Awards
Alice Procter and Louise Hodder Awards*
NEPTA wishes to encourage the efforts of its members’ students through awards in the areas of original composition and jazz improvisation.
Alice Procter Award*
One $100 award will be given for outstanding original composition in the contemporary classical style.
Requirements:
1) Student must perform in the Composition Recital. (Memorization optional.)
2) Instrumentation must include the piano: (solo piano, four hands at one piano, or any combination of instruments with one piano).
3) Student’s teacher must check “Alice Procter Award” on the recital application.
4) A PDF of the score must be emailed to Eleanor Perrone by the application deadline. Email subject must contain “NEPTA ALICE PROCTER AWARD” and the name of the student and title of the composition must be in the body of the email to be considered for the award.
One $100 award will be given for creativity and performance in the style of jazz or pop music.
1) Perform their own original jazz/pop-style composition in the Composition Recital OR perform their own arrangement of a jazz/pop piece in the Jazz/Pop Recital. (Memorization optional.)
2) Student’s teacher must check “Louise Hodder Olsen Award” on the recital application.
3)A PDF file of the student’s scored piano arrangement OR A PDF lead sheet (melody & chord symbols) of the student’s piece OR An MP4 recording of the student’s piece in its current state
must be emailed to Eleanor Perrone by the application deadline. Email subject must contain “NEPTA LOUISE HODDER OLSEN AWARD” and the name of the student and title of the composition must be in the body of the email to be considered for the award.
Nancy Oliva Awards
Established to encourage the artistic achievements of students of NEPTA’s independent teachers who perform in the NEPTA Intermediate I Recital. Eligible students must study in a private studio not affiliated with any institution. Three $50 awards will be given to 7th graders.
Student’s teacher must check “Nancy Oliva Award” on the recital application.
Wanda Paik Awards
Established to encourage the artistic achievements of students of NEPTA’s independent teachers who performed in the NEPTA Intermediate II Recitals. Eligible students must study in a private studio not affiliated with any institution. Three $100 awards will be given to 8th graders.
Student’s teacher must check “Wanda Paik Award” on the recital application.
A. Ramón Rivera Contemporary Music Awards
$100 for the best performance of the required contemporary piece in the Ruth Davidson Competition.
$150 for the best performance of the required contemporary piece in the Alice Hamlet Competition
Margaret C. Bachelder Romantic Music Award
Established in memory of NEPTA past president Peg Bachelder, who passed away in 2012.
A $500 award will be given for the best performance of a Romantic work in the Alice Hamlet Competition.
Grants
Miriam Pizer Grant
Established in 2007 in memory of Miriam Pizer. A $250 grant will be given to a student in grades K-5 who is in need of assistance for lesson tuition or other essential expenses.
Eligibility:
1) Each teacher may submit one student’s name to Carol Chaffee, Grants Chair.
2) Deadline is March 1. Winner will be selected by lottery during a regular NEPTA meeting. The teacher will be notified. Winner’s name will be kept private.
Five $250 grants are available to students in need.
To qualify: a brief note (e-mail is acceptable) from the teacher stating the family’s need and reasons for financial assistance should be sent to Carol Chaffee, Grants Chair. All documentation will be confidential. Student must not be older than 18.
*Winners of these awards must perform at NEPTA’s Awards Recital on Saturday May 8, 2027.