | 1 Ensemble |
| Small vocal Ensembles | All entrants | 2 Ensembles | 1 Ensemble |
Those Ensembles selected to advance to the Final
will be the winners of their Ensemble category. In the Final they will compete to win the Overall Ensemble Award in the competition.
Composition Competition
Entrants are required to submit one piece of original music that they have composed in any style (minimum duration 2 minutes) and submit their work to the organisers by Thursday 11th January 2024.
The submission should include both an audio recording and PDF of either a notated score or a detailed lead sheet in the case of DAW, realised compositions.
Compositions will be judged on technical control of the elements, development of ideas within a clear structural framework, creative and imaginative use of musical ideas as well as a sense of style and fluency.
Entrants may also wish to include a detailed preface or brief, outlining their intentions, clarifying any directions within their score.
