The New England Piano Teachers’ Association, wishing to encourage excellence in piano performance, offers annual prize competitions.
Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition – April 10, 2022
Congratulations go to the following winners of the Mildred Freiberg Competition held on April 10, 2022. The competition was adjudicated by Jonathan Bass, Mathilde Handelsman, and Sayuri Miyamoto.
1st Prize: Vartan Arakelian, student of Lilit Karapatian-Shougarian
2nd Prize: Eunha Basu, student of Niva Fried
3rd Prize: Ian Lin, student of Tanya Schwartzman
Honorable Mention: Alexander Liu, student of Helena Vesterman
Honorable Mention: Milo Miller, student of Eleanor Perrone
Open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Two entrants per teacher.
Eligibility: entrant must have studied piano since September of the current academic year with a member of NEPTA in good standing (dues received by Sept 30th ) and must play in a recital of the current year as follows:
Grade 6: Junior II, Intermediate I or 20th/21st Century
Grade 7 and 8: Intermediate I, Intermediate II or 20th /21st Century
Competition playing time: 15 minutes
Requirements: repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works from three of the following five periods (no concerti). One of these selections must be from either the Baroque or the Classical period:
1. Baroque (written before 1750)
2. Classical: the Classical period for these purposes is defined as a movement of sonata, a set of theme and variations, or a rondo by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven; or a sonata movement by Schubert. (Other works by Schubert should be considered for the Romantic period.)
3. Romantic
4. Impressionist
5. 20th/21st Century
First Prize: $150 – Second: $125 – Third: $100.
Ruth Davidson Competition – April 24, 2022
Congratulations go to the following winners of the Alice Hamlet Competition held on April 24, 2022. The competition was adjudicated by Soomi Lee, Heng-Jin Park, Boaz Sharon.
First Place: Benjamin Wolfson, student of Natalia Harlap
Second Place: Emily Zhou, student of Niva Fried
Third Place: Alexis Chen, student of Dr. Nilly Shilo
A. Ramón Rivera Contemporary Music Award: Benjamin Wolfson, student of Natalia Harlap
Margaret C. Bachelder Romantic Music Award: Emily Zhou, student of Niva Fried
Open to students in grades 9 and 10. Each teacher may enter a total 3 students in the high school divisions of the competitions, with a maximum of 2 students in one of the competitions.
Eligibility: entrant must have studied since September of the current year with a NEPTA member in good standing (dues received by Sept. 30th) and is required to play in the Intermediate II, Senior, or 20th/21st Century recital.
Requirements: repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works, from three of the following five periods (no concerti). One of these selections must be from either the Baroque or Classical period.
Competition playing time: 21 minutes
1. Baroque (written before 1750)
2. Classical: The Classical period for these purposes is defined as a movement of a sonata, a set of theme and variations, or a rondo by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven; or a sonata movement by Schubert. (Other works by Schubert should be considered for the Romantic period.)
3. Romantic
4. Impressionist
5. 20th/21st Century
One additional required work, selected each year by the “Post-1950 Repertoire” committee (memorization of this work is optional)
First Prize: $250; Second: $225; Third: $200
Alice Hamlet Competition – April 24, 2022
Congratulations go to the following winners of the Alice Hamlet Competition held on April 24, 2022. The competition was adjudicated by Soomi Lee, Heng-Jin Park, Boaz Sharon.
First Place: David Liebowitz, student of Natalia Harlap
Second Place: Justin Wang, student of Helena Vesterman
Third Place: Benjamin Shaar, student of Dr. Nilly Shilo
A. Ramón Rivera Contemporary Music Award: Mariana Joyce, student of Elena Drabkin
Open to students in grades 11 and 12. Each teacher may enter a total 3 students in the high school divisions of the competitions, with a maximum of 2 students in one of the competitions. Registration fee is $110.
Eligibility: entrant must have studied since September of the current year with a NEPTA member in good standing (dues received by Sept. 30th) and is required to play in the Intermediate II, Senior or 20th/21st Century recital.
Competition playing time: 21 minutes
Requirements: repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works from three of the following five periods (no concerti). One of these selections must be from either the Baroque or Classical period:
1. Baroque (written before 1750)
2. Classical: The Classical period for these purposes is defined as a movement of a sonata, a set of theme and variations, or a rondo by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven; or a sonata movement by Schubert. (Other works by Schubert should be considered for the Romantic period.)
3. Romantic
4. Impressionist
5. 20th/21st Century
One additional required work, selected each year by the “Post-1950 Repertoire” committee (memorization of this work is optional).
First Prize: $350; Second: $325; Third: $300
Please note: PREVIOUS FIRST PLACE WINNERS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME COMPETITION.
A. Ramón Rivera Contemporary Music Awards
$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 either the Ruth Davidson Competition or the Alice Hamlet Competition.