The New England Piano Teachers’ Association, wishing to encourage excellence in piano performance, offers annual competitions for students of members.
Mildred Freiberg Middle School Competition – April 14, 2024
- Student Registration Fee: $115
- Grades 6, 7 and 8.
- Up to two entrants per teacher
- Competition Playing Time: 15 Minutes (Because of time limitations, some pieces may be heard only in part)
- Competition Chair: Shizue Sano (freiberg@nepta.com)
- Registration Deadline: March 14, 2024
- No refund will be issued if a student withdraws from a competition after the deadline has passed
Eligibility: Entrant must have studied piano since September of the current academic year with a member of NEPTA in good standing (dues received by December 1) 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: Three works in total. Repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works from each of the following three categories (no concerti).
- A work from the Baroque (written before 1750) or Classical periods. The Classical period for these purposes is defined as a work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or one of their contemporaries.
- Romantic
- Impressionist or 20th/21st Century
First Prize: $150 – Second: $125 – Third: $100.
High School Competitions – April 21, 2024
The High School Competition has two divisions. The Ruth Davidson Division is for grades 9 and 10. The Alice Hamlet Division is for grades 11 and 12.
Each teacher may enter a total of 2 students in the high school competitions. If entering more than one student, teachers may either enter two students in one division, or one student in each division.
Eligibility: Entrant must have studied since September of the current year with a NEPTA member in good standing (dues received by December 1) and is required to play in the Intermediate II, Senior, or 20th/21st Century recital.
Ruth Davidson Competition
- Grades 9 and 10
- Student Registration Fee: $130
- Competition Playing time: 18 minutes (Because of time limitations, some pieces may be heard only in part)
- Competition co-chairs Shizue Sano & Jia Shi (hamlet-davidson@nepta.com)
- Registration Deadline: March 21, 2024
- No refund will be issued if a student withdraws from a competition after the deadline has passed
Requirements: Four works in total. Repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works from each of the following four categories (no concerti).
- A work from the Baroque (written before 1750) or Classical periods. The Classical period for these purposes is defined as a work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or one of their contemporaries.
- Romantic
- Impressionist or 20th/21st Century
- Required piece, selected each year by the “Post-1950 Repertoire” committee (memorization of this work is optional)
Peter Sculthorpe: Djilile (1986/89) Available for purchase here.
First Prize: $200; Second: $175; Third: $150
Required Piece Information:
Alice Hamlet Competition
- Grades 11 and 12
- Student Registration Fee: $130
- Competition Playing time: 18 minutes (Because of time limitations, some pieces may be heard only in part)
- Competition co-chairs Shizue Sano & Jia Shi (hamlet-davidson@nepta.com)
- Registration Deadline: March 21, 2024
- No refund will be issued if a student withdraws from a competition after the deadline has passed
Requirements: Four works in total. Repertoire must be performed by memory and must include one work, or group of works from each of the following four categories (no concerti).
- A work from the Baroque (written before 1750) or Classical periods. The Classical period for these purposes is defined as a work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or one of their contemporaries.
- Romantic
- Impressionist or 20th/21st Century
- Required piece, selected each year by the “Post-1950 Repertoire” committee (memorization of this work is optional)
Joshua Fineberg: Till Human Voices Wake Us (1995).
To purchase, please contact Rob Bethel robbethel@yesterdayservice.com
First Prize: $250; Second: $225; Third: $200
Required Piece Information: 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.
COMPETITION RULES FOR ALL THREE COMPETITIONS:
Time limits will be strictly observed and teachers and contestants are encouraged to choose repertoire that fits into the time limit for their division. Teachers may submit a program that exceeds the time limit, but judges will only listen to excerpts from such selections.
Judges must listen to the complete required contemporary selection.
Students may not request a time slot. The order of performance will be determined by a double-blind drawing.
Hard copy of score must be provided, except in the case of the required contemporary piece. No photocopies or printouts will be permitted, unless given permission by the competition chair(s).
All results are final. Teachers and/or students may not contact the judges.
The Middle School competition will be adjudicated by two judges. The High School competitions will be adjudicated by three judges.
All winners (except Honorable Mentions) must be available to play at NEPTA’s Awards Recital on May 5, or the prize money will be forfeited.
Previous first place winners are ineligible for the same competition.