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Eligibility and Application Requirements

Section 1. Applications for AOVICF 2025 are now open. 

Section 2. Only amateur choirs that have been in existence for at least two (2) years are allowed to join.

Section 3. All applications will be screened by the Artistic Committee, composed of the Artistic Director(s), the Festival Director, and selected members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Section 4. Choirs applying to join the AOVICF must submit the following requirements:

  • fully accomplished application form;

  • audio/video recording of two (2) to three (3) songs of different genres recorded within the last six (6) months prior to application;

  • recent profile/CV (maximum of 300 words) and photo of the choir taken within the last six (6) months prior to application; and

  • recent profile/CV (maximum of 300 words) and photo of the conductor. 
     

Section 5. Application Form and Requirements (audio/video recordings) must be submitted to the Festival Secretariat through secretariat@aovchoralfestph.com with subject labelled as AOVICF 2025: (Name of Choir). Submissions may be done until 23:59 PM (Philippine Standard Time) of April 30, 2025. 
 

Section 6. Qualified applicants shall receive respective notices of acceptance within 15 days after application. 
 

Section 7. Qualified applicants must pay the registration fee – and send proof of payment – on or before May 30, 2025 to be considered official competing choirs. 
   To wit: 

  • Registration fee for non-Filipino choirs: USD 400; and

  • Registration fee Filipino Choirs: Php 15,000. 
     

Section 8. After receiving notice of the choir’s acceptance, the choir qualified to compete must submit the following –  
repertoire per category;
five (5) clear copies of each of the music scores (to be returned after the competition); and
written permit from the composer/arranger for the use of self-published scores or copy of invoice for purchased scores to:
   
 
  The Festival Director
   ANDREA O. VENERACION INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL, MANILA
   Artist Training Division, Arts Education Department Cultural Center of the Philippines
    Roxas Blvd., Pasay City 1300 Philippines  

 

on or before June 30, 2025; 5:00 pm (Philippine Standard Time).

Section 9.   To begin the application process, interested choirs may visit aovchoralfestph.com.

General Guidelines

Section 1. The Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival is open only to amateur choirs.
 

Section 2. The songs must be performed either a cappella or accompanied live by a pitched instrument. The a cappella songs may be rendered with unpitched instruments. No recorded accompaniment is allowed. 

 

Section 3. Compulsory pieces shall be provided by the AOVICF Secretariat upon settlement of the choir applicants’ registration fees. Any group found to have acquired the compulsory score by any other means shall be disqualified from competing in the respective category.

 

Section 4. Only legally printed music, published editions, or duly authorized manuscripts may be used in the competition.

 

Section 5. Only songs that have been evaluated and approved by the Artistic Committee may be performed. Replacing any of the songs with another, without the approval of the AOVICF Artistic Committee after June 30, 2025 shall not be allowed. 

 

Section 6. The use of microphones and other sound amplification is NOT allowed.  

 

Section 7. Participating choirs are eligible to participate in any or all categories. However, no part of the respective choirs’ repertoire may be performed in more than one category.
 

Section 8. Choreography is allowed, but will not affect the judges’ score. 

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Section 9. The participating choir’s entire program must be presented within the time limit set for the respective category. This will be counted from the singing of the first note up to the last note, including the intervals or pauses between songs. A penalty of a one-point deduction from the total score will be incurred for every minute (or a fraction of it) exceeding the allowable time.

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Section 10. The competing choirs shall decide on the order in which the songs are to be performed. No changes to this order shall be allowed 24 hours before the respective competition starts.  

 

Section 11. The order of performance by the participating choirs in each category shall be decided by the AOVICF Artistic Committee. 

 

Section 12. The top two overall winners of the AOVICF will qualify and represent the Festival in the next two consecutive Asia Choral Grand Prix (ACGP) competitions, respectively. 

 

Section 13. No refund of the registration fee may be granted unless the competition has been cancelled by the AOVICF Artistic Committee. 

 

Section 14. Participating choirs must also learn the Festival Song entitled Sing from the Heart, a copy of which will be sent to the respective choirs upon acceptance to the AOVICF. 

 

Section 15.  All travel, accommodation, and meal expenses must be shouldered by the participating choir.

 

Section 16. There will be no orientation or technical meeting with representatives of the participating choirs. All queries must be sent to secretariat@aovchoralfestph.com.  

Intellectual Property Rights

Section 1. The participating choir is responsible for obtaining the performance rights and/or written permission from composers, arrangers, and/or music publishers of all the songs included in the respective group’s repertoire. 

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Section 2. AOVICF-commissioned compositions are protected by copyright. In case any group wishes to use the piece for future performances, the AOVICF Secretariat must be notified as it may assist in the processing of royalties.

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Section 3. All photos, videos, and audio recordings taken during the competitions are considered properties of the AOVICF. 

Adjudication, Evaluation, and Awards

Section 1. Five (5) internationally renowned choral experts coming from different continents will serve as members of the jury.

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Section 2. The performances shall be judged according to the following criteria: 

  • Intonation

  • Sound Quality

  • Interpretation and Fidelity to the Score

  • Overall Artistic Impression
     

Section 3. In case there is a tie, the members of the jury shall discuss and decide on the final ranking.

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Section 4. The choirs will be assessed and awarded respective diplomas according to the following numeric points system:

  • Gold Diploma – 85-100 points

  • Silver Diploma – 75-84.99 points 

  • Bronze Diploma – 65-74.99 points

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Section 5. First Prize winners in each category will receive a trophy, a certificate, and cash prize. 

  1. Children’s Choir Category – Php 150,000.00 

  2. Equal Voices Category – Php 150,000.00

  3. Folk Song and Indigenous Music Category – Php 150,000.00

  4. Mixed Choir Category – Php 200,000.00 

  5. Musica Sacra Category – Php 150,000.00

  6. Popular Music Category – Php 150,000.00
     

Section 6. Second and Third Prize winners will each receive a certificate. 

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Section 7.  The following Special Prizes may be given: 

  • Best Conductor

  • Best Performance of the Contest Piece

 

Section 8. The jury reserves the right not to award any prize if no choir meets the standards. 

      

Section 9. The decision of the jury is final.

Concerts and Workshops

Section 1. AOVICF may offer Master Classes or Workshops administered by the distinguished members of the jury. 

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Section 2. Conductors may have an opportunity to learn about conducting praxis under the AOVICF Artistic Director and Philippine Madrigal Singers Choirmaster, Mark Anthony A. Carpio. 

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Section 3. The Philippine Madrigal Singers, led by Artistic Director and Choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio, may conduct a workshop for choirs. 

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Section 4. The Philippine Madrigal Singers or another award-winning choral group may be featured in a concert during the Festival.  

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Section 5. The participating choirs may perform together in a Festival Concert. 

Liability

The AOVICF shall not be held liable for injuries, damages, losses arising from the actions of the participants not directly under the control of the Festival.

Final Provision

Participating choirs automatically grant the AOVICF Committee the right to publish, and to any material remuneration from probable publication and distribution of music video recordings taken during the Festival.

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