The Houston Cup Rules and Regulations

2024 Adjudicator, Dr. Michael Alexander

THE HOUSTON CUP

The Houston Cup seeks to recognize excellent teaching on the middle school level in the Houston and surrounding areas. Participants will be invited to enter from the Houston area based on receiving a superior rating at their regional UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation. These entries will be judged by our invited judge and feedback will be given to all the participating directors after results are announced. Qualified groups will be sent an invite code via email. At this time only middle school varsity string orchestras are allowed to enter.

HOW IT WORKS

Directors submit recordings and .pdf scores of two selections their ensemble performed from the current school year. The adjudicator will listen to the submissions and provide comments. The top 50% will be recognized as finalists and the The Houston Cup winner will be selected from these finalists. Finalists will also be recognized on our website and via a press release you can distribute to your local publicity outlets. Finalists will also receive a certificate. The Houston Cup winner will receive a trophy, that moves from campus to campus each year with the new winner being added to the bass of the trophy. (Stanley cup style) The previous year winner will receive a plaque when the trophy moves to the new campus. All participants will receive comments from our invited judge.

SELECTION PROCESS

1. Via Acceptd Submit two (2) recordings (.mp3 format, at least 192Kbps) of the ensemble and a .pdf of your scores of the two (2) selections. These selections may be of any level or source, but higher consideration will be given to serious works of appropriate difficulty for the school classification.
2. The adjudicator will listen to recordings and record written comments.
3. The adjudicator will select the top 50% to advance to the finals. The Houston Cup winner will be selected from the finalists.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

June 1, 2023 (Results announced by August 27, 2023)

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

At this time only Middle School Varsity groups will be allowed to enter. Entry is by invitation only via a code provided to access the acceptd entry portal.

RECORDING/AUDIO GUIDELINES

The audio submission should be in compliance with TMEA competition guidelines and not engineered, edited, or tampered with in any way except:

• Editing to eliminate excess time between movements of a multi-movement work.
• Editing to eliminate audience applause or announcements
• Combining multiple tracks of a multi-movement work into a single audio file for submission.
• Matching of volume from track to track. Recorded selections must have been recorded at a live concert during the current school year

There should be no announcements or any verbal identification on the recordings submitted.

Verification of unethical recording practices is grounds for disqualification. Examples of unethical practices are:
• Private recording sessions
• Recording in a recording studio or under studio conditions (i.e. use of microphones for individuals or small groups, or multiple microphones placed within the ensemble.)
• Multiple recordings of the same selection during a concert
• Any engineering, editing, or tampering with the recording after the performance in any way.
• Splicing within a single composition
• Any other practice which could be construed as being unprofessional, unethical, or in violation of the spirit of the competition.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

After submitting the form online application, print a copy and include with the entry materials.
• All fees and submissions are paid and uploaded via the Acceptd site. Instructions on submitting purchase orders are found by following the link below.
• The submission window opens May 5th, 2023 and closes June 1st, 2023.

REGISTRATION BEGINS MAY 5, 2023