Piano Ensemble Festival and Competition

Application Requirements

Please register at new.mtfest.com.

Fee is $25 per player, per performance.  Duet/Duo groups will total $50.  Trio groups will total $75.  Quartet groups will total $100.  Pay fee online through new.mtfest.com.  Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event. Teachers are responsible to pay $25 for each player, for each of their performances.Pay with Visa or Mastercard.  After payment is made, you may print a copy of the invoice for your records.  You do not need to mail anything to the Chair.  No late applications will be accepted.  All fees are non-refundable.

Levels and Time Limits

Levels are determined by the average age of the ensemble team. Average age will be rounded to the higher whole number. Ensembles with an average age below 7 or over 18 must play in the festival division.

Repertoire Requirements

Any piano composition written or arranged for no more than two pianos is acceptable. Ensembles may comprise of DUETS (one piano four hands), DUOS (two pianos four hands), TRIOS (one piano six hands), or QUARTETS (one piano eight hands or two pianos eight hands).

Festival participants may play one or two selections. Competition participants must play two selections.

Partners may switch Primo/Secondo positions between compositions. A complete set of Theme and Variations (in its entirety) is considered one composition; therefore, partners may not switch positions between variations. All participants must stay within the given total time limit for the appropriate age level.

A single movement of a sonata, sonatina, suite, etc. counts as one composition. Ensembles may play from the same work for more than one year but must play a different movement at each year of entry. Portions of a work are not acceptable (except in the case of sonatas, sonatinas, suites, etc). For instance, all the variations of a Theme and Variations work must be performed. Any question regarding repertoire must be approved by the Piano Ensemble chairperson. Memorization is not required.

Entrants will abide by all copyright laws and has permission to use all music given to judges and accompanists during all events as outlined here.

Eligibility

An ensemble team must choose only one division they will perform in: Festival or Competition. That team may not enroll in both. Any individual student, however, may be associated with any number of different ensembles and may participate in both the Festival and Competition divisions. This event is held in recital format. A competitive team must be present by the start of their recital time and must remain for its entirety. If not, they will receive judges’ comments only. The previous year’s First Place winner ensembles must enter either the next higher competitive age level or the Festival division.

Awards

All performers receive a certificate of participation and comment sheets. In the Competition division, First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention ribbons will be awarded. Awards will be announced and presented immediately after the completion of each age group level.

Teacher Guidelines

Both days of the festival should be kept open when registering and until the schedule has been announced.

Ensembles must either turn their own pages or provide their own page-turners. Students must bring 2 rating sheets downloaded from new.mtfest.com which are available after the schedule is published.  Ensembles must provide an original, non-zeroxed published score to the judges for each work they will be performing. All measures must be numbered. The score should not bear the student’s nor the teacher’s name.

All participating teachers will be required to judge or provide services based on the number of entrants.

Teachers must agree to abide by the Rules for Competitive Events  as well as the Teacher Responsibilities.