1. For any questions about the competition please email: mcclures@wycombeabbey.com The South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition was founded by Harrow, North London Collegiate and Wycombe Abbey Schools in 2011 to develop the concept of creating a competition to suit the needs of the talented musicians and thriving chamber music playing in schools. Since then the competition has grown in size to around sixty ensembles taking part each year. Joining the three founder schools in the 2014 and 2013 competitions have been ensembles from The Henrietta Barnett School, Eton College, Stowe School, Magdalen College School, City of London School for Girls, South Hampstead High School, Merchant Taylor’s School, St Catherine’s Bramley and others. An integral part of the competition is a short but highly productive coaching session, given by a professional chamber musician, which follows the performance of every ensemble in the qualifying rounds. COMPETITION BACKGROUND Qualifying Rounds Thursday 26 th February - Wycombe Abbey School Friday 27 th February – The Henrietta Barnett School Sunday 1 st March - Harrow School Sunday 1 st March - North London Collegiate School Finalists’ Concert Tuesday 10 th March, 7pm - St. John’s Smith Square. London Runners-Up Concert Thursday 12 th March, 1.30pm - St. Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill Adjudicators Richard Ireland Richard Ireland Michael Dussek Michael Dussek For any questions about the competition please email: info@chambermusicforschools.co.uk

2. Rules and Regulations Age Categories The school year group of the oldest member of the ensemble will determine the age category for the group. Junior – Years 7, 8, & 9 Intermediate – Fifth form / GCSE. Years 10 & 11. Senior – Sixth Form / A level. Years 12 and 13. Eligibility An ensemble must be made up of a minimum of 3 players and up to a maximum of 12 players. No conductor is permissible. No amplification is allowed (apart from a harpsichord setting on a keyboard or Clavinova). Ensembles must be made up from one school only. Instrumental groups only (no vocal parts). Players must not be substituted in later stages after the qualifying round. Repertoire Whilst we would like to encourage as many ensembles to play music in its original scoring, we do acknowledge that younger ensembles and wind/brass groups in particular may have to perform arrangements of works. Chamber music repertoire should also avoid doubling of parts (with the exception of continuo doubling). Music scores A music score should be provided for the adjudicators with suitable bar numbers and/or letters indicated on the score. (Scores will be returned to the school after the tutorial session) Adjudicators Adjudicators are all experienced professional chamber music players and teachers. Adjudicators will tutor each group immediately after each performance. The decision of the panel of adjudicators is final. Duration of Performances and Tutorials Pieces should not exceed the maximum playing duration so as not to compromise the amount of time available for coaching. Entry fees Junior - £40 Intermediate - £50Senior - £60 Announcement of results The result from each qualifying round will announced by email in the days following 1 st March. A written adjudicator's report for each ensemble will be sent to the teacher in whose name the entry is made. Qualifying round The following venues are available for the first round. Please indicate your centre preference on the entry form. Whilst the organising school will do its best to accommodate preferences on timings it may not be possible to guarantee this. We will make every effort to schedule the ensembles of visiting schools in succession. We do encourage competitors to stay and listen to the performances and coaching of ensembles from their own school and other schools. Wycombe Abbey SchoolThursday 26 th February The Henrietta Barnett SchoolFriday 27 th February Harrow SchoolSunday 1 st March NLCS Sunday 1 st March Finalists’ Concert Tuesday 10 th March, 7pm, St John’s Smith Square, London Runners-Up Concert Thursday 12 th March, 1.30pm, St. Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill Groups will be selected from the qualifying rounds to perform in these concerts which will be a celebration of the very best chamber music from the competition. Age categoryTiming of pieceOverall timing of piece + tutorial JuniorMaximum 6 mins20 mins total IntermediateMaximum 8 mins25 mins total SeniorMaximum 10 mins30 mins total