Attention! This is a machine translation. The original document in English is available here.
10th International Festival-Competition of Show-programs
CHRISTMAS SURPRISE 2025
January 10-12, 2025
Jūrmala Latvia
Lielupe Hotel by Semarah
January 11 (Saturday) – Competitions by Category
Dzintari Concert Hall
CHRISTMAS SURPRISE competition is held on the Old New Year’s Eve in the form of a New Year’s holiday. The repertoire of the contestants is a festive theme, theatrical costumes are welcome. Leading – favorite fairy-tale characters.
Meeting with Santa Claus, gifts for each participant, games and contests with prizes, disco.
All soloists and collectives receive cups and all participants receive commemorative medals and diplomas. Duets, trios and quartets are big medals with a place.
Rules
Contests by genre, nominations, age groups and non-competitive program:
- Competition of instrumental music performers
- Choral Art Competition
- Vocal competition
- Choreography Competition
- Circus Art Competition
- Theater Competition
- Fashion Theater Competition
- Non-competitive program
PROGRAM:
January 10 (Friday)
14:00 – Arrival of participants
16:00 – Visit SPA
18:00 – Dinner
19:30 – Welcome Evening: Self-presentation of participants and entertainment program
January 11 (Saturday)
8:00 – Breakfast
8:00-9:30 – Sound Check
10:00-20:00 – Competitions in the following categories:
– Vocal
– Instrumental Music
– Dance
– Circus
– Theater
– Fashion Theater
– Non-competitive program
Awards ceremony after each competition block, followed by disco, games, and contests with prizes from Santa Claus.
*Visit SPA (optional during non-competition time)
20:00 – Dinner
January 12 (Sunday)
8:00-10:00 – Breakfast
11:00 – Optional bus/walking tour (Jurmala) / Visit SPA
COMPETITION OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMERS
Participants: soloists, small forms (duet, trio, quartet, quintet), ensembles (up to 12 people), orchestras.
Competitive nominations:
- classical music
- folk music
- classical music in modern processing
- jazz
- modern music
Each participant or team can perform in several nominations.
Tools:
- string instruments
- keyboard instruments
- plucked instruments
- wind instruments
- percussion instruments
- folk instruments
- bowed instruments
Age categories:
- 7-9 years old
- 10-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years
- old mixed
The age group of the teams is determined by the average age of the participants.
Program requirements:
The participants of the competition need to prepare one work or two works of different characters, with a total duration of up to 4 minutes.
Exceeding the timekeeping of the executable program is not allowed. If the performance time is exceeded, the jury has the right to stop the performance and lower the score.
Ensemble from 4 to 12 people – participation of the concertmaster is allowed
Orchestra from 13 people – teachers are allowed to perform as part of the orchestra, but not more than 15% of the total number of participants
Evaluation criteria:
- purity of intonation and sound quality
- performing skills
- compliance of the repertoire with performing capabilities and the age category of the performer
- stage culture
CHORAL ART COMPETITION
Participants: choirs consisting of at least 13 people.
Competitive nominations:
- pop vocals
- folk singing
- academic vocals
Age categories:
- 7-9 years old – junior group
- 10-13 years old children ‘s choir
- 14-17 – year – old teen choir
- 18+ years – youth choir
- Mixed
Program requirement: the participants of the competition need to prepare one work or two works of different characteristics.
The duration of the performance is up to 4 minutes.
During performances, it is allowed to use “live” accompaniment, phonograms, as well as sound-amplifying equipment (microphones and speakers).
Evaluation criteria:
- intonation
- sound quality
- compliance with the score or interpretation quality (depending on the nomination)
- overall impression of the performance
VOCAL COMPETITION
Participants: soloists, duets, trios, groups of 4 people.
Nominations:
- pop
- folk
- author’s song
- jazz
- pop rock
- academic vocals (opera, large form, mass, pastoral)
- author song contest
Participants can apply in one or more nominations.
Age categories:
- up to 6 years old
- 7-9 years old
- 10-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years old
- Mixed
Vocalists sing with a “live voice” accompanied by the soundtrack “-1” or a musical instrument (synthesizer, etc.) or a cappella.
The duration of the number is up to 4 minutes.
Backup dancing is allowed during the performance.
Evaluation criteria:
- purity of intonation and sound quality
- performing skills
- compliance of the repertoire with performing capabilities and the age category of the performer
- stage culture
CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Participants: soloists, duets, trios, groups of 4 people.
Nominations:
- Classical choreography
- Dance show
- Sports choreography
- Modern choreography (jazz, modern, neoclassical, contemporary, neo-folk, afro)
- Variety choreography
- Folk choreography
- Stylization of folk dance
- Street dance (hip-hop, house, techno, disco, break dance)
Participants can apply in one or more nominations.
Age categories:
- up to 6 years old
- 7-9 years old
- 10-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years old
- Mix
The duration of the number is up to 4 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
- plasticity
- synchronicity of movements
- artistry
- compliance of the repertoire with performing capabilities and the age category of the performer
CIRCUS ART COMPETITION
Participants: children’s and youth circus studios and educational institutions.
Nominations:
- acrobatics
- clowning
- gymnastics
- rubber
- balancing
- juggling
- show with an object
- illusion
Age categories:
- 7-9 years old
- 10-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years old
- Mix
The duration of the number is up to 4 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
- level of performing skills
- artistry
- scenic (plastic, costume, performance culture)
- creative approach to the selection of repertoire, artistic design of the program (props)
THEATER COMPETITION
Nominations:
- musical theater (musical, ballet, opera)
- drama theater
- puppet
- theater plastic and pantomime
- theater street theater
- parody theater
Participants can apply in one or more nominations.
Age categories:
- up to 10 years
- 11-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years old
- Mixed
The duration of the number is up to 10 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
- level of performing skills
- artistry
- staginess
- creative approach to the selection of repertoire
- artistic design of the program (props)
FASHION THEATER COMPETITION
Participants demonstrate the author’s collection on a free topic.
Participants can submit one or more collections.
Age categories:
- up to 10 years
- 11-13 years old
- 14-17 years old
- 18+ years old
The duration of the number is up to 4 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
- idea
- is the integrity of the composition
- the originality of the director’s decision
- the imagery of the disclosure of the theme of the collection
- the entertainment
- artistry of the performance
- of plastic
- choreography
- musical design
NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
When submitting an application, specify “non-competitive program” in the questionnaire in the “nomination” section.
JURY
Producers, teachers of specialized educational institutions, heads of creative collectives and organizations, cultural and art figures from different countries are invited to the jury.
The performances of the participants are evaluated according to a 10-point system.
A member of the jury does not evaluate a participant if he is the leader or teacher of this participant.
The jury’s decision is final and cannot be changed.
AWARDING
Places and awards are awarded to participants in each category and age group.
By the decision of the jury, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place holders in each age group and in each nomination are determined by the average score.
All soloists and collectives receive cups, and all participants receive medals for participation.
Duets, trios, and quartets receive big medals with a place.
All contestants receive diplomas for participation, commemorative medals and New Year’s gifts from Santa Klaus.
The Grand Prix may not be awarded if the participants have not scored the highest number of points.
By the decision of the jury, duplication of prizes is allowed.
Winners:
Grand prix – 10 points (awarded in each nomination).
1st place – 9 points
2nd place – 8 points
3rd place – 7 points
4th place – 6 points
5th place – 5 points
COMPETITIVE REQUIREMENTS
To participate in the competition, you must send:
- An application for participation in the competition to the organizing committee’s e-mail
- Musical accompaniment of the number, for vocalists the soundtrack “-1”
- Creative biography
- 1 photo (in JPG 300 DPI format)
- Link to the video with the participant’s speech posted on the Internet
- Pay the registration fee. (application is considered accepted after payment is received)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Technical requirements (microphones, racks, props) must be agreed with the organizers when submitting an application.
Up to 30% of performers of a younger or older age category are allowed to participate in the room.
Submitting an application for the competition means agreeing to the terms of this regulation and confirming the accuracy of the information provided.
COPYRIGHT
By submitting an application and participating in the competition, the contestants agree to take photos and videos, as well as audio recordings of their performances on stage and other events of the competition and transfer the copyright arising from this to the organizer of the competition.
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
The expenses related to travel, accommodation, and medical insurance are carried out by the participants at their own expense or at the expense of the sending party.
For foreign participants, the organizing committee helps in obtaining visas to Latvia.
Applications are accepted until January 06, 2025.
When paying the registration fee and for hotel accommodation before 25.12.2024 discounts:
– 5 € of the fee for a team member
– 10 € of the cost of the soloist’s contribution
PARTICIPATION FEE PER PARTICIPANT
Soloist:
One performance – until 25.12 – 69 €, after 25.12 – 79 €
Second performance – until 25.12 – 55 €, after 25.12 – 65 €
—
Duet:
One performance – until 25.12 – 35 €, after 25.12 – 45 €
Second performance – until 25.12 – 30 €, after 25.12 – 40 €
—
Trio:
One performance – until 25.12 – 30 €, after 25.12 – 40 €
Second performance – until 25.12 – 25 €, after 25.12 – 35 €
—
Quartet:
One performance – until 25.12 – 20 €, after 25.12 – 30 €
Second performance – until 25.12 – 15 €, after 25.12 – 25 €
—
Team of 5 participants or more:
One performance – until 25.12 – 15 €, after 25.12 – 20 €
Second performance – until 25.12 – 10 €, after 25.12 – 15 €
Accommodation in Jurmala – Lielupe Hotel by Semarah (optional)
Pack 1
2 days 1 night – 80 € (breakfast, dinner and SPA included)
If paying after 25.12. – 90 €
Pack 2
3 days 2 nights – 175 € (2 breakfasts, 2 dinners and 2 SPA visits included)
If paying after 25.12. – 185 €
Additional stay at hotel – 55 € / day per person with breakfast (double rooms or 3-bed rooms of the Family category)
Heads of teams from 20 people accommodation package – free of charge
OPTIONAL (optional)
- Issuing an invitation for a Schengen visa – 20 €
- Lunch – 15 €
- Dinner – 15 €
- Jurmala walking tour – 10 €
WHERE TO PAY
Impresa Events
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IBAN: LV88HABA0551057260928
BIC: HABALV22
SWEDBANK AS
ORGANIZERS
Impresa Events
The main projects since 1996: reality show Hello, Jurmala, international festivals Art-Turnir, Debut Premium, Baltic Lyre, Christmas Surprise, Amberstar, Talent Show, Baltic Voyage.
Since 2002, cooperation with production centers and festivals: “Oriental Bazaar” (Ukraine), Canzoni dal Mondo (Italy) and others.