YOUTH JAZZ FEST SOFIA 2024
Guidelines
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Youth Jazz Fest Sofia is a forum supporting the creative expression and social interaction of young artists – performers, composers, and arrangers in the field of jazz and improvisation.The festival aims to provide them with a platform to present their projects, enrich their knowledge and skill, expand their creative horizons, and spark new contacts and creative partnerships. As part of the festival, a contest for both performers and songwriters will take place.
WHEN AND WHERE
The festival will be held in the period 30 May - 01 June 2024 in Sofia. A detailed schedule will be published further.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Festival participants can be young musicians from Bulgaria or abroad – soloists or ensembles, singers, and instrumentalists up to 29 years old.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
We are open to any project that touches upon jazz and improvisation. Whether you are performing classic jazz standards or incorporating other styles into your project, we are interested in your interpretation, point of view and personal touch as artists and performers.We would be very gladif you decided to take part with your own original music. If you are a soloist in need of accompaniment, we can assist you in finding musicians to play with for your performance.
PROGRAMME
The following events and activities will take place as part of the festival:
Performer contest
Songwriter contest
Workshops
Flash mobs
Jam session
Gala concert
PERFORMER CONTEST
Musicians up to 29 years old can participate in this contest within the following categories:
Vocalists
Instrumentalists
Bands
Participation in the contest can be either in-person or online. In-person participation will take place in a music hall during the festival. Online participation will take the form of a live performance via direct streaming services. Pre-recorded performances will not be entered into the contest.
AGE BRACKETS
1st bracket – 10 to 12 years old
2nd bracket – 13 to 15 years old
3rd bracket – 16 to 18 years old
3th bracket – 19 to 29 years old
REQUIREMENTS
Up to 2 songs of your choice - jazz standards or jazz arrangements of popular, classical or folk songs
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Technique – your degree of controlover the voice or instrument – clarity of intonation, diction, and articulation, sense of rhythm, dynamics, knowledge and control over different registers of the voice or instrument
Interpretation – your ability to delve into, comprehend, and impart your own reading of the piece you are performing
Style – yourunderstandingof and intuition for the means of expression characteristic of the musical style(s) which you are playing – rhythm, groove, dynamics, articulation, etc.
Workingas an ensemble – your ability to work with the other (accompanying) musicians
Improvisation – your ability to improvise in the musical style(s) which you are playing. Participants in the 1st age bracket are not required to perform solo, those in the 2nd age bracket can perform a solo prepared beforehand, and those in the 3rd age bracket must perform an improvised solo.
Stage presence – your ability to capture and hold the attention of the audience and jury during your performance
Choice of repertoire – the pieces performed should be appropriatefor the age, skill level, disposition, and maturity of the performer (this is primarily a job for the music tutors/educators)
ONLINE PARTICIPATION
Performers from around the world can take part in the contest, via online streaming platforms. For this purpose, participants should be able to provide an audio and video broadcast with reasonable quality. Performances will still need to be live. We are aware there is a limit on the quality of audio and video streaming. What matters to us is that your broadcast is as informative as possible of your performances. If needed, we can provide technical assistance.
ACCOMPANIMENT
All performances must be live. If you do not have an accompanist, we can provide a pianist or trio (piano, bass, drums) for your performance.
AWARDS
In each category, I, II and III prizes are awarded - a diploma and a medal, as well as a special Grand Prix prize.
At the discretion of the jury, the laureates may also be awarded cash scholarships from the festival's prize fund
Scholarships may be awarded for study in a one-year course "Jazz Theory, Harmony and Fundamentals of Improvisation" organized by the Art Libitum Music Center.
Some of the awarded participants will be given the opportunity to have their performances professionally recorded in a studio.
Some of the awarded participants will be invited to take part in the concert "Youth Jazz Fest Sofia in the Bulgarian National Radio - Studio 1".
Additional prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the jury.
JURY
The jury will consist of accomplished jazz musicians and educators.
CONTEST FOR COMPOSITION OF JAZZ PIECE
Youth Jazz Fest Sofia announces a competition for the composition of jazz pieces.
Young authors up to the age of 29 can participate in the competition.
CATEGORIES
Original music
Original arrangement
Original lyrics
REQUIREMENTS
Pieces can be in any style or combination of styles that correspond adequately to jazz.
Pieces must not be published or performed before 01 June 2024.
JURY
The jury will consist of accomplished jazz musicians and educators.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Originality
Understanding of and control over the means of expression in jazz and related styles
Understanding of and control over the musical forms you are using
Understanding of the capabilities of the instruments and ensembles that you are writing for
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The pieces must be submitted as both sheet music (lead sheet or score) and a demo recording. Sheet music must be in PDF, JPEG, or another graphic format. The demo recording must give a reasonably clear idea of the piece. Along with the sheets and recording you need to send us a completed declaration form, certifying your authorship of the pieces (a blank form can be downloaded from the festival’s website)
Plays will be judged on score and demo recording
AWARDS:
In each category, I, II and III prizes are awarded - a diploma and a medal.
The awarded compositions will be included in a catalog of recommended pieces and made available for performance by soloists and ensembles participating in the festival. Also, if there are suitable participants, they can be explored and performed by collective festival compositions within the workshops.
First prize winners will receive a professional studio recording opportunity.
Scholarships can be awarded for training in a one-year course "Jazz Theory, Harmony and Fundamentals of Improvisation", as well as in the "Composition, Orchestration, Arrangement" program organized by the Art Libitum Music Center.
Selected compositions can be presented at the concert "Youth Jazz Fest Sofia in the Bulgarian National Radio - Studio 1".
At the discretion of the jury, prize money may also be awarded to the laureates.
The plays must be sent to e-mail: vladani@abv.bg by May 1, 2024.
By sending the materials, the participants declare their consent for their works to be performed within the Youth Jazz Fest Sofia, and for the performances to be recorded and distributed for the purposes of the festival with a non-commercial purpose. Authors retain the rights to their works.
TAKING PART OUTSIDE OFTHE CONTEST
You can also present your performances outside the contest itself, but this must be explicitly stated in the registration form. In that case, you can still take part in the discussion and receive feedback from the jury, but you won’t be entered into the contest. All participants will receive a certificateof participation.
A MEETING WITH THE JURY
After the contest performances end, all participants will be given the opportunity to attend a meeting with the jury, in which they will receive feedback on their performances and an argued justification for the contest ranking received. Participants that perform outside of the contest can also receive feedback. The jury’s decision is final.
REGISTRATION FEES
All contest participants, as well as those taking part outside of the contest, need to pay a registration fee of 40 BNG (€20) for a solo participant or 25 BGN (€12) for a band member. For musical ensembles over 10 people the fee is BGN 250 for the whole ensemble. There is no additional fee for taking part in the workshops. Fees can be paid in the office of Music center Art Libitum or via bank transfer to the following bank account:
IBAN: BG74BPBI79421079332401
ART CIRCLE IMPULSES association
Postbank
JAM SESSION
A friendly jam session will take place as part of the festival. All participants are invited to join.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Originality
Understanding of and control over the means of expression in jazz and related styles
Understanding of and control over the musical forms you are using
Understanding of the capabilities of the instruments and ensembles that you are writing for
JURY
The jury will consist of accomplished jazz musicians and educators.
WORKSHOPS
As part of the festival, a number of creative workshops on jazz themes, styles, and pieces will take place.Workshops will be led by accomplished jazz musicians. Any participant that has expressed interest upon registration and has been approved can take part in workshops.
FLASH MOBS
Weather permitted, flash mobs in lively areas of the capital (Sofia) will take place as part of the festival.
CLOSING GALA CONCERT
The festival will conclude with a gala concert, where the competition prizes will be awarded. Representatives of national mediaoutlets, production houses, and judges from other festivals around the country and abroad will also be invited to the concert.
PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION
In order to participate in the festival, you need to send us a completed registration form, which can be downloaded from the festival’s website (www.youthjazzfestsofia.com). Forms should be submitted via email to vladani@abv.bgno later than the 01st May 2024.
ACCOMODATION
Participants coming from outside Sofia are responsible for their costs of travel and stay in the city. Where necessary, we can assist with accommodation.
RECORDING
Audio and video recordings will be made of all events that are part of the festival – concerts, meetings, workshops, flash mobs, etc. The organizers of the festival reserve the right to use these recordings and any photographic material from the festival for the purposes of promotion, such asbroadcasting to media outlets, publishing online, etc. By submitting your registration form you agree to this and concede the abovementioned rights,with no expectation of compensation.
LANGUAGE
The working language of the festival is Bulgarian. Translation from and into English will be provided for participants from abroad.
CONTACTS AND MORE
The festival’s official website is: www.youthjazzfestsofia.com
Registration forms should be sent to: vladani@abv.bg
You can contact us with any questions on:
Phone: +359 898 662627
Viber: +359 898 662627
Facebook and Messenger: Младежки джаз фест София/Youth Jazz Fest Sofia
Organizers of Youth Jazz Fest Sofia: Music center ART LIBITUM www.artlibitumcenter.com
Festival coordinator: Jordan Vladev