How To Enter

Music Entry Notes

1. Our Accompanists are professional, experienced pianists, who have supported this Festival for many years. We do not charge our entrants an additional fee for the excellent services they provide.
2. If you require an Official Accompanist, please select the relevant answer to the additional question online, “Will the Official Accompanist be required”. You can use your own accompanist but be sure to see Rule 7. You are strongly advised to use the Official Accompanist if you are making multiple entries. We cannot adjust the order of playing to avoid clashes for your own accompanist.
3. The Official Accompanists reserve the right to refuse to play from unsatisfactorily prepared music.
4. Be sure to name the instrument when entering instrumental Own Choice classes. Changes cannot be made after the closing date.
5. In Choir, Choral Groups and ensemble classes please indicate, by separate communication, to Anne Webb those entrants who are also involved in solo classes and the solo class numbers.
6. Please enter the number of participants in all choirs, choral groups, orchestras and ensembles on the online entry system. Changes to the entry detail can be made up until the closing date but if the participant numbers change after the closing date, then please let the coordinator know
7. The use of backing tracks is allowed in a select number of classes. When backing tracks are used the performer are advised to check the sound level is correct for their performance.
8. Performers who, in the opinion of the Adjudicators, are of a particularly high standard may be invited to perform at the Finale Concert on Saturday evening.
9. IN ALL CASES, PRINTED PUBLICATIONS OF THE MUSIC MUST HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AND BE IN THE VENUE AT THE TIME OF THE PERFORMANCE.
10. Please direct your queries to Anne Webb (annewebb@acousticnations.com), if you are unable to get the answers from the AEF website or online entry system.
The Committee reserves the right to amend schedules to ensure the smooth running of the festival.

Speech & Drama Entry Notes

1. Please note all of the Light Verse, Verse Speaking, Prose Speaking, and the Shakespearean Selection classes are 'solo' entries, unless otherwise stated.
2. To keep classes to manageable numbers of large classes will be divided, and additional trophies awarded where necessary.
3. If an Own Choice piece contains ‘adult language’ or unsuitable content for a young audience, please indicate this on the online entry and communicate with Anne Webb by email (annewebb@acousticnations.com). We must advise that this could present difficulties for the festival to accommodate.
4. Hand your Own Choice copy to the Adjudicator’s Steward at point of performance. This will not be returned.
5. In Set Piece classes the Co-ordinator will provide the Adjudicator’s copy.
6. All individual names must be provided for group and duologue entries. The entry requirements for groups and duos allow a wide age range to perform together. We advise groups and duos to enter the class which is for performers no older than the eldest participant. In cases of illness, substitutions may be made and must be declared at the time of the performance, in which case adjudications will be given but unfortunately performers cannot win or be placed.
7. If a backing track is being used, the means to play it must be provided by the performer. If you have technical difficulties with the equipment, you may have to perform without the backing track. This will not affect your mark. You will be given 2 minutes to set up your equipment and check sound level, before the performance
8. Please comply with copyright details in particular respect of duologue and drama groups.
9. Changes to the entry detail can be made online up until the closing date.
10. Performers who, in the opinion of the Adjudicators, are of a particularly high standard may be invited to perform at the Festival Finale on Saturday evening.
11. Please direct your queries to Anne Webb (annewebb@acousticnations.com), if you are unable to get the answers from the LMDF website or online entry system.
Please ensure that all relevant rules are adhered to.If rules are not adhered to the performers will risk losing the chance of winning and being placed.

Online Entry System Procedure and User Guidance

The Lincoln Music & Drama Festival is adopting the ‘Play and Perform’ online entry and payment system, which is being used increasingly by small UK music and drama festivals. This new online booking system should be reasonably straightforward to use. All entry classes and payment information is included on this online booking system. We hope that you'll find it easy to manage and that you'll find your way around, but if you have any difficulty, please ask. Please also contact Anne Webb (annewebb@acousticnations.com) for whole school or other large school group entries if necessary.

The 2026 Lincoln Music & Drama Festival's online entry deadline is 8pm on Wednesday, 18th February 2026.

1. Select classes: Browse the festival's syllabus booklet and select the classes you / your school or choir etc wish to enter.
2. Register/log in: Please register an account on the Lincoln Music & Drama Festival’s Play and Perform booking system.
3. How to use the Lincoln Music & Drama Festival’s Play and Perform booking system: Please refer to the Play and Perform User Guide.
4. Entry payments: Please pay for entry to classes via the Lincoln Music & Drama Festival’s Play and Perform booking system.
5. All entries will be acknowledged by email to the email address used for the online application and will contain your AE online entry number.
6. Payment through Paypal or BACS system is preferred and using the AExxxxxx online entry number as reference.
7. The 2026 online entry closing date is 8pm on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. Entries must be completed by this closing date.

Festival Entry Rules

1. All entries must be accompanied with payment by the due dates to be accepted.
2. Entrants may only enter the correct National Curriculum (NC) Year class for their age. NC year groups will apply where stated. Entrants may only enter graded classes for grade that they are currently working towards or have most recently achieved since the last Festival. Those studying for Diploma should enter the Open Class/Classes. See PROCEDURES and OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION for details of NC age groups and definitions of ’Open and ‘Any Age’.
3. Entrants may not enter more than once on the same instrument in the same Class, unless otherwise stated. For Duets, Trios and Quartets see Rule 9.
4. In all GRADED Classes, title of the piece, Examination Board, the grade and composer MUST be supplied with each entry. A copy of the piece must be provided for the use of the Adjudicator at the time of the performance; entrants must use their examination book.
5. In “Own Choice” classes the name of the piece, and composer/author to be stated on the Entry Form, and no change from this choice is allowed after the entry closing date. A copy of the piece must be provided for the use of the Adjudicator at the time of the performance. The Adjudicator will take into consideration the appropriateness of the piece chosen, particularly in respect of age-appropriate nature.
6. In “Own Choice” classes, entrants may not offer the same piece in more than one class. Performers should not play/perform the same piece in two consecutive years.
7. An Official Accompanist is provided, however, entrants in all relevant classes may use their own independent accompanist if they wish and should indicate this on entry. This option may not be altered after the close of entries and, unfortunately, no concessions in respect of the festival’s scheduling can be made to accommodate own accompanists.
8. Official Accompanist will not be available for choir classes, choral groups, ensembles, orchestras, bands, instrumental beginners, instrumental age 21 and above, instrumental Jazz, pupil and teacher duets, blues & rock guitar nor percussion.
9. In all Choral, Vocal Groups, Orchestra / Ensemble and Band classes, please state the number of participants in the online entry.
10. In all Duet, Trio and Quartet classes a second entry is allowed providing the entrant has different partners and performs different pieces. No pair/group may enter more than one class within one instrumental discipline.
11. Professionals are not eligible to compete in this festival, except where specified. In this festival professionals are defined as those who derive the bulk of their income from payment for work in that branch of the art with which the festival is concerned. This also applies to “Open” classes.
12. Orchestras/ensembles/bands may include professionals and experienced volunteers, which includes an accompanist, if chosen, who are outside the age group, not exceeding one to every ten amateur players.
13. Time limits given in the syllabus must be adhered to. Performers who over-run will risk losing the chance of winning and being placed in their class.
14. Performances using songs from shows are subject to copyright law. We do not allow any changes to the songs from the shows in accordance with the Performing Rights Society’s Licence arrangements with the British and International Federation of Festivals. (See COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE page).
15. In all Speech and Drama classes no costumes are allowed. In Verse Speaking and Prose Reading, dramatisation by actions is not permitted. Adjudication is on vocal performance.
16. In Young and Junior Thespian, Duologues, Dramatised Verse, Dramatised Poem or Monologue, Solo and Group Drama, Shakespeare classes and Acting Through Song, a choice of two props per performer such as a hat, gloves, shawl is allowed. Over emphasis on props will be penalised by adjudicators and placing will be affected.
17. No props are permitted in Verse Speaking, Prose Reading, Group Poem and Slam Poetry classes.
18. Backing tracks as an accompaniment are not allowed, apart from Musical, Theatre Show or Film, and Rock/Pop Song classes only.
19. Backing tracks must NOT have any instrumental parts or vocals which plays the same line as a performer.

Other Festival Performer Procedure Guidance

The following rules help the smooth running of our Festival. Please read these carefully before entering. If rules are not adhered to, entrants may be allowed to perform, but risk losing the chance of winning and being placed. Teachers should ensure all entrants are made aware of these rules.

- The AExxxxxxx order reference number is a number generated for your application via the online system. Please take note of this number as you require it to retrieve your application and for any queries you may have about your entry.
- No refunds available after the closing date.
- If you want to request the services of an Official Accompanist, select YES to the question – Will the Official Accompanist be required?
- We strongly advise that you use the Official Accompanist if you are making multiple entries. We cannot adjust for independent accompanists after the scheduling has been done to avoid clashes.
- The performer’s name, Class number, and AExxxxxxx number, must be written clearly on the front of the music.
- Official Accompanists reserve the right to refuse to play from unsatisfactory and unmanageable music.
- If the Official Accompanist services are not required, do not upload copies of music.
- All performers, whether using independent or Official Accompanist, must provide a copy of the music on the day of the performance for the Adjudicator.
- Your sheet music (as a PDF) needs to be uploaded directly into the Lincoln Music & Drama Festival ‘Play and Perform’ entry system, under your selected class, when making your entry, or shortly after, but by midnight on 3 March 2026. The sheet music digital copies must be clearly labelled with the competitor's name, class number, AExxxxxxx number and, if applicable, the required speed or key.
- Your backing track music (.wav or .mp3 file) needs to be uploaded directly into the Lincoln Music & Drama Festival ‘Play and Perform’ entry system, under your selected class, when making your entry, or shortly after, but by midnight on 3 March 2026. The file must be clearly labelled with the competitor's name, class, and AExxxxxxx number.

Festival Procedures and Other Useful Information

- The Committee reserves the right to limit the entries in any Class where, in their opinion, the maximum number which can be adequately dealt with has been reached. In some instances, large classes will be divided. The order of performance in each Class will be determined by random selection, but the Committee reserves the right to vary that order where necessary, eg when catering for clashes.
- Classes with a small number of entries will be combined with separate adjudication and awards given after all performers have performed.
- Adjudicators’ decisions are final. Speaking or writing notes to the Adjudicators is not permitted during the festival. Communications for the Adjudicator must be made through a Festival Official. Concerns/complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the Chair. Please see the complaints procedure at the back of the Syllabus.
- The Adjudicator’s notes on the entrant’s performance are available at the end of the class or session free of charge. If not collected at the time of the festival, please contact the respective Co-ordinator for information on how to get the copy.
- The Committee reserves the right to appoint additional Adjudicators and to alter, modify or cancel any of the arrangements detailed in this Syllabus as necessary.
- Please hand own choice copies or original score or copies of music to the Adjudicator’s Steward at point of performance.
- All photocopies should be headed clearly: ‘For Adjudicator only – to be destroyed after use.’
- Original scores and copies of music downloaded from the internet that do not infringe copyright regulations are to be collected by the performer from the Adjudicators Steward at the end of the class.
- In ‘Set’ verse classes, the Speech and Drama Co-ordinator will provide copies for the Adjudicator.
- Backing tracks are allowed for Musical, Theatre Show or Film, and Rock/Pop Song classes only.
- Backing tracks must NOT have any vocals nor instrumental parts which plays the same line as the performer.
- The device is to be set up by performer or adult assisting the performer and will be given an extra two minutes to set up the equipment and check sound level before the performance.
- If there are technical difficulties with the equipment, the performer may perform without the backing track.
- Please view the preliminary timetables here.
- The Programme with full timetable including order of performers will be available late February.
- Entrants who arrive late may perform unless the adjudication of their Class has commenced and is at the discretion of the Adjudicator.
- Certificates will be presented to performers gaining First, Second and, unless there is a low entry, Third places.
- Trophies and certificates may be withheld in any Class where, in the opinion of the Adjudicator, a sufficiently high standard of performance is not attained.
- Trophies awarded at the Festival Concert is at the discretion of the Festival Committee.
- Winners are held responsible for the safe custody and return of trophies gained in 2026. Engraving will be organised by the Festival.
- Trophies can be returned at any time but must be returned by 31 January 2027 at the latest, cleaned, in their boxes and taken to Southside, Colegrave Street, Lincoln LN5 8DW.
- Trophies must not be posted to avoid any damage or loss.
- Damaged or lost trophies will incur a charge for replacement or repair.
- All entrants will receive a ticket containing full details of their entries. This ticket is for the performer only. The ticket is to be shown on entry to the venue, however if you do not have the ticket with you, the Stewards in the hall will help and check you are in the correct place.
- Admission charges apply to audience members at all venues – we keep these charges to a minimum and allow under 16s to enter day and evening sessions free of charge, apart from at the Festival Concert, when there will be a reduced ticket price.
- Admission charges for each venue will be listed at the entrances to venues during the festival.