■Preliminary Screening

・Japan-based choirs

Applicants have to be recommended by the choral association of each prefecture or approved by the organizer through the preliminary screening. Some choirs could be qualified by recommendation by the organizer.

・Overseas choirs

Applicants have to be approved by the organizer through the preliminary screening. Some choirs could be qualified by recommendation by the organizer. All applications should be sent by registered post, by October 31st 2011, at the latest.

a. An Application form written in English

b. A recent recording of the choir recorded by 2-16 expected singers, after April 2011. The time of performance shall be within 10 minutes, and the choral pieces can be different from the ones to be performed in the competition. The recording media shall be either a cassette tape, a CD or a MD. DVDs are not acceptable. The choir’s name and any other sounds except the performance must not be recorded in the media. The recording media will not be returned.

c. One digital photo showing the choir

The result of the preliminary screening will be announced by November 30th, 2011 at the latest.


■ Registration

Choirs which are selected should provide the following documents to the organizer’s address no later than December 15th, 2011.

a. Fully completed registration forms.
b. 7 original scores of the selected pieces of choir music
c. A bank cheque or proof of bank transfer covering the participation fee.

*If you have no choice but to submit copies of the musical notes, please obtain an approval for use from the publishing company, and state it on the musical notes

*Please clearly state your choir’s name on the cover page of the musical note, and attach a tack seal on the 1st page of each musical piece to show the order of performance.

*If you partially omit or arrange the piece, please gain approval from the composer / the copyright holder to take necessary procedures, and state it on the musical notes.

■ Participation Fee

・Japan-based choirs

Ticket fees will be charged when the choirs participate as an audience. The costs for CDs, DVDs and photos will be announced separately later.

・Overseas Choirs

For participation in the competition, a non-refundable participation fee of JPY 20,000 has to be paid per choir after being selected through the preliminary screening. Any banking costs that arise must be paid by the applicant.

The fees cover the following;

a. Free entry to the competition and friendship concert for each choir member including the accompanist and the conductor
b. Program booklet per choir member
c. A CD recorded by the authorized agent
d. A photo taken by the authorized agent

・Bank　Details

The bank details for registration are as follows;
Bank Name: Toho Bank Kencho Branch
Bank Code:0126 BIC/SWIFT: TOHOJPJT
Address of Bank: 2-16 Sugitsuma town Fukushima city, Fukushima prefecture, 960-8670 Japan
Beneficiary: Masami Kanno, Chairperson of the Executive Committee, Vocal Ensemble Competition
Address of Beneficiary: same as Address of Bank
Branch/Account Number: 103-1342795
Purpose: name of choir


■ Accommodation and Transport

・Japan-based choirs
The participating choirs will be responsible for their travel and accommodation costs. The general travel services could be provided by travel agents authorized by the organizer.
.

・Overseas choirs
The participating choirs will be responsible for their travel and accommodation costs. Due to local conditions and organizational reasons, overseas choirs are encouraged to book accommodation during the stay in Fukushima through the travel agency authorized by the organizer. The following services will be organized by the travel agency. For more details, please refer to the registration guidelines to be sent after the preliminary screening.

a. Accommodation
b. Meals
c. Local transportation between the hotel and the venue (in the downtown area)
d. Airport transfer from Narita or Fukushima airport
e. Airplane tickets
f. Rehearsal room
g. Sightseeing tour

The competition has financial assistance to which participating choirs may apply.
Please see the section of “Financial assistance.”


■ Financial Assistance

・ Japan-based choirs selected for the Grand Champion Competition will have financial assistance of Max JPY 5,000 per stay at hotels after selected for the finals for each choir member, including the accompanist and the conductor.

・ Overseas choirs who are asked to perform at the friendship concert, will receive financial assistance of Max JPY 5,000 per stay at hotels from their category competition to the day before the finals for each choir member, including the accompanist and the conductor, regardless of whether or not they proceed to the Grand Champion Competition.

・When the participating choirs arrive at / depart from Fukushima airport, all costs of a chartered vehicle from Fukushima airport to the hotel in Fukushima city and back to Fukushima airport will be paid directly to the taxi company. The schedule and type of vehicles will be arranged by the organizer according to the flight schedule and the number of users.

・There is an exchange program including home stays and cultural activities before/after the competition, which can be applied for by participating overseas choirs. Travel expenses and accommodation fees of the project will be paid by the organizer. We will announce detailed information after the preliminary screening.