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Young Singers

It is expected that pieces be sung from memory and that you will sing without a microphone.

Set Pieces

7 years and under

V1a

£7

The Crocodile by Jenkyns from ABRSM Book 1

8-10 years

V1b

£7

The Crocodile by Jenkyns from ABRSM Book 1

11-13 years

V2

£8

A smugglers song by Le Fleming  from ABRSM Book 4

14-18 years

V3

£8

I can give you the Starlight  by Novello from ABRSM Book 5 songbook plus

Performance Categories

For each of the following categories (category code letter in brackets):

  • British Folk Song (F)

  • English Art Song (A) – Art Song composed to an original English text (Composers such as Sullivan / Ireland / Vaughan Williams / Butterworth / Finzi / Howells / Britten)

  • Foreign Art Song – European (E) – Art Song composed to an original European or Russian text and sung in the original language. 

  • Foreign Song – Indian (I)

  • Song from a Musical (M) – not to backing track

  • Song from a Disney Film or Musical (D) (performed to a backing track)

  • Contemporary Pop (P)(performed to a backing track)

7 years and under

3 minutes

V(x)0

£7

8-10 years

3 minutes

V(x)1

£7

11-13 years

3 minutes

V(x)2

£8

14-18 years

4 minutes

V(x)3

£8

Replace the (X) with the letter for the appropriate category to get the class code. i.e. 11-13 years Song from a Musical would be class VM3.

Junior Aria - Festival Trophy

10-13 years

6 minutes

V4

£9

14-18 years

6 minutes

V5

£9

Milton Keynes Young Singer of the Year Recital - Festival Trophy

You must enter at least one other solo voice class and be aged 14-18 years. You must perform at least two contrasting pieces of your own choice within the time allowed, but at least one must be classical in genre. No backing tracks are allowed.

18 years and under

12 minutes

V6

£15

Classical or Musical Theatre Duet, Trio or Quartet

One voice per part, each having a distinct vocal line and involving singing predominantly in harmony.

18 years and under

6 minutes

V7

£17

Acting through Song – age 16 and above only

Piano accompaniment, not backing track. Singers are to prepare a song from the Musical Theatre repertoire. The emphasis in this class is on the seamless integration of singing and acting skills demonstrated through a range of vocal quality choices and a truthful physical delivery of the song.

16-17 years

5 minutes

V8

£9

18-19 years

5 minutes

V9

£9

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Open classes (Any age) 

Guest composer: Sir Edward Elgar

English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius, chamber music and songs. He was appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924.

Any age

VG1

£8

1-2 pieces of your own choice. 5 minutes

Guest composer: John Rutter

John Milford Rutter CBE (born 24 September 1945) is an English composer, conductor, editor, arranger, and record producer, mainly of choral music. In this class you may choose any song composed by Rutter.

Any age

VG2

£8

1-2 pieces of your own choice. 5 minutes

Adult Singers

Please note that adults may use their sheet music as an aide-memoire

Set Pieces

King David by H. Howells

V20

£8

Song Categories

Folk Song

V21

piece of your own choice.

£8

4 minutes

Renaissance / Early Baroque Song or Aria

V22

piece of your own choice. Written before 1695

£8

4 minutes

Contemporary Art Song or Aria

V23

 piece of your own choice. Must be in contemporary classical idiom (ie Berg, Poulenc, Britten,Tippett)

£8

4 minutes

British Art Song

V24

Art Song composed to an original English text by a composer born or lived mainly in Britain and Ireland

£8

4 minutes

Lieder

V25

 piece of your own choice.  Must be in original language

£8

4 minutes

Mélodie – Prize £20 sponsored by Cheryl Hawkins

V26

 piece of your own choice. Must be in the original language

£8

4 minutes

Foreign Song – Indian

V27

piece of your own choice.

£8

4 minutes

Foreign Art Song

V28

piece of your own choice (other than French ,German or Indian). Must be in the original language

£8

4 minutes

Song from a Musical

V30

performed to piano or backing track accompaniment

£8

4 minutes

Operetta

V29

piece of your own choice.

£8

5 minutes

Opera

V31

Must be in original key, may be in translation

£8

6 minutes

Oratorio

V32

Must be in original key, may be in translation. Own choice from a  work of oratorio character including Masses, Motets, Sacred Cantatas etc

£8

6 minutes

Pop Song

V33

performed to backing track – any song from 1940s onwards

£8

4 minutes

Two Related Songs

Any 2 related songs of your own choice

8 minutes

V34

£9

Adult Voice Recital - Festival Trophy

Entrants must have entered at least one other voice class. Three pieces to be performed one from each period: 

  1. Baroque / Classical (1650-1830)

  2. Romantic / Early 20th century (1831–1950)

  3. Late 20th century / Contemporary (1950 -)

15 minutes

V35

£17

Classical or Musical Theatre Duet, Trio or Quartet

Own choice of music. One voice per part, each having a distinct vocal line and involving singing predominantly in harmony. Props or costuming is allowed

8 minutes

V36

£18

Non-competitive

If you'd like to perform but not compete in any of the sections above then choose one of these classes. You'll still receive a certificate and the adjudicator will provide feedback.

13 years and under

VN1

£6

3 minutes

14-18 years

VN2

£6

4 minutes

Adults

VN3

£6

5 minutes

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