First Round Auditions (Closed)

 

Overview

First Round auditions take place at Vivo Music Studio and are used to assess entrants fairly and select finalists for the public Festival Finals at Phoenix Theatre, Bawtry.

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How To Get To Vivo Music Studio​

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Eligibility & Age rules

• Categories:

  • 9–11 Years

  • 12–15 Years

  • 16–18 Years

  • 19+ Over

• Your age category is based on your age on Wednesday 29 April 2026.

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Amateur Status Eligibility

This competition is intended for amateur singers.

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You are eligible to enter if:

• You are in full-time education (school, college, or university), even if you have performed in shows, tours, or paid engagements, and

• Singing or performing is not your primary source of income.

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You are not eligible to enter if:

• You earn your primary income from professional singing or performing, or

• You are currently represented and working as a full-time professional performer.

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If an entrant’s status is unclear, the organiser may request clarification and reserves the right to refuse or withdraw an entry to ensure fairness for all.

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Entry fees

• 9–11 Years & 12–15 Years: £12

• 16–18 Years & 19+ Over: £15

Entry is only confirmed once payment is received.

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Payment Details

Please pay your entry fee by Wednesday 29 April 2026 using the details below. Include the entrant’s full name as the payment reference.

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Account name: Vivo Music Studio
Bank: Monzo Business 
Sort code: 04-00-03
Account number: 91890526
Reference: Entrant full name

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Refunds

Entry fees are non-refundable after the published deadline because they cover non-recoverable costs including studio closure, administration, and confirmed pianist and adjudicator bookings

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Key Dates & Deadlines

• Applications and payment deadline: Wednesday 29 April 2026

  • Repertoire changes for the First Round are allowed up to Wednesday 29 April 2026.

• Auditions: Sunday 10 May 2026

• Overflow audition date (if required): Sunday 17 May 2026

• Finalists Announced: Friday 22nd May 2026

• Finals Music Submission Deadline: Friday 5th June 2026

• Finals at the Phoenix Theatre: Sunday 21st June 2026

  • Junior Final (9-11 Years & 12-15 Years) 4.00pm​

  • Senior Final (16-18 Years & 19 + Over) 6.00pm 

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Applicants must be available for Sunday 10th May and also Sunday 17 May if an overflow day is needed.

 

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Audition Format & Timing

Each entrant performs two contrasting songs from a Musical from at least two different time periods (e.g. pre 1965, 1965-1999 and/or 2000-present:.

Time limit: maximum 1 minute 30 seconds per song.

Arrival: please arrive 20 minutes before your audition slot.

Parents/guardians:

• Parents/guardians are not permitted in the audition room, but may wait outside the audition room in the other Teaching Studio.

Further audition information (including directions and arrival details) will be emailed with your audition confirmation.

 

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Accompaniment (First Round)

Entrants may perform with either:

• Backing track, or

• Official pianist

You must choose “Backing track” or “Pianist” on the application form. Your choice locks after the deadline and there are no changes on the day.

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First Round Music Submission (required for all entrants)

To ensure the pianist and adjudicators can prepare fairly and consistently, all entrants must email their First Round music as a PDF by Wednesday 29 April 2026, even if performing with a backing track.

• Sheet music must be sent as a PDF by email to the competition address: info@vivomusicstudio.co.uk

• Cuts must be clearly marked or emailed by the deadline

• No key changes on the day

• No repertoire changes on the day

• No unmarked edits on the day/unless agreed to by the pianist

 

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Copyright: Sheet Music & Backing Tracks

Entrants must ensure that any sheet music and backing tracks submitted are lawfully obtained and licensed, and that they have the right to share them for the purpose of this competition.

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Photocopies or scans are only acceptable where they are lawfully made, for example for accessibility needs, page turns, or where the entrant owns the original and the copy is used solely for the purpose of this competition.

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Submitted music files are used only for accompaniment preparation and competition administration, shared only with the official pianist and relevant competition staff and deleted or securely destroyed after the competition period.

 

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Judging & Repertoire Suitability

Adjudicators are industry professionals (to be announced). The adjudicators’ decision is final.

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Entrants will be judged on performance quality, including vocal performance, communication and interpretation.

Entrants must choose repertoire that is:

• Vocally suitable for the performer

• Contextually and lyrically age-appropriate for the performer

 

Festival Finals (Public, Ticketed)

Finalists, Reserves & Communication

Finalists will be notified by email. No feedback will be given to entrants who do not progress.

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There will also be reserves. Reserves may be offered a Finals place if a finalist withdraws or becomes unwell, or if a place becomes available for any reason.

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Around 72 hours before the Finals concert, finalists may be asked to confirm they can still attend. If a finalist cannot attend and a reserve is available and able to perform, a reserve may be called up.

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Finalists will receive additional event information by email, including Finals music deadlines and theatre instructions.

 

Finals Performance Format & Timing

Finalists perform two contrasting musical theatre songs.

 

Time limits per song:

• Ages 9-11 Years & 12-15 Years: maximum 3 minutes per song

• Ages 16-18 Years & 19+ Over: maximum 4 minutes per song​

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Performances will be timed. If an entrant exceeds the time limit, they may be stopped and are at risk of disqualification. This rule is in place to keep the concert running to schedule and to ensure fairness for all finalists.

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Finalists may use the same repertoire as the First Round auditions if they wish. Any Finals repertoire submission deadlines will be communicated by email.

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Finals accompaniment is with the official pianist.

 

Finals Dress Code

Finals dress code is formal concert attire (as you would wear for a concert performance). No costume and no props are permitted.

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Ticketing

Ticket price: £10 per ticket + Booking Fee
Finalists may reserve up to two tickets for family or friends. Reserved tickets must be purchased by the stated deadline or they will be released back into general sale.

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(Information about the Finals Concert and how to purchase tickets will be released once Finalists have been announced.)

 

Awards & Prizes

• Junior Overall Winner (ages 9-11 years & 12-15 Years): prizes to be announced

• Senior Overall Winner (16-18 Years & 19+ Over): £100 cash prize

• Additional prizes: to be announced

 

Policies and admin

Feedback Policy

No feedback is provided for the First Round. Finalists will receive feedback (format and timing confirmed by email).

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Refund Policy

No refunds are given after the published entry deadline, including in cases of illness, injury, travel disruption, or inability to attend.

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If the organiser cancels the competition (including where minimum paid entries are not met), entry fees will be refunded.

If the Finals are cancelled, tickets purchased for the Finals will be refunded.

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Safeguarding, Photography & Privacy

Safeguarding is taken seriously. Parents/guardians remain responsible for supervision of under-18s while attending auditions and Finals.

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Unauthorised photography/recording is not permitted. Authorised photography/filming may take place in line with your consent selection and the published Photography and Filming Policy.

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Personal data is used only to administer the competition and deliver the event, in line with the published Privacy Notice.

 

Payment details

Please pay your entry fee by Wednesday 29 April 2026 using the details below. Include the entrant’s full name as the payment reference.

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Account name: Vivo Music Studio

Bank: Monzo Business 

Sort code: 04-00-03

Account number: 91890526

Reference: Entrant full name