1. The dress code is agreed upon by the Candidate, the Artistic Committee and the Chair. Typically, the dress code is academic dress, which for men consists of a tailcoat, a black waistcoat and a white bowtie. Formal evening dress includes black socks and shoes (not patent leather), but no pocket handkerchief. Women wear a black dress or a two-piece suit (no floor-length hems or too-deep necklines). Hats or prominent jewellery are not to be
worn. Acceptable examination apparel may also include a dark suit, clerical dress, military uniform, or a national costume. Doctoral degree-holders should carry their doctor’s hat in their left hand.
2. The occasion begins with an archaic fanfare performed by horns, other instruments or human voices. The public rises when the fanfare starts.
3. During the fanfare, the participants in the examination arrive at the occasion in procession. The first person to enter the hall is the Doctoral Candidate, followed by the Chair, then Artistic Committee, and finally the Thesis Examiner(s).
4. The Doctoral Candidate brings with him/her all recordings, scores, notes and other material related to the Artistic Demonstration as well as the Thesis.
5. After the fanfare ends, the Chair opens the examination by declaring, “As the Chair appointed by the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy, I hereby declare the Public Examination of N. N.'s Demonstration of Proficiency open.” The Chair, the Artistic Committee, the Thesis Examiner(s) and the public sit down; the Candidate remains
standing. The Chair briefly introduces the doctoral project, the Candidate, the Artistic Committee and the Thesis Examiner(s).
6. The Candidate gives his/her musical performance incorporating music included in the artistic project and lectio praecursoria, introducing the thesis. The lecture begins with the words “Honoured Chair, honoured Artistic Committee, honoured Thesis Examiner(s), ladies and gentlemen”. The musical performance and the lecture should last a maximum of sixty minutes.
7. After the introduction is finished, the Candidate says, “I hereby call upon you, honoured Artistic Committee, as the examiners appointed by the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy, to evaluate my artistic project and to present the critical comments you deem it deserves.”
8. The Chair of the Artistic Committee gives a statement on the artistic project, after which the Chair asks the Thesis Examiner(s) to give his/her/their statement(s) on the Candidate’s thesis. If there are two Thesis Examiners, they may write a joint statement or decide in advance which one will present his/her statement. Statements are given standing; the Candidate also stands while listening to the statements. After the statements, the Candidate is allowed to answer any comments presented.
9. After the Doctoral Candidate’s comments, both the Artistic Committee members and the Thesis Examiner(s) can pose questions to the Candidate and discuss the artistic project and the thesis. The discussion is presided over by the Chair. The discussion may take a maximum of two hours.
10. The Thesis Examiner, or if there are two Thesis Examiners, one of them, will make a final statement (standing): “On the grounds of the thesis and the discussion heard today, I/we propose that the thesis is/is not accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music”.
11. The Chair of the Artistic Committee will make a final statement (standing): “On the grounds of the statements and the discussion heard today, the Artistic Committee proposes that the Demonstration of Proficiency is/is not accepted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music”.
12. [The Candidate (standing) thanks the Artistic Committee and the Thesis Examiner(s), then turns to the audience and says, “After this, I recommend that those esteemed persons present who might have critical comments on my artistic project or thesis ask the Chair for the floor.”
13. The Chair presides over the discussion and selects speaking turns so that the Candidate is allowed to answer each comment without delay; the Chair also monitors the discussion to ensure that the comments stay on topic.
14. The examination is closed by the Chair, who stands to do so.
15. The examination may take a maximum of four hours.
16. After the Chair has closed the examination, the archaic fanfare begins and the public rises. During the fanfare, the Doctoral candidate (taking with him/her all material related to the Artistic Demonstration and the Thesis), the Chair, the Artistic Committee, and the Thesis Examiner(s) walk out of the hall slowly and with dignity. When the fanfare ends, the official part of the examination is finished. The Chair prepares a description of the examination event for the Academy Board at the Sibelius Academy.