2025 Syllabus - Popular Strings

All selections in this category must be covers from commercial artists.

Piece Selections
a) Only one selection is required and must have been performed at the Local Festival, received a minimum mark of 85 and the recommendation of the local Adjudicator. The Adjudicator will take piece choice into consideration.
b) Competitors must perform a selection from any of the following genres: pop, pop/ folk, R & B, soul, rock, alternative, indie, jazz or country.
c) Selections from Conservatory Canada (CC) Contemporary Idioms lists and the Royal Conservatory of Music Popular Lists (RCM) are eligible.

General Rules
d) Original music for each selection must be presented at the welcome desk for use by the Adjudicator on the day of competition. An original score of the music or purchased digital music with attached receipt showing title and price (not a cover page, Pro credit or subscription to a sharing website, eg. Scribd, Everand, Musescore) for each selection must be presented to the Registration desk for the Adjudicator's use on the day of competition.
e) All selections must be played from memory.
f) No announcement of name or selection is required prior to your performance.
g) All competitors must be an amateur which shall be defined as a music student, performer, or any person who does not earn significant income from performance or teaching in the discipline in which they are participating or, is a member of a professional union. (Please click here for the full definition of Amateur vs Professional: omfa.ca/live-festival/rules-and-regulations).
h) All criteria listed in the OMFA General Rules (omfa.ca/live-festival/rules-and-regulations) must be strictly adhered to.

Not Permitted
Rap and Hip Hop
Songs listed in the RCM or CC Classical Syllabi
Animated films and selections that qualify for Songs from the Screen aned More - see the SSAM Song List here: omfa.ca/ssam-chart