How to organise a demonstration of proficiency
Checklist for those who are organising a demonstration of proficiency related to doctoral education.
The demonstration of proficiency may include, for example, a thesis concert or a recording, public recording, performance, event, liturgy, composition or score.
Applying for a concert
- Scheduling: Apply for a concert through the Taito channel at least 6 months before the planned concert date (taken into account a possible 2-month summer break). Make sure that the assessment committee members will be able to attend the event on the day you plan. It is a good idea to include a few alternative concert dates on your application. When considering the scheduling, you can also increase the exposure for your concert through university-wide events, such as SibaFest. Follow any programme application processes for these events in internal communications.
- Facilities: Check the booking status of the desired venue in the Peppi system. As a rule, the concerts are held in Sibelius Academy facilities, in the metropolitan region or, in special cases, elsewhere (agree on this well in advance – about a year -with your doctoral school).
- Repertoire information and cost estimate Prepare and attach the repertoire information of your concert and include a short presentation text with the application. Also include a cost estimate of any expenses (instrument transport, accompanist fees, venue fees).
- Once the application for a concert has been processed, the committee members will receive confirmation from a producer appointed for the examination concert regarding its date and place.
Preliminary examination and registration
- Contact the pre-examiner: agree on the preliminary examination well in advance and provide the pre-examiner with a document stating your objectives and a pre-filled registration form (request one from the Tutti team)
- Registration: Send the concert registration form approved by the pre-examiner to the Tutti team (siba.tutti@uniarts.fi) and the concert producer no later than 6 weeks before the concert. Remember – the preliminary examination must be approved before this. The Tutti team assembles an assessment committee based on the registration.
Preparation
- Hall rehearsals: You are entitled to a single hall rehearsal before the concert. If necessary, agree on additional rehearsals.
- Rehearsal opportunities: You are entitled to book classrooms for rehearsals six weeks before the examination concert. Note: Extensive booking rights must be requested separately by email from facility booking at siba.tilavaraus@uniarts.fi. Normal booking rights are max. 13 hours a week, 4 weeks in advance.
Programme text and sheet music
- Review: Submit your programme text to the thesis supervisor for review no later than 6 weeks before the concert.
- Delivery of the programme text to the producer: Send the reviewed programme text to the concert producer 4 weeks before the concert.
- Sheet music: Send copies of the sheet music by email to the committee members, especially if the repertoire contains rare compositions.
After the concert
- Feedback discussion: Take part in the feedback discussion – this must be held within two weeks of the concert.
- Assessment statement: The Sibelius Academy Board of Directors appoints an assessment committee composed of at least three members, with one of these members serving as committee chair. Students have the opportunity to comment on the composition of the assessment committee before it is appointed. After each artistic component, each committee member shall issue a brief written statement to the chair within a week. The chair fills out the bottom part of the registration form/minutes and submits the form to the Tutti team within two weeks of the concert.
Recordings
- A high-quality recording can replace one of the artistic examination concerts. Typically, recordings are published on a commercial label or the SibaRecords label. You are responsible for producing the recording yourself. If you use the recordings as part of your artistic degree, submit them to the pre-examiner for assessment.
- The doctoral concerts are stored in the recording archive of the doctoral school. At the Sibelius Academy, AV support is responsible for recording the concert; if the concert is held elsewhere, you will be responsible for the recording arrangements.