Terms and conditions

• No purchase necessary.
• Entry is restricted to one entry per choir. Duplicate entries will be excluded.
• The competition will run from Monday 11 March 2024 to Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 12 noon.
• Completion of the online entry form by a named lead contact who is aged 18+
• Entry must be via the official entry form and then via Microsoft Teams.
• Choir agreement must be confirmed by the nominated lead contact signing a Legitimate Interests Data Protection to confirm the use of personal data by Lancashire County Council.
• The Legitimate Interests form must be received before the entry is judged.
• The personal details provided by the lead contact will only ever be used by Lancashire County Council Cultural Services and the judges for the purposes of administering this competition and will not be shared with any other party.
• The lead contact will be responsible for obtaining all permissions necessary from the parents of the children participating (or the school if it is a school choir taking part) before entering.
• Online entry will open on Monday 11 March to Tuesday 30 July at 12 noon. No entries will be allowed before or after this time.
• Each choir should record a video of one song – maximum 4 minutes, maximum file size 200 Mb, in a YouTube compatible file format.
• Your entry must be submitted using Microsoft Teams. Your lead contact will be invited to join a Team for use by your choir and the Choir of the Year organisers. A link to join the Team will be sent by email. You can use Teams on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
• Submissions deemed by us to be rude, offensive, defamatory, illegal or condoning dangerous behaviour will be removed from the competition.
• To enter video recording of your choir singing a song.
• Last date for receipt of video submissions is 12 noon on Tuesday 30 July 2024.
• In the event of any dispute regarding the rules or other matters related to the competition, the judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into with entrants.
• Video entries should be made via a secure Microsoft Team which will be provided by the organisers to the lead contact.
• The entry video must be performed by the choir members intending to go forward into the later stages of the competition.
• Your choir (or more than half of its members) must not be/have been the recipient of any kind of commercial record deal at any time prior to submitting your entry.
• The piece must be recorded in a single, uninterrupted take.
• The performance must be recorded to show the choir clearly.
• The judges will be looking for:
• Technical ability e.g. tuning, diction, voice quality, balance, ensemble, dynamics, overall sound
• Musical Expression e.g. musicality, communication, phrasing, passion, energy, commitment and interpretation of the text
• Six shortlisted choirs will be invited to perform at the celebration concert on Thursday 28 November 2024 at the Great Hall at Lancaster University. Choirs that are unable to perform at this concert will be removed from the competition and replaced by the next highest scoring choir. Choirs that do not respond to the shortlisting email within 5 working days will be removed from the competition and replaced by the next highest scoring choir.
• Withdrawal from the competition can take place at any time until the winner is announced.
• Should the winning choir want to withdraw from the agreement to share personal data they can do so, and the prize will be awarded to the next placed choir.

• Entry is free and open to any community choir based within the postcode boundaries of Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council.
• Online entry will open on Monday 11 March 2024.
• Entries should be from a minimum of 6 members of the choir to a maximum of 50 (including accompanist and conductor).
• Entry is open to school choirs whose members are all aged 12 and over.
• No restrictions on choir composition, age (other than school choirs as above), gender, tradition or style of music.
• The recording must have taken place in 2024.
• The entry must contain only the performance being submitted for this competition and performed by the choir members intending to go forward into the later stages of the competition.
• This competition is open for entries between Monday 11 March 2024 to Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 12 noon.
• Entries are made via the prescribed format only.
• By entering the competition you acknowledge the basis of using personal data by completing a Legitimate Interest Data Processing form.
• Entries must not infringe the rights of any other party. The competition organisers accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify Lancashire County Council against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.

• Online entry will open on Monday 11 March 2024 to Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 12 noon. 
• Shortlisting will take place in August 2024.
• Finalists will be selected in August by a panel of judges including experienced musicians and the LCC Council Leader or her representative will determine the winner and runners-up.
• Finalists will be notified in the week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 by email. Six shortlisted choirs will be invited to perform at the celebration concert on Thursday 28 November 2024 at the Great Hall at Lancaster University. Choirs that are unable to perform at this concert will be removed from the competition and replaced by the next highest scoring choir. Choirs that do not respond to the shortlisting email within 5 working days will removed from the competition and replaced by the next highest scoring choir.
• The six shortlisted videos will be uploaded to a playlist on the Lancashire County Council YouTube channel.
• The YouTube playlist will be embedded into the Lancashire Choir of the Year website as part of a People’s Choice online vote.
• People's Choice vote opens online from Monday 7 October to Friday 1 November 2024.
• Live celebration concert will take place on Thursday 28 November 2024 at the Great Hall at Lancaster University.

• Choirs selected to perform in the celebration concert on Thursday 28 November 2024 at the Great Hall at Lancaster University will be asked to perform 2 new contrasting songs (maximum 9 minutes for both songs).
• The choir’s musical director will determine the most suitable material for their choir, and whether the choir will sing from memory or use music.
• Each choir taking part in the final will be given written feedback on their performance from the judges following the final. The judges’ remarks will highlight the strength of the choir and areas of performance where the judges felt techniques could improve.
• The number of people singing in each choir should be a minimum of 6 up to a maximum of 50 (including accompanist and conductor). 
• Choirs can choose to be accompanied (piano, keyboard, small band, or instruments etc) or use a backing track for their songs.
• If choirs are using a backing track there must be no additional vocals on the backing track.
• If choirs choose to be accompanied, they must provide their own accompanists.
• It is the responsibility of the choir to ensure full compliance with copyright.
• Please ensure you have the appropriate copyright permissions and your content does not infringe on anyone else’s rights.
• The competition organisers will provide Lancashire Music Service (LMS) musicians for a small band (keyboards, drums and bass guitarist) for the final.
• It is up to the choirs to choose how they would like to be accompanied by the Lancashire Choir of the Year  band, please advise the organisers by emailing ChoirOfTheYear@lancashire.gov.uk by Monday 14 October 2024, and provide the appropriate sheet music.
• Alternatively, if the choir wishes to bring their own band, they will use the Lancashire Choir of the Year  keyboard and drums set up, and just bring their own guitars for the final.
• If you are using backing tracks, please clearly label them and email them to ChoirOfTheYear@lancashire.gov.uk by Monday 14 October 2024, and provide the appropriate sheet music so that they can be checked and authorised.
• Participating schools who get into the celebration concert must ensure the appropriate number of teachers (1 adult per 10 children) are accompanying the choir. Extra teachers are allowed for those children who require extra care.
• Each choir in the final must nominate a lead contact aged over 18. That person will be the liaison point with the organisers and ensure that their choir are ready and in position throughout the event (rehearsal in the afternoon, and evening concert). Any school representatives will be responsible for making sure that children leave the venue safely, e.g., are collected by parents and guardians.
• School representatives for the final will need to provide the organisers with proof that they have obtained permission from parents/guardians for each child to perform.
• A running order will be sent to each of the choirs in the final.
• The final will be filmed and may be broadcast, at a later date, on radio or TV, or made into a short film by organisers. Photographs, recordings and films may be used in publicity, including social media, for the competition and for future competitions and in some materials e.g., programmes. Each choir must confirm on entering the competition, that they have permission for the use of images, films and recordings from their choir members (or parents if children).
• The organisers will liaise with the choirs in the final to take a high-resolution photograph of the choir to be used in publicity and the programme.
• Tickets for the celebration finals concert will be free, and each choir will receive a ticket allocation for their supporters based on the number of people in their choir.

• The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable.
• No cash alternative, charity donation or substitution prize will be offered.
• Any other costs and expenses which are not specifically included in the Prize description are excluded and will be the sole responsibility of each winner.

Submission of an entry indicates approval to be named in publicity including photographs/video for the media or Lancashire County Council’s website and social media platforms.

• Prizes for overall winner, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up and People’s Choice winner. The People’s Choice winner may also be the overall winner or one of the runners-up.
• The Lancashire Choir of the Year Trophy will be awarded to the choir that wins the final. Additional trophies will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd runners up and the winning choir of the online People's Choice.

• Lancashire County Council will not accept responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, regardless of cause, including, for example, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
• Lancashire County Council will own all rights (including Copyright) in and to the Sound Recording and to the extent that any such rights vest in you and/or any members of your group, you will assign and/or procure that they assign those to us absolutely with full title guarantee. You and/or the members of your group will retain ownership of the Submission.
• You waive your moral rights and shall procure that the other members of your group waive any moral rights that they may have, in the Sound Recording and/ if applicable, the Composition, in either case whether arising under the CDPA 1988 or otherwise.

Lancashire County Council reserves the right to amend at any time the terms and conditions or to terminate this competition. Entrants will be notified by email of any amendments. 

• The personal data you provide will be collected and processed by Lancashire County Council.
• We will collect, process and retain the following data for any choir entering the Lancashire Choir of the Year competition.
  • Lead contact name
  • Lead contact telephone numbers
  • Lead contact email address
  • Address of choir base
  • Voice recording
  • Image recording
• We will use your data to communicate with you on matters relating to the Choir of the Year competition.
• We rely on our legitimate interests in this instance to cover everyone who enters the competition and appears at the celebration concert.
• Members of the public present will be made aware of filming notices and be given the opportunity to decline to be filmed.
• We will hold the personal data of the winning choirs for a period of up to 5 years in order to comply with our regulatory obligations. After this time should we wish to use it again we will seek permission.
• We will hold the personal data of all entrants for a maximum of one year, after which we will securely delete all files.
• Any personal data shared on social media will remain online indefinitely unless you make a specific request to have it removed.
• You may request the removal of your personal details from our files by contacting:

Information Governance Team
Lancashire County Council
PO Box 78
County Hall
Preston
PR1 8XJ

Email: DPO@lancashire.gov.uk

• If you do request the removal of your personal details prior to the conclusion of the competition, you will forfeit your right to enter and/or claim any prize and we reserve the right to select another entrant to participate or withdraw the prize and select another winner, as applicable.