The Festival is a Charity registered with the Charities Commission, no. 275176. The objects of the Festival are the study and practice of music in order to foster the public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public concerts, the holding of musical competitions and other activities. The full LHMF Constitution is available through the link below.
Members of the Festival are either:
The financial year for the Festival is 1st July to 30th June.
All Members may attend the Annual General Meeting, held in October, which has the power to:
The General Committee is responsible for the overall management of the Festival, with the exception of professional matters decided by the Festival Conductor or Music Committee. It meets three times a year and comprises:
The Executive Committee, a sub-committee of the General Committee, has devolved powers for the day-to-day management of the Festival, meets as required (approximately monthly) and comprises:
The Executive Committee may co-opt additional members.
Job descriptions for Principal and Assistant Officers may be obtained from the Festival Secretary and Organiser.
Regulations
1. Choirs will be placed in Divisions as decided by the General Committee, who may also determine the maximum number of members of each choir who may sing in the competitions or concerts or both. All eligible choir members must sing in all classes (except the Ensemble and Open classes).
2. Any choir member wishing to participate in a Festival Competition:
(a) must be over 14 years of age
(b) must not earn his or her living by singing
(c) must be a regular member of a participating choir and have attended 8 full practices of that choir (6 in the case of students) during the current season
(d) may not sing in more than one ensemble unless singing a different voice part.
3. Any choir member wishing to participate in a Festival Concert must have sung in the competitions and in the combined rehearsals for that concert unless permission for absence is given by the Festival Conductor.
4. Ensemble Class - each choir may enter no more than 3 ensembles and each ensemble may consist of any number between 4 and 12 singers.
5. Music for all classes (except the Open Class which is own choice) will be chosen by the Music Committee and choirs must be prepared to sing any part of each piece set for their Division by the adjudicator.
6. Choirs competing in the Open Class choose the music that they sing. The music chosen shall not last for more than four minutes in performance.
7. Any breach or potential breach of these regulations should be drawn to the attention of the Secretary or the Chief Steward for the class in question before the results for the class are announced. The matter shall then be referred immediately to a sub-group of three members of the Executive Committee (normally the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary) who may discuss the matter with the Festival Conductor and Adjudicators (if appropriate) before deciding in their absolute discretion what action to take or penalty to impose.