1. Entry blank must be completed by December 22nd to avoid late fee and receive free admission. Money will be refunded to anyone who paid entry fee and cannot attend, if they inform the committee of withdrawal prior to the contest's beginning. All refunds issued by check. Contestants may compete in ONE certified fiddle Division or One NON certified - Novice division OR Open division. In addition contestants may compete in the Twin & Novice divisions shall play two tunes of their choice – pre-registration will not be offered and maximum number of pairs will be five. Contestants will be accepted on a first come basis at contest registration table.
2. Contestants must confirm pre-registration by checking in at the judges meeting. Non pre-registrants must register at least 1 hour before the division contestant desires to participate in begins, provided that the division is not full. Contestants registering after order of appearance is chosen will play first.
3. All commercial recording, photo and video rights are reserved and shall become the property of the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers' Association the nonprofit and legal entity for The Colorado Fiddle Championships. Signing of the contest registration form shall waive such rights. Previous year’s winners are asked to play in a winner's show during the contest.
4. Order of appearance for all rounds shall be randomly drawn by a committee member and posted. Contestants must be ready to play when notified. Any contestant who harasses or threatens a judge will be automatically eliminated from the current contest and next year's contest.
5. Pre-registration of guitar accompanist will be accepted. Winners of accompanist division determined by number of times appearing on stage during the contest.
6. Contestants may play with or without accompanist. No restriction on how many backup.
7. If a string breaks, the contestant will have the option to continue or stop at that point. If the tune is completed it will be judged as played. If the contestant chooses to stop, due to a broken string, he or she will be allowed to begin with that tune and complete the program without penalty.
8. Contestants at each appearance must play a hoedown; a waltz and a tune of choice, which is designated as anything other than a hoedown or waltz. Tunes may be played in any order. No contestant shall play a tune more than once during the contest. Four minute playing time limit will be strictly adhered to in all rounds of all certified divisions of this contest.
9. Contact microphones and amplified instruments will not be permitted during any competition.
10. No trick fiddling allowed during contest appearances. No Cross tuning on stage.
11. Judging criteria on individual tunes will include but is not limited to: Difficulty, Musical Expression, Rhythm and Timing and Tone & Intonation. Scores will be determined by a consensus of the judges. All certified and Novice Divisions will be judged sequestered. Points will be deducted for any violation of the above rules 8-11(inclusive).
12 Open Division Judging criteria will be a consensus of non-sequestered judging. Open division contestants shall not repeat any tunes previously played by ANY contestants throughout the bout. A list of tunes played will be posted at the conclusion of each round. Judges have final say as to what will be a played in the *final round robin. (*See special explanation)
13. Audience participation IS allowed and encouraged.
Time consideration will be given to contestants for excessive audience response.
14. No sheet music shall be displayed in the contesting area.
15. Any contestant winning three consecutive years in the Championship division must either judge the following year's contest or sit out the contest that year. Any contestant winning three consecutive years in any age division (except small fry and Junior Junior) will automatically move into the championship division. Small Fry and Junior Junior contestants winning three consecutive years will automatically move up to the next age division
16. Any contestant winning a trophy or money must appear on stage to receive their awards or the awards will be forfeited. Please check contest schedule for award times.
17. Any protest must be submitted in writing to the Chairman, and signed by not less than 3 contestants of the contest within 3 hours of the protest occurrence.
18.Contestants will be called by number only. Tune sheets must be filed out before the contestant enters the on-deck area.
20. In the event of a tie, contestants will play off according to stipulations by the judges. Playoffs will be only for ties in the top 5 places. All others will split the difference in prize money.
21. All decisions of the judges and the contest committee will be final.
BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS MUST BE LIMITED. IF AT TIME OF CONTEST CHECK-IN, ANY DIVISION IS NOT FULL, THESE CONTESTANT SLOTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, TO ANY CONTESTANT IN ANY DIVISION.
Please see additional rules for Twin, Novice and - Texas Style Open divisions - provided at contest
