OSAAT plans to conduct Vaadya Vaahini 2023 as a virtual contest, using Zoom. Contestants will perform live for the judges and the audience during Zoom sessions over two weekends in October as follows:

Saturday, October 7, 2023 – Starting at 10 AM PST
Sunday, October 8, 2023 – Starting at 10 AM PST
Saturday, October 14, 2023 – Starting at 10 AM PST
Sunday, October 15, 2023 – Starting at 10 AM PST

Once the registration closes, the exact date, time and the order of live performance on zoom will be communicated to all contestants.

OFFICIAL RULES OF THE CONTEST
ALL participants must honor these rules without requiring any policing by OSAAT. Violations will be grounds for penalties and/or disqualification from the contest.

APPLICATIONS:

• Online Registration at: www.osaat.org/vaadyavaahini
• Application Deadline: September 25, 2023

CATEGORIES and AGE GROUPS:

• String, Wind, Keyboard and other traditional instruments generally recognized in Indian Classical Music, with absolutely minimal use of electronics and modern technology will compete in one category. Both Carnatic and Hindustani styles, and a choice of Indian Classical or Semi-classical music are allowed in the String, Wind, Keyboard category.
• Percussion instruments will compete in a separate category.
• Age groups: Junior (8-12), Senior (13-17), Adult (18+). 
• The contest is for amateur artists only. 

OSAAT reserves the right to accept unusual or non-traditional instruments based on their make and characteristics. Prior approval will be required for such instruments.

Our objective is to honor tradition, without any kind of simulation and/or use of modern technology taking over. When in doubt, prior to submitting your registration please contact: Swathi Hrishikesh at (408) 454-8621 or email [email protected].

OSAAT reserves the right to cancel the entire contest, cancel a specific category or
combine styles, if necessary, based on the number of entries received and any other criteria at OSAAT’s discretion.

CONTEST RULES:

A contestant in the “String, Wind, Keyboard” category contestant may use a shruti box or tanpura and one percussion accompaniment. Accompaniments are optional. The accompaniments must be complementary and cannot
dominate the performance. The performance of the accompaniments will not
be judged.

Time allotted for performance: 8 minutes maximum; with a reasonable extension of up to 45 seconds, if absolutely necessary, to avoid abrupt ending. There is no penalty for time usage under 8 minutes.

Both Hindustani and Carnatic styles MAY compete in the same category. Instruments of different types MAY BE combined depending upon the number of contestants. This contest is for musical instruments only!

For the percussion category, use of a Lehra/Shruthi box is allowed. Contestants are responsible for procuring their own Lehra/Shruthi box. A live
Harmonium accompaniment is allowed but for the purpose of Lehra only.

A Keyboard can be used ONLY as a beat (laya) box accompaniment if the contestant is competing with a String or Wind instrument.

If a contestant’s instrument of choice is a keyboard, then only one instrument setting of any type is allowed. The contestant can’t choose the special effects and simulations the keyboard technology may allow to create the effects of an orchestra. Our objective is to honor tradition, without any kind of simulation and/or use of modern technology taking over. When in doubt, contact us prior to submitting your registration via email: [email protected].

Our goal is to encourage maximum participation. Please contact us to request any exceptions to the above rules describing the basis/circumstances for your request. We will try to accommodate exceptions on a case by case basis.