Glossary of Terms
Professional vs Amateur Rule:
All competitors must be amateurs.:
An amateur shall be defined as:
• a music student, performer, or any person who does not earn significant income (see below) from performance or teaching in the discipline in which they are participating
A professional shall be defined as:
• an individual performing in a professional show and/or earning significant income (over $5000.00 for adults and over $1000 for children up to 18 years) from performing or teaching music privately or in the school system.
• Individuals who are full or junior members of either ACTRA or EQUITY or are collecting credits to becoming an Equity member.
• Children up to 18 years who perform in a professional show and are not paid, receive valuable professional experience, and are therefore considered professional for the calendar year in which they are cast.
a) The calendar year is defined as September 1st – August 31st.
b) If the individual is enrolled as a full member of either ACTRA or EQUITY, has performed in a professional show and/or received professional income (over $5000.00 for adults and over $1000 for children up to 18 years), they are then considered professional and are therefore ineligible to participate in the OMFA Provincial Finals for that same year (eg. if the individual was recommended in February, but then joined ACTRA or EQUITY (eg. April).
c) If the individual has received professional income after they were recommended to the OMFA Provincial Finals, they would be ineligible to participate and their entry fee would be refunded, if applicable.
d) An exception would be made for an individual participating in another discipline that is different from the reason for their ACTRA or EQUITY membership (eg. an individual performing in a professional musical that has been recommended for classical piano would be allowed).
e) Disciplines that cannot be entered when performing in a professional musical include Musical Theatre, Speech Arts, Songs from the Screen and More and Popular Voice.
Accompaniment – A subordinate part for instruments, voices or ensembles – usually piano.
Adult – A competitor over the age of 29 as of December 31, 2022
Advanced Level – Competitors who are performing at an ARCT/ACCM level or higher.
ARCT/A.Mus. – The level directly after Level 10 in either the RCM and CC syllabi.
Class – Each discipline is divided into sub-categories by instrument, and/or by age, and/or by grade level. Each is identified by a five-digit number.
Competitor – A non-professional student who has been recommended to a class indicated in the OMFA Syllabus.
Conservatory – A music training institution that publishes lists of repertoire for exams.
CC– Refers to the Conservatory Canada Syllabus
Diploma Level – Classes that are offered for competitors who are studying at the Conservatory Associate Level but who have NOT completed the Associate Diploma as of December 31st, 2022. Competitors entering the Diploma section can only have been studying at the ARCT/A.Mus. level for 2 years or less. If the competitor has been studying at this level longer than 2 years, they must enter the Open Class.
Discipline – A discipline is a particular area of musical or speech study. A discipline may be for a group such as Band and Chorus or may be for a soloist such as Piano, Vocal, Speech, and a number of different instruments.
Disqualification – Competitors who do not comply with the OMFA rules and regulations will be disqualified.
Graded Level – Applies to RCM and CC levels/grades from Grade 1 to Diploma.
Hand-Held Props – Items used onstage by the performer that can be held in their hands, eg. brush, wand, mirror scarf.
OMFA – Ontario Music Festivals Association is the umbrella body of 42 local member festivals in the province of Ontario
OPEN – Classes that are offered for competitors who are performing at the ARCT/A.Mus. level or above but do not have to have attained their associate degree. Competitors who have been studying at the Associate (Diploma) level for 2 or more years must enter this class.
RCM – Refers to the Royal Conservatory of Music Syllabus