The New England Piano Teachers’ Association, wishing to encourage excellence in piano performance, offers annual prize competitions. Any teacher who has been a member in good standing since September of the current school year may enter two students in each of the high school divisions and two students in the Middle School Competition.
Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition
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
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
Open to students in grades 9 and 10. Two entrants per teacher. 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.
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: $250; Second: $225; Third: $200
Alice Hamlet Competition
Open to students in grades 11 and 12. Two entrants per teacher. 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: 20 min.
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.