Music Competitions

1. All entry fee policies for the Cleveland Feis must be followed (See other Fees and Entry Rules). Age is determined by the age on the first of January. In the event of a dispute, certificate of age must be submitted upon request. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the Feis. View the 2023 Cleveland Feis Syllabus
2. Electronic and amplified music may not be used in any competition.
3. Each competitor shall register for each competition for which he/she intends to compete. (i.e. each member of an ensemble competition must submit an entry)
4. Available solo competitions in both instrumental and vocal are listed above.
   • Other instruments such as 3 and 5 row button accordion, fife, piccolo, harmonica, and other stringed instruments shall be entered in the miscellaneous instruments category.
   • Duets and trios may play any instrument or combination of instruments.
   • Ceili bands must contain at least two different instruments.
   • Solo competitions will also be held for vocals in English and Gaelic.
5. Tunes are to be selected from among the following classes: air, reel, polka, hornpipe, jig (single, double, or slip), slide, set dance, march, and mazurka. Competitors shall play each tune twice through. In the case of a reel, which is played singly, a competitor shall play the reel three times through. Sheet music is not to be used.
6. Instrumental:
   • In under 12 and 12-14 age groups, a competitor shall play one tune from each of two classes in rule 5.
   • In 15-17 age groups, competitors shall play one tune from each of three classes in rule 5.
   • In the 18 and over age group, competitors shall play one tune from each of four classes in rule 5.
7. Vocal: In competitions for solo traditional singing, in both Irish and English, in all age groups, the competitor shall sing two songs of contrasting tempo (i.e. one slow and one fast) unaccompanied. All tunes and songs shall be traditional in character. A list of some suggested tunes can be found below. Competitors are not limited to this list, but selections are required to be traditional.
8. Ensembles: Competitors may not change instruments during performance. In the case of duets and trios, competitors must at all times play the melody of the tune. A competitor may compete only in one duet, one trio and one ceili band. A competitor may compete in a higher age group, provided they change their instrument. A ceili band shall consist of not less than five and not more than ten competitors. Ensembles containing an incorrect number of competitors will be disqualified.

See below for suggestions of tunes to play:

Traditional songs in English:
(Please note, many familiar folk songs such as Danny Boy, Fields of Athenry and Molly Malone are not considered traditional tunes in the strictest sense. It is suggested that you not use them for competition.)
The Rocky Road to Dublin
The Sally Gardens
The Shores of Amerikay
Slievenamon
Whiskey in the Jar
Lannigan's Ball
Oft in the Stilly Night
Believe Me if all these endearing Young Charms
"P" Stands for Paddy
My Parents Reared Me Tenderly
The Lass of Glenshee
Do You Love an Apple
The False Knight
Soldier, Soldier
As I Roved Out
Early In the Morning
Black is the Colour
Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
May Morning Dew

TRADITIONAL SONGS IN GAELIC
O Ro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile
Roisin Dubh
Le Fainne Geal an Lae
An Buacaill ban
Rodi Mac Corlai
Jimmy mo mile Stor
Sean o Duibhir An Ghleanna
Bead Aonach Amarach

Reels
Morning Dew
Foxhunter's
Mountain Road
Boys of Ballisodare

Jigs
Blackthorn Stick
Connaughtman's Rambles
Haste to the Wedding
Tripping Up the Stairs

Hornpipes
Off to California
Kitty's Wedding
Harvest Home
Buck on the Mountain

Polkas
Sweeny's
Egan's
Terry Teehan's
Leitrim

Slides
Julia Clifford's
Connie Walsh's
The Weaver's
John Kelly's

Marches
A Nation Once Again
Brian Boru's March
O'Neill's March
Lord Mayo

Airs
The South Wind
Buachaill On Eirne
Eamon a'Chnoic
The Dear Irish Boy

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