Frequently Asked Questions

The London International Music Festival takes place annually over four days in mid-July, Monday to Thursday. Upcoming dates are 25-28 October 2021 and 11-14 July 2022.

• The Festival is for amateur, non-professional ensembles: choral, instrumental (orchestral, band, percussion, strings, wind), and dance.
• Each ensemble must have a minimum of 10 performers to be eligible.
• LIMF is primarily for youth ensembles, but we very much welcome adult ensembles too, subject to our Artistic Director's approval.
• Audiences are welcome at all public performances. This includes friends and family of all performers!

LIMF is a non-competitive festival. Each ensemble will have 3 performances during the festival:

1. The formal performance will be a recital or performance of approx. 1 hour in a London venue. It may or may not be shared with another LIMF ensemble. 
2. Ensembles may choose to do either: friendship performance*, OR an adjudicated performance**, OR attend a master class*** with a clinician.
3. The massed performance is the culmination of LIMF and will feature all ensembles attending the festival. It will be open to the public to attend.

The opening ceremony could include performance highlights from each participating ensemble along with social time for meeting new friends!

*This is defined as one that provides exciting and enriching collaborative performing opportunities in a way that is unique to LIMF. The experience can take many forms; it could be in a community or public outdoor location, in a local school or a sharing and workshop-type experience with one of the other LIMF ensembles.

**This will be a performance of 20 minutes. You can perform your own choice of music, but it must be submitted prior to the event. You will receive 10 minutes of feedback following the event, and a grade and award will be presented to you at the closing ceremony. 

***This will be a 1-hour workshop with one of our experts. You can either work on a piece from your own repertoire, or on something new (to be discussed with your clinician in advance). 

Yes and no. There is no set repertoire for the individual performances, but there will be for the massed performance. This work is chosen based on the mix of groups attending, and the Artistic Director will notify all participating ensembles of this piece well in advance. There will be rehearsal time with all ensembles on-site in London, but we do ask that this is rehearsed prior to travelling to London.

All ensembles will receive a certificate of attendance and, for ensembles that choose the adjudicated performance, a grade and an award will be presented.

1. In order to register for the LIMF, an online application must be submitted along with any required documentation, recordings etc.
2. All applications are subject to the Artistic Director's approval. The LIMF staff will notify applicants of their registration status typically within two weeks of registration.
3. Once an ensemble has been accepted, in order to confirm their place at LIMF, a non-refundable registration deposit of GBP 250.00 per ensemble is required. Until this is received, the booking is not confirmed. NB The registration deposit will be deducted from your final invoice.
4. Once payment is received, you will be notified of the confirmation of your place at LIMF.
5. Festival fees for LIMF 2021 are GBP 190 per participant. Each ensemble's final festival schedule can only be confirmed once the full payment for all participants in the ensemble has been received. The deadline for payment is 30 April 2021 and if payment has not been received by this date, an ensemble's participation at the festival may be subject to cancellation.

Registration typically closes around 3 months prior to the festival. If you have missed this deadline, please do get in touch.