2025 Syllabus - Songs from the Screen and More

Songs that were written for, or first appeared in, a movie or film.

General Rules
a) The maximum age is 28 years old as of December 31, 2024 for all levels except Adult.
b) One original music for each selection must be presented to the Registration desk for the Adjudicator's use on the day of competition.
c) Memorization is required.
d) Two (2) simple handheld props (e.g. comb, basket or book); one (1) standard rehearsal theatre box, one table and one chair are allowed. No other props will be permitted.
d) Costumes are allowed, but will not be judged.
e) Stage movement is allowed.
f) Dance breaks are not allowed and cannot be added to the selection.
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 ($5000/year) 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/glossary)
h) No announcement of name or selection is allowed prior to your performance
i) All criteria listed in the OMFA General Rules (omfa.ca/live-festival/rules-and-regulations) must be strictly adhered to.

Song Selections
a) One of the selections must have been performed at the Local Festival, received a minimum mark of 85 and the recommendation of the local Adjudicator. The second selection (Elementary - Senior levels) is the competitor's choice but must follow the rules of this category. Advanced Level performs four (4) selections.
b) Songs that do not appear on the SSAM Suggested Song List must be submitted to the OMFA for approval prior to registering.
c) Selections must be musically contrasting. The Adjudicator will take song choice into consideration.
d) Spoken passages are only allowed if published in the score being used and cannot represent more than 10% of the selection.
e) Competitors are allowed to transpose music higher or lower, but the integrity of the composer's intention with respect to the character must be observed. 
f) Selections should be age/culturally appropriate and suitable for all audiences. OMFA reserves the right to reject any selections that are deemed inappropriate, either in style or content.
g) Lengthy instrumental sections can be cut for performance.

Accompaniment
a) Accompaniment must be by live acoustic piano only.
b) If you do not have a collaborative pianist (accompanist), the people on this list (click here: omfa.ca/collaborative-pianists-accompanists) have indicated that they are willing to play for the live festival. It is the competitor's responsibility to contact the collaborative pianist directly and negotiate a fee for their service.

Selections Permitted - please refer to the SSAM Song List (omfa.ca/ssam-chart) for suggested repertoire.
a) Songs that were written for, or first appeared in, a movie or film (for exceptions see the SSAM Song List).
b) Songs from animated films, anime, movies or television shows/series.
c) Songs from film musicals - singers must use film version arrangement (eg. 'Santa Fe', Newsies; 'Breaking Free', High School Musical; 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', The Wizard of Oz).
d) Songs from musicals that have only been workshopped (not fully staged)
e) Stand-alone songs in musical theatre style (eg. 'Girl in 14G'; 'Taylor the Latte Boy'; 'Darryl is a Boy').
f) Songs written for, but have been cut, from staged musicals (eg. 'More to the Story', Shrek, The Musical).
g) Songs from song cycles (eg. Edges, Tapes, Songs for a New World).
h) Duets that can be performed as a solo (eg. 'I see the Light, Tangled, 'A Whole New World', Aladdin).

Selections NOT Permitted - please refer to the SSAM Song List: omfa.ca/ssam-chart
a) Songs listed in the RCM or CC classical syllabi (Levels 1-6, Lists A and B, Levels 7-10, Lists A, B and C).
b) Songs that were originally written for live fully staged musical and that were later made into movies (eg. The Sound of Music; West Side Story; My Fair Lady; Hamilton; In the Heights; Dear Evan Hansen; Wicked).
c) Operetta/light opera selections (eg. Gilbert & Sullivan, Romberg, Lehar, Johann Strauss).
d) Selections that are primarily spoken patter (eg. 'Ya Got Trouble', The Music Man','Aaron Burr', 'Sir', Hamilton).
e) Songs that were originally released as a commercial pop song and are later used in a jukebox musical must be entered in Popular Voice 9eg. Moulin Rouge, Mamma Mia, Beautiful, &Juliet). See the SSAM Song List: omfa.ca/ssam-chart
f) Selections from Junior show versions or musicals that have been cut or simplified.

Songs from the Screen and More Chart