The Young Pianist Competition of New Jersey proudly announces its Seventeenth Season.

 

Students from 4 years of age to 18 years of age are eligible to participate in any Division of the Young Pianist Competition of New Jersey.

 

The Competition is in six separate divisions:

 

Solo	at RVCC	Spring
Young Artist	at RVCC	Spring
Cyclical Form	at RVCC	Spring
Ensemble	at Steinway Hall	Fall
Concerto	at Steinway Hall	Fall
Chamber Music	at Steinway Hall	Fall

 

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Route 28 and Lamington Road North Branch, NJ 08876	STEINWAY hALL 109 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019
Yamaha Artist Services Inc. 689 Fifth Avenue (Entrance on 54th Street) 3rd Floor Piano Salon New York, NY  10022

 

Competition winners will perform at a Winner s Recital, which will include an Awards Ceremony. All winners will receive certificates. Silver and Bronze Prize winners in each Division will receive special awards and Gold Prize winners will receive cash awards.

 

The Competition also offers former and new competitors the opportunity to participate in Workshop Recitals, which will be held in different seasons throughout the year.

 

Spring Festival Recital	Weill Recital Hall/Carnegie Hall	Spring
Winter Festival Recital	YAMAHA ARTISTS Services	Winter
Chamber Music Recital	Steinway Hall	Winter
Workshop Recitals	RVCC	Spring/Fall

 

Please refer to our policies and guidelines and to the requirements and procedures for each Division for further information.

 

The Competition Committee hopes that the Competition will continue to be a cultural stimulus for the community, and will provide a rewarding musical experience for all who participate and attend.

 

policies & guidelines

 

The Young Pianist Competition offers six divisions: Solo, Young Artist, Cyclical Work, Piano Ensemble, Chamber Music and Concerto. A contestant may enter as many divisions as desired. However, students must compete with different repertoire. Please refer to the specific guidelines and regulations for each division. During the auditions, students must present their music original scores. No Xerox copies of standard repertoire will be allowed (please consult the division chairperson with any questions).

 

APPLICATION procedures:

 

Fees:

 

1.    Please write your child's / student's name on the memo section of the check.  If paying for more then one child / student, need to list all the names.

 

2.    Membership checks MUST be sent in separately WITH the application form.  Checks that combine application and membership fees will be returned, and application will not be processed (late fees will need to be paid).  Membership fees without the filled out application will not be processed  (late fees will need to be paid).

 

For Solo Division:  Applicant must list both pieces, even though for preliminary round the competitors are required to only perform either a Classical or Baroque Work. 

 

Contacting the Competition Office:

 

Only teachers or active student members can contact the Competition Office in case of any legitimate scheduling conflicts (i.e.: recitals or exams ONLY). This should be done in writing via E-mail or Fax. Telephone calls in this matter will not be accepted under any circumstances.

 

If there are questions regarding repertoire, code numbers, fees, etc. please contact Division Chairpersons directly by telephone.

 

AWARDS

 

Following each round of the Competition, the Committee will determine the cut-off line based on the overall scores of the ENTIRE division regardless of age or group. There will be a first, second, third and admirable winner place winner in each age category. The gold, silver, bronze and honorable mention awards will be chosen from the highest scores in each division (Solo, Young Artist, Cyclical Work, Ensemble, Concerto). PLEASE NOTE: Students do not qualify for a GOLD Prize, if they are consecutively competing in the same age category and same division. The judges also have the option to award a special prize to performers of outstanding stylistic achievement. Winners will receive various awards including cash, music scores and CD's. In addition, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, and 10^th year winners will receive special recognition awards. All winners will receive an artistically designed certificate. In the event there are only low scores in a specific category, the Committee reserves the right not to offer an award. The occasion may result that the length of the repertoire may exceed the time allotment for judging in the final round of the Solo Division. Be assured that if your performance is cut, this is not a disadvantage to your scoring.

 

Judges are selected according to the highest professional standards of the Competition Board. There will be two judges present for the preliminary round and three judges for the final round. Final rounds are open to the public. judges' decisions are final. Contestants will be judged according to accuracy, memory, expression, style, and stage presence. Winners of the final round will be invited to perform in the Festival Recital, which will include the Awards Ceremony. Parents and contestants are requested to remain for the duration of the recital. Contestants not able to perform at the Winners Recital and not present at the awards ceremony will not be entitled to their awards and prizes.

 

In the selection of the composition for the Festival Recital it is the responsibility of the Artistic Director and the Board of Directors to artistically balance the entire program taking into consideration numerous factors including scoring, timing, stylistic contrast, etc.

 

The recital piece will be indicated on the student s scorecard.  This assignment is not negotiable.  If the student does not perform or is not ready to perform the work indicated on the scorecard, the student will not be allowed to perform at the recital.  If the student takes it upon himself / herself to play another work, their performance will be IMMEDIATELY INTERRUPTED and he / she will be immediately escorted from the stage and disqualified.  No certificate/ prize will be given to the student.

 

 All competitors are eligible to participate in our series of Workshop Recitals, specifically designed to benefit their performance experience before next year s Competition.

 

dress code 

 

In our efforts to promote and present wonderful live performances of masterpieces of the piano literature, we encourage a respectful and conservative recital dress code. Festival Recitals and Workshop Recitals are clearly special public performances. The rounds of competition auditions include stage presence in the judging categories. Attire that is too casual, trendy or flashy for traditional recital performance may be to your disadvantage as the judges score your overall presentation.