2011 CHILDREN OF THE WORLD IN HARMONY

19th International Youth Choir & Dance MiniFest

July 18-23, 2011

ANNOUNCEMENT

Youth choirs and dance ensembles are invited to apply to participate in the 2011 Children of the World in Harmony 2011 festival. A few places remain in the 2011 line-up of performers. Choir and dance ensembles wishing to apply must agree to the general guidelines below. Since space is limited, applications should be submitted at your earliest convenience. The Festival will be held from July 18-23, 2011 in and around Petoskey, Michigan, USA.

GENERAL INFORMATION

FESTIVAL OBJECTIVES: The objectives of festival are:

• to present some of the finest children’s and youth choirs or dance ensembles,
• to promote and advance children and youth choral singing and dance,
• to bring together children and youth choirs and other performing groups in order to share music and dance, exchange cultural ideas, and experiences, and promote peace and better understanding among the participants,
• to create a dialogue on peace through joint concerts, social activities, and home stays.

MUSICAL/ARTISTIC OBJECTIVES: The musical/artistic focus of the festival will be the presentation of music and dance of the highest quality drawn from the traditional, folk, classical and contemporary styles of the presenting choirs and dance ensembles.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: The official language of the festival will be English.

PARTICIPANTS: Choirs, dance ensembles, and other performing groups interested in applying may request application forms by contacting the Festival Producers, Sara Russell Kukuk or Dr. Jack Kukuk by Email. Application forms will be sent by fax or e-mailed upon request.

APPLICATION: All groups wishing to participate must submit a signed application form, a recent photograph of the group and director, a recent audio cassette, a YouTube link or CD (labeled with choir and conductor's name), a description of the choir and the conductor, and a non-refundable festival deposit of $100. Application and deposit deadline is September 1, 2010. Please note that applications of equal quality will be selected on a first come basis and delaying an application may work to the disadvantage of the applicant. The festival organizers may extend this deadline if necessary. Email The Festival Director for application forms and other information. Groups will be notified of their selection no later than September 30, 2010. All decisions regarding participation will be made by the Festival Director and Festival Committee.

FEE DEADLINES, NOTIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION: Applicants will be notified of their selection on or before September 30, 2010. 50% of the participant’s fees are due on or before November 30, 2010. Balance of all fees is due on or before May 20, 2011. Fees may be paid by electronic mail. Email Jack Kukuk for details.

PARTICIPATING CHOIR & OTHER GROUPS: Participating groups will include choirs and performing arts groups (instrumental and dance.) Groups may bring up to five adults including the director, accompanist and chaperones. A nonrefundable application fee of $100 is required. If a participating group brings a total of more than forty-five participants, an additional housing fee may be assessed.

ASSOCIATE CHOIRS: Associate choirs are choirs who do not send a full choir, but associate with the festival by sending children to sing in the Voices Without Borders International Festival Choir (VWB). The non-refundable application fee for Associate Choirs is $75. Associate choirs may nominate up to five singers. These singers, along with singers from other Participating Choirs and Associate Choirs will form the Voices Without Borders International Festival Choir. Nominations for membership in the VWB choir should be made as soon as possible, but in no case later than December 1, 2010. Space in this choir is limited. The Associate Choir’s director or other representative adult will accompany their singers to the festival and will stay with them throughout the festival. The festival’s artistic committee will select the music and conductor for the VWB Choir. Fees for the VWB Choir members will be the same as for other participants (see below). VWB Choir members must agree to memorize all music prior to coming to the festival.

FEES* FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PARTICIPATING & ASSOCIATE CHOIRS: All participants, groups and individuals, will provide their own travel to and from the festival, and will arrive in Petoskey, Michigan on the date designated by the festival committee. Participating Groups pay a non-refundable application fee of $100; Associate Groups pay a non-refundable application fee of $75. The members of these groups will also pay an individual participant fee for each member and accompanying adult to help cover organizational costs for the festival including lodging and meals. *All fees are in US Dollars

Because of the wide differences in ability to pay between countries, a three-category fee schedule has been established by the Festival Committee as follows:

Category A - Western Europe, Canada, China, USA, Bahamas Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. For A category groups, the fee is $125USD per person.
Category B - Eastern Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Southeast Asia, Mongolia, South Africa, Middle East, South America and Russia. For B category groups, the fee is $110USD per person.
Category C - the balance of countries in Central America, Caribbean region, and Africa (except South Africa). For C category groups, the fee is $85 USD per person.

OBLIGATION OF PARTICIPANTS: Participants are expected to memorize all music for the massed choir and must attend all rehearsals and performances unless otherwise excused by the Festival Director. Each choir will supervise their own members at all times. Each participant’s family or choir is responsible for the medical and dental expenses incurred during the festival or on the way to and from the festival. Each participant must have a certification of insurance with them upon arrival. All participants, directors, accompanists, and adult supervisors give permission to the Festival Committee to photograph, film, videotape, and record their voices, images, and performances for use in a Festival tape, CD, DVD, film, video, or printed materials. Participation in the festival signifies acceptance of these obligations.

PARTICIPATING GROUPS AGREE TO:
- provide all transportation to and from the festival (Petoskey, Michigan),
- provide medical insurance for each participant,
- provide complete musical or dance program materials for the group’s performance,
- provide members for the Voices Without Borders Choir (choirs only),
- provide complete biographical information on the group and director, a group and director photograph
and a repertoire list upon application. (Additional information including rooming lists etc. will be
supplied to the festival committee as needed by the festival hosts),
-abide by all international copyright laws and perform only music or dance that in the public domain or for which the group has purchased the music and/or obtained the rights to perform said works. Festival organizers will not be responsible for the failure of the groups to do so,
-supervise the members of their own groups. The actual number of adult supervisors will depend on
the size of the group with an approximate ratio of one adult per ten participants.

DEFINITION OF PARTICIPATING GROUPS:

Music – Traditional, classic, or contemporary musical groups who sing or perform on traditional or contemporary acoustical musical instruments.

Dance – folkloric dance groups accompanied by traditional instruments (either live or recorded). Traditional instrumental music ensembles are also eligible.

REPERTOIRE: All music groups are expected to perform traditional songs/music/dance from their own culture, region or country. Groups may also perform classical and contemporary choir music or dance from throughout the world.

Choirs must send a sample list of the program they expect to perform with the application. If copies are used, written permission must be obtained from the publisher giving permission to use copies. If the music is unpublished, the choir must have permission from the owner to perform the music. We also need written permission giving the festival hosts the right to record or film the music for a festival tape, video tape, CD, or broadcast. Copyright permission to perform the music on your program is your responsibility and choirs will hold harmless the festival presenters and agents for any violations.

Music for the Voices Without Borders International Festival Choir and Massed Choir will be sent to the participants after final selections are made. All participants are expected to sing the Massed Choir music and must learn the music prior to arriving at the Festival.

MEALS, LODGING, AND ACCOMMODATIONS: Meals, accommodations, and local travel will be provided by the festival hosts from the fees collected. Accommodations will be provided in private homes (home stays). In some rare instances, dormitories, hotels, hostels, or similar venue may be used.

COMPETITION: There is no competition during the Festival. The festival committee believes this more readily promotes friendship and understanding among the participants.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Dates and times are subject to change. The festival is scheduled from July 18 through July 23, 2011. A detailed schedule of events will be provided once all participating groups have been selected.

SOCIAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS: Limited local sightseeing and social activities will be provided by the hosts. A fee may be charged for special events requested by the participants (if available).

FORCE MAJEURE: The festival hosts, their officers and agents will make every effort to produce the festival as outlined in these and other materials. If, for reasons beyond their control, the Festival must be altered or canceled, the festival hosts, their officers or agents may not be held responsible for money received for fees, sightseeing, or other purposes that has already been paid by the festival committee on behalf of the participants and which is not refundable. Fees not otherwise expended will be returned to the applicants. All participants agree to hold harmless the festival hosts their officers, employees and volunteers.

CORRESPONDENCE: All correspondence must be addressed to the following:

The above information is subject to change as necessary.

Note: Voices Without Borders, Inc. is no longer working with the Choralfest Society in Kenya, to plan a Children of the World in Harmony festival in Kenya.