Call for entries: 2021 Young Performer Awards in SA

Now in its 18th edition, the event is intended for young performers in music, dance and drama. The annual awards ceremony will be presented over four elimination rounds from 4 to 7 May and a final round at the Roodepoort Theatre in Johannesburg on 8 May. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top performers.

Who can apply?

• The competition is open to all recipients of diploma awards in the National Eisteddfod 2020.
• Top achievers who participated in other local eisteddfods/festivals during 2020 (excluding all reading and improvised categories).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, various options and new opportunities are now available for participation in the first and second rounds. Diploma recipients of the National Eisteddfod 2020 have two options available for participating in the first and second rounds:

• Live performance – entrants are required to perform live at the venue on a yet-to-be-announced date.
• Video recording – entrants are required to submit a video recording of their performance.

NEA says individuals or groups that didn’t apply for the 2020 competition or any other eisteddfod event or did not qualify to participate, now have the opportunity to do so by submitting a video entry in any genre for adjudication as a 2020 special late entry.

According to preliminary planning, the schedule of events for live performances will be published online by 15 March. The adjudication of live performances has been scheduled from 17 to 31 March.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme of events might be subject to change. The programme is as follows:

• First round: 17 to 10 April (A panel of adjudicators will adjudicate all live and recorded entries).
• Quarter-final round: 12 to 23 April (A limited number of participants will be selected in the first round to compete in the quarter-final round, either in a live performance or by submitting a new video recording for adjudication. Invitations to these participants will be forwarded to cell numbers/e-mail addresses as provided on the entry forms. It is therefore important to ensure that this information is provided on the entry form with great care and is clearly legible).
• Semi-final round: 4 to 7 May (Separate events will be presented at the Roodepoort Theatre for speech & drama, classical music, contemporary music and dance, etc. The overall junior and senior winners of all sections will also be announced at each of these concerts).
• Final event: 8 May (The overall junior and senior winners of all sections will finally compete for the overall awards on 8 May at the Roodepoort Theatre).

Entries can be submitted online or by downloading a physical copy, which should be sent via email to entry@eisteddfod.co.za. Click here for rules and regulations. 

The submission deadline is 28 February.

View the original call here.