Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival

President: Lord Sackville  Hon. Vice President:  Mrs F Pragnell

With great regret we are announcing, in line with other similar organisations, that the 2020 Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival due to take place at Walthamstow Hall School in June has been cancelled.  Given recent necessary measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus, it has become clear that it is no longer possible to plan for the Festival in its usual format.  This outcome is hugely disappointing, but we hope that you, our competitors, parents and teachers, will understand that we have no realistic alternative at this time.

Continuing Opportunities

Although the main Festival is cancelled, we thought it might be helpful to performers to run some competitive elements this year in a more limited form on a digital basis.  Classes will continue to be available in Speech and Drama, Piano, Singing, Woodwind and Brass, Strings and Accordions.

Click here for the revised 2020 syllabus and to submit entries

As such we propose:

• ‘Own Composition’ classes.  These remain available in all sections.  Entrants are encouraged to consider this creative option, even if they had not previously.  Compositions should be e-mailed to the Secretary by 31 May, and will be assessed and marked by an adjudicator by 15 June.  In addition, the entrant may wish to submit a video recording of the item being recited, sung or played by themselves or a nominated substitute.
• Video recordings.  Performances can be captured on any digital medium such as a smartphone and uploaded onto a secure site.  The section adjudicator will view, assess and mark the performances by 15 June. 

Entry for both these options is available now on our ‘Play and Perform’ online system.  Initially, those wanting to submit a recording should simply enter the Festival class as normal, then return to find details of how to load the recording onto the secure site (instructions will be available by 16 April). 

Entries will be assessed by the adjudicators between 1 and 15 June, and the results will be returned by  e-mail.  Whilst the marks achieved will be confidential to each entrant, with permission the names of those achieving Distinction or better may be published on our website.  If required, a written certificate will be available for order at a small additional cost to cover postage and packing.

Please note: only individual performances can be accepted.  No group entries will be possible.  Where a musical item would normally have piano accompaniment, the recording may comprise the competitor (a) playing with an accompanist, or (b) using a recorded accompaniment, or (c) playing without accompaniment; competitors will not be penalised whichever option is chosen.

Adjudicators are aware that recordings cannot replicate the full atmosphere and acoustics of a live performance, and allowance will be made for that in their assessment.  Recordings will be viewable only by the section adjudicator, not other competitors.  Any recordings which the Festival can access on its own digital storage will be deleted by 31 July and no copies will be retained.

Closing dates

The closing date for the entries described above is extended to 9 May.

Own Compositions and video recordings should be submitted by 31 May.

Competitors who have already entered the Festival may choose to send a video recording, or receive a full refund by contacting the Secretary.

Next Festival – June 2021

We intend to hold the next Festival in June 2021 at Walthamstow Hall School.

Section winners from 2019 who are holding a Cup or other Award should retain this until the 2021 Festival.  Please contact the Secretary in the event of any query.

Click here for a report on the 2019 Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival

Click the logo to find out about this competition

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mr P Harlow Chairman  Mrs S Day Secretary  Mrs J Surrey Treasurer

Mrs A Coombes  Mr T Daniell  Mrs M Holgate Mr E Oatley MBE Mrs B Ross