Musical Youth 2008
A Challenge for Young Musicians
Competition to Win a Day in a Recording Studio
This year Birdsedge Village Festival is inviting young musicians between the ages of 15 and 25 to enter our music competition to win a full day in a recording studio. Winners can use that time to record whatever they wish: make a three song demo, or go to town on producing the single of their dreams. There are no restrictions as to the type of music we want to hear in the competition, classical, rock, folk, brass band, choral or new age. You can enter if you're a solo singer songwriter with a guitar or a jazz quintet.
Entering is simple - all you have to do is send us a basic recording of you playing live. It doesn't have to be fancy as long as we can hear what your music sounds like. Out of all the applicants the six finalists - all winners already - will be invited to perform on the Sunday afternoon (13th July) in the concert marquee at Birdsedge Village Festival. The six finalists will be able to attend their choice of workshops in the morning (soundchecks permitting) and then will have the experience of working with a professional sound engineer and performing to our festival audience supported by Harry Rowland, our 2007 winner, and professional performers..
A panel of music industry professionals will select the winner with the help of the audience. Yes, the audience gets a vote too - in fact their combined vote counts as if it were one of our panel, so in the event of a tie the audience vote may well decide!!!
But this competition is not about judgement, it's all about nurturing young musicians and helping them to achieve their musical ambitions. There will be no snide comments from the panel like you see on TV competitions.
ENTRY INFORMATION.
1) All entrants should send an unedited, audio or video recording of their live performance of approximately 10 - 15 minutes in length. Quality of performance counts for more than length or quality of the recording. Any format is acceptable; CD, minidisk or even a home VHS video recording will do at a pinch as long as we can hear what you sound like playing live. Please list the music/songs and the songwriters/composers (and publishers if known). Please make it clear if you have written all or part of the music yourself.
All audio content on the entry recordings must be entirely the work of the entrants unless stated clearly. A singer or a solo instrumentalist may have an accompanist not in the qualifying age range provided this is declared but - please - no backing tapes. Live music only. The accompanist shall not be deemed to be a
part of the competition and may not participate in the prize in his or her own right, but may be part of the recording session if the young performer is selected as the winner.
Send it to:
Carole Ashley
M.Y Challenge @ Birdsedge Festival
7 Highfield Avenue
Birdsedge
HD8 8XT
Please also include a brief description of your music, band members, instruments played, band history and photo if possible. It doesn't matter if you're so new you haven't got a band history yet, but if you have we'd like to hear it.
2) The deadline for entries is 31st May 2008 but you may send in your entry as soon as you like.
3) Six finalists will be chosen by our judges who all have extensive music industry experience.
4) The finalists will perform live in front of an audience at Birdsedge Village Festival Sunday afternoon Concert on 13th July 08 with a full professional PA system and sound engineer supplied by the festival. Unless circumstances are exceptional, non-appearance by any or all band members will be taken as automatic
withdrawal from the competition, so please don't enter unless you know all your band members are committed to being there all afternoon (For sound checks) to 6.00 p.m. (For the announcement of the winners.) Singers and solo instrumentalists may bring their accompanist.
5) The competition will be judged by our panel plus the audience vote will be taken into account in determining the winner. (The audience vote in total shall count as one complete panel member)
6) The Winners will be announced at the end of the competition.
7) The winning act will receive a one day recording session at Park Head Studio with Brian Bedford who will offer help & advice with your production. Up to two adults may attend with the band if the winners are under 18. At the end of the day the winners will receive a CD-R master of their work. The date for recording is flexible and can be arranged to suit.
8) For more information on Park Head Studio visit www.parkheadstudio.co.uk
9) Tickets to the competition finals are free www.birdsedgevillagefestival.org Finalists may reserve a block of seats for family by calling 01484 606230.
10) The Concert has a fully licensed bar and any young person purchasing alcohol will be asked for proof of age – so please ensure you bring Identification.
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Our 2007 Winners were Harry Rowland and Ben Ruddlesden sharing joint first place. We're still waiting for Ben to record, but Harry did his studio day on 11th January 2008.
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