Taraneem Writing & Music Composition (NEW)
Introduction to the competition
In the spirit of Jubal, the father of all who play the harp and flute, and in the footsteps of King David, who not only penned psalms but also orchestrated the musical worship, we are blessed to introduce the Taraneem Writing & Music Composition Competition to this year’s Mahragan. In this, we aim to inspire young Orthodox Christian youths in our diocese to express their faith and love for God through music and taraneem. This competition is designed to discover and nurture the talents of our youth, encouraging them to contribute their own songs and music to the rich tapestry of Orthodox Christian worship.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements:
Age Categories: Participants in our competition will be divided into two age groups to ensure a fair and exciting contest:
Juniors: Open to individuals in Middle School and younger. This category is designed to nurture young talent and provide them with a platform to showcase their musical abilities.
Pros: Open to individuals in High School and above. This category is for more experienced participants who are ready to take their musical skills to the next level.
Submission Guidelines
- One Song Per Entry: Each participant may submit one song that includes both lyrics and music.
- Encouragement of Group Participation: We highly encourage group entries as they promote collaboration and creativity, with added points for teamwork.
- Opportunity for Dual Submissions: Participants in groups have the unique opportunity to also submit an individual entry. This encourages individual creativity within a collaborative setting. Please remember, no one is allowed more than one individual submission.
Theme:
The song’s lyrics must reflect the spirit of our Church, with a focus on this year’s theme, ” The Lord is my Light and my Salvation” Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from the Bible, church fathers, or Orthodox hymnography.
Song Submission Guidelines:
Lyrics: Must present a Christian spiritual message, reflecting Coptic Orthodox Church teaching and spirit.
Music Composition: Participants are encouraged to submit original compositions. Additionally, the creative use of traditional taraneem / hymns with new arrangements, as well as the innovative implementation of traditional music tools such as symbols and trianto, will be considered a plus.
Audio File Requirements: Submissions must be in MP3, WAV, or AAC format. The quality of the recording will be considered during the evaluation.
Documentation: A brief explanation of the song’s background, inspiration, and a description of any traditional elements used in the composition should be included.
***Special Interest In a cappella and vocal creativity: We hold a special interest in entries that showcase a cappella singing, where participants use their voices to create the entirety of the music, including melody, harmony, rhythm, and even mimicking instruments. This pure vocal art form will be given special attention and evaluated with a keen focus.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Adherence to Theme: 30%
- Lyric Quality (Wording, rhythm, use of verses and biblical content, theological depth, and Orthodoxy): 25%
- Musical Composition (Creativity, Originality, and Effective Use of vocals and tools): 25%
- Overall Presentation and Audio Quality: 20%
Notes:
- Multilingual Submissions: We accept and encourage submissions in multiple languages. Whether your song is in English, a mix of English and Arabic, Coptic, or any other language, we welcome the richness that different languages bring to taraneem. However, while we welcome songs in multiple languages, please note that English should be the primary language used. If your submission includes languages other than English, such as Arabic, Coptic, or others, we request that you provide a translation of the non-English lyrics in the song description. Please note that the choice of language(s) should serve the song’s goal and enhance its delivery and quality.
- Mixed Age Groups: In group competitions, mixing Junior and Pro participants is permitted. However, if a group includes even one Pro participant, the entire submission will be judged according to the Pro category standards to maintain fairness.
- Church Choirs Welcome: We extend a special invitation to church choirs to participate in our competition.
Submission Instructions:
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Deadline: Ensure your submission is uploaded by “TBD” through the link on the Mahragan website.
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Late Submissions: Will not be accepted.
Encouragement for Participants:
This competition is an opportunity for you to explore the depths of your faith and express it through music, whether through new compositions or by breathing new life into the timeless hymns of our faith. We are excited to see how you blend tradition with creativity, offering your unique contribution to the rich musical heritage of the Orthodox Church. Winning songs will be listed on the Church Sound Cloud.
Triathlon of Faith & Service Competition for Diocese Servants
Introduction
This year, we are thrilled to introduce a new competition in Mahragan Al Keraza – the “Triathlon of Faith & Service” competition, crafted for our diocese servants. Servants from each church will unite as a single group, embodying the collective spirit to compete. This competition will be online, allowing participants to engage from their respective locales. Servants participating in this competition are not required to participate in the general adults spiritual competition.
First Dimension: Bible Study
The Book of Romans Participants will study the Book of Romans, equipped with a recommended suite of reading materials in addition to the text itself. This includes commentaries from Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty and Fr. Matthew. To guide their preparation, we will offer examples of exemplary questions. .
Second Dimension: Spiritual Book Study
“The Life of Repentance and Purity” Our spiritual book competition centers on the “The Life of Repentance and Purity” by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. This segment invites participants to study the essential themes of repentance and purity, especially in the context of the Mahragan theme for this year. Available in both Arabic and English, the book will be provided to all competitors, with recommendations on specific sections to focus their study.
Third Dimension: Apologetics
The apologetics portion will challenge participants to articulate and defend the timeless truths of our faith, recommended reading materials include the “Timeless Truth in Truthless Times” by George Basilious and the classic work by C.S. Lewis as well as other books. This segment encourages a robust engagement with the rational foundations of our Orthodox beliefs, preparing servants to address contemporary spiritual and philosophical questions.
Competition Structure and Scoring
While this competition primarily targets servants, pre-servants from each church may also participate with special permission from ministry heads. Participants may enter as only as a group, competing on all three dimensions. The final score will represent an average of performances across all areas.
Our Vision
The “Triathlon of Faith & Service” is more than a competition; it is a platform designed to deepen our servants’ engagement and to equip our servants and participating pre-servants with the knowledge and wisdom to navigate their spiritual journey in service with confidence and grace.
All-Female Volleyball Competition!
We are thrilled to announce Volleyball competition exclusively for female participants. This event aims to highlight the talent and fellowship spirit among young girls and ladies within our ministry. Through sports, we seek to foster a sense of camaraderie, spiritual growth, and teamwork.
Participation Criteria
Age Group: The competition is open to females from Middle School and above, celebrating the talents of young girls and women in a supportive and inclusive environment.
One Team Per Church: Each church is invited to form and register one team of female players. This approach encourages unity and allows each congregation to showcase their best talents on the volleyball court.
Number of Players: 7 players per team are expected to be participating at any single game. However, there is no limit on number of players per team or church overall (i.e. 7 players will be playing in a game, but there can be more players as substitutes)
Event Details
Date and Venue: The final competition will take place on August 24th at St. Mary’s Church. We hope to host the games outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather; however, should conditions not permit, we are prepared to move the excitement into the gym.
Team Creativity and Attire
Custom Team Jerseys: We encourage teams to express their creativity and team spirit through custom-designed jerseys to wear on top of the Mahragan T shirts. Feel free to be imaginative in the design and shape of your team’s attire, adding a church touch that represents your team’s identity and unity, for e.g. Intercessor Saint, a verse, Cross Design, Coptic artwork or letters, etc.
Spirituality and Fellowship
Participation in this competition is part of a broader Mahragan competition aimed at building spirituality and fellowship among the youth in the diocese. As such, it is a prerequisite that all participants are registered in the spiritual component of the Mahragan.
Encouraging Broad Participation: We warmly encourage female participation from all churches within the diocese. This competition is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen bonds, share experiences, and grow together in faith and friendship.
Let the Games Begin!
We are immensely excited to see the talent, creativity, and fellowship that will be displayed through this competition. This is more than just a game; it’s an opportunity to unite, inspire, and uplift each other in a celebration of faith, friendship, and volleyball.