Enter Young Performer Awards

Top achievers in eisteddfods and festivals are invited to enter the Young Performer Awards, which has various music, dance and drama categories.
PROMISING young performers still have a chance to enter the National Eisteddfod Agency’s 2012 Young Performer Awards, as entries close on 10 February.

National Eisteddfod AgencyThese awards were launched in 2004 for youth performers in the various regions of the national eisteddfod and in 2006 were opened to top achievers in all other existing eisteddfods and festivals in South Africa. It has grown in leaps and now receives over 1 000 entries every year.

“It provides a platform where the best young performers in music, dance and drama can compete and showcase their talents,” explains publicist Di Sparks. It also serves as the next level of participation for people who have been awarded diplomas in festivals or competitions.

Four rounds of adjudication make up the competition, all of which take place at the Promusica Theatre in Florida Park, Roodepoort. The first round will run from 28 February to 17 March, during which time adjudicators will judge all entries and send through a limited number to the second or quarterfinal round.

In this round, which will take place from 17 to 22 March, contestant numbers will again be whittled down. The semifinal round will take the format of evening concerts with separate events for classical music, contemporary music, dance and drama; it will run from 7 to 10 May.

The overall junior and senior winners in all categories from the semifinal round will be announced, and will then go on to compete in the awards ceremony to be held on 19 May. It will be adjudicated by a panel of professionals from each of the genres.

Winning junior and senior performers in the classical, crossover and contemporary music, dance, and speech and drama categories will receive a total of R50 000 in prize money.

Recipients of diplomas or other awards – 90 percent and higher – in other eisteddfods and festivals during 2011 are invited to enter the National Eisteddfod Agency (NEA) awards in the categories for which they have received diplomas or similar awards, excluding all unprepared and improvised work, according to Sparks.

“Participants in other festivals need to submit certified copies of the relevant diploma and an adjudicator’s report with each entry,” she adds. “The organisers of other eisteddfods and festivals may also nominate their top achievers for participation in the NEA Young Performer Awards.”

Entry forms, fees and further information are available on the NEA’s website. Completed entry forms and proof of payment need to be faxed to 011 787 3534 by 10 February.

For more information, visit the NEA website, phone 011 886 6005, fax 011 787 3534 or email info@eisteddfod.co.za.

The NEA is a non-profit organisation that provides a platform for youth development in the arts; it is funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.