Rules and regulations for participation

Contestants compose one complete tanda of new tangodancemusic. Three or four songs, a total of 12 to 15 minutes of tango. The winner of the Choclo provides his own musicians to record the music.

To compete in the Choclo competition these rules and regulations must be complied with:

1. Participants compose one tanda of new tangodancemusic. Three or four songs, a total of 12 to 15 minutes of tango.
2. There's only one demand: we want new tango dancemusic, which means no adaptation of existing music, no tangonuevo, no neotango, and no 'only to listen to-tango'. The use of (electronic) percussioninstruments is not allowed.
3. Milonga and tangowaltz are allowed.
4. (Dutch) sung tangos are allowed. If possible, the organisation will help to bring poets and composers in contact with one another.
5. Participation is restricted to composers and musicians who live (temporarely) in the Netherlands or Belgium and to orchestras with at least a Dutch or Belgian member.
6. The tanda may contain compositions by different composers of one orchestra. The composers will participate under the name of the orchestra and the whole orchestra will be declared winner.
7. The judging of the new compositions will be done with demo-recordings, supplied by the composer(s). The demo can be recorded on any current means of sound recording medium or any current digital format (audio-cd, wav, mp3).
8. Participant may send their demo-recording to:
   • e-mail:
     of
   • La Cadena, PO Box 59054, 1040 KB Amsterdam
   Please add the name of the composer/the orchestra, an address, telephonenumber and if so desired a clarification with the compositions.
9. Sending a score is allowed, but not essential. Just a score is insufficient to judge a composition.
10. The winner of the Choclo provides his own musicians, singers or orchestra to record the music. If necessary, the organisation is willing to mediate between composer and an orchestra.
11. There isn´t any required fee to participate in the Choclo contest.
12. Entering music for the competition, means endorsement of these regulations.

The contributions to the Choclo will be judged by a wel-selected jury, that is oppointed by the editorial-board of La Cadena:

Leo Vervelde, bandoneonist and headteacher at Codarts. Jury chairman
Peter Corvo, internationally renowned tango-dj
Juan Pablo Dobal, pianist
Lalo Díaz, dancer/teacher/dj at Academia de tango

The main criteria is how danceable the new music is. Furthermore, the music has to be original, which means no adaptation of existing music. The use of (electronic) percussioninstruments is not permitted.

The music of the winner of the Choclo will be available Free Downloadable on this site. All visitors of the award winning ceremony will receive an exclusive cd of the new recordings.

Six months after the free distribution of the music, all rights are reserved by the composer and performers of the music.

For deadlines and dates for judging, recording and the Choclo award ceremony check the dates-page..

The purpose of the Choclo is to stimulate the composing of new tangodancemusic. Therefore, depending on the number of participants and the possibilities of the organisation, the jury can decide to point out any number of 'runners-up' who also will get the opportunity to record their new tango music. These recordings will also be freely distributed.

In case of insufficient participation or insufficient quality of the contributions, the jury may decide not to appoint a winner.

If there is any discussion about the English rules and regulations, the Dutch rules and regulations will always overrule the English translation. Where the rules are inadequate, the organisation will make a final decision.

The organisation will not correspond about the judging or the final result.

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