Syllabus

General Information

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1. Entry closing date is Friday, 31 May 2024.

Fill out the entry by using the online link - ONE jotform per pianist being entered in the following category options:

Solo Form              https://form.jotform.com/240904940922153

Duet Form             https://form.jotform.com/240905481186156

Trio Form               https://form.jotform.com/240905558548163

Collaborative        https://form.jotform.com/240905048110142

Chamber Music    https://form.jotform.com/240905599884171

2. Payments made electronically and proof sent by email to wcpianofestival@gmail.com with participant’s name as reference.

3. Should a participant withdraw, no refunds will be given.

4. The spelling of name and surname of participant on jot form will be used for certificate purposes.

5. Age is determined on 1 July 2024. 

6. Same pieces may not be played in different categories.

7. The Prize Winners Concert is on 28 July at Westerford High School at 3pm. 

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​Adjudication

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1. All sections will take place from the 22nd to 27th July 2024 at Westerford High School auditorium. (Weekday adjudication will be in the afternoons from 3h30pm until 8pm, and Saturday from 10am until 8pm). TIME AND SCHEDULE IS LIMITED TO THESE DATES so there is a limit to the number of entries. 

2. The adjudicator’s decision is final.

3. No communication with the adjudicator during the Competition is allowed.

4. No recording of the adjudicator’s feedback is allowed.

5. A clear copy of the music must be brought for the adjudicator.

6. The competition does not condone performances from copied sheet music.

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Banking Details

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Bank: FNB

Account Holder: Shane Goodall Piano Studio

Branch: 250655

Account Number: 62737510158

Reference Number:  Participant’s Name

 

Contact Information

 

Email address:  wcpianofestival@gmail.com

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Entry Fee

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• Each solo entry – R150

• Duet entry – R200

• Trio entry - R250

• Collaborative Performance for Piano and Singer/Instrumentalist – R200

• Chamber Music Performance – Piano Trio, Piano Quartet or Piano Quintet – R250

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Prize & Award Categories

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1. ​Certificates will be presented to participants as follows:     

Grand Prize                                95% and above

First Prize/ Cum Laude           90% and above

Second Prize/Gold Plus          85-89%

Third Prize/Gold                       80-84%

Silver Plus                                  75-79%

Silver                                           70-74%

2.  Money prizes will be given for best pianist and runner up in the five age categories and for the best                      performance of a J. S. Bach, Sonata/Sonatina, Duet/Trio, Collaborative and Chamber Music work.                         These prizes will be awarded at the Prize-Winners Concert with a certificate/medal.

3.  Participants are only eligible for one of the five age group category prizes if they have achieved at least two        First Prize/Cum Laude awards. The prize winners are selected by the adjudicator in consultation with the            organizer of the competition and based on the aggregate of the highest awarded marks during the                      competition.  In the case of the best performance prizes, participants with the highest mark and who obtain        a First Prize/Cum Laude award, will receive the prize.

4.  Prizes do not have to be awarded if the standard is not high enough.

5.  No correspondence regarding prizes and prize winners will be allowed.

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Categories

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Own choice 

• One work from any style period or piano teaching method book

• Age categories: 6 years/7 years/8 years

• Maximum duration: 3 minutes

Older Beginner

• Any piece from the piano teaching method books or easy pieces up to grade 1 level

• Age category: 9 to 19 years

• Maximum duration: 3 minutes

Baroque

• Any work from the Baroque period (1600- 1750)

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years 

• Maximum duration: 

  • 10 years and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 8 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 8 minutes

Classical

• Any work from the Classical Period (1750-1820)

• Any movement from a Classical Sonata may be played

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years 

• Maximum duration: 

  • 10 years and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 10 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 10 minutes

Romantic

• Any work from the Romantic Period (1820-1900)

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years 

• Maximum duration: 

  • 10 and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 10 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 10 minutes

Impressionism/Modern

• Any work from the Impressionism and Modern Period (post 1900)

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years

• Maximum duration: 

  • 10 years and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 10 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 10 minutes

Sonata/Sonatina

• First or Third movement of a Sonata or Sonatina.  Scarlatti Sonatas excluded.

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years 

• Maximum duration:

  • 10 years and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 10 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 10 minutes

JS Bach

• Any work by JS Bach

• Age categories: 10 years and under/11 to 13 years/14 to 16 years/17 to 19 years 

• Maximum duration:

  • 10 years and under – 5 minutes

  • 11 to 13 years – 8 minutes

  • 14 to 16 years – 10 minutes

  • 17 to 19 years – 10 minutes

Duets & Trios

• Any piece from any style (Art music/Jazz/Popular)

• Age categories: Junior (13 years and under) & Senior (14 years and over)

• Maximum duration:​

  • ​Junior - 5 minutes

  • Senior - 8 minutes

Collaborative Performance for Piano and Singer or Instrumentalist

• Any piece for voice and piano, or movement for instrument and piano.

• Age categories:  Junior (13 years and under) & Senior (14 years and over) - Age of pianist determines age category.

• Maximum duration: ​ 

  • Junior - 8 minutes

  • Senior - 10 minutes

Chamber Music Performance for Piano Trio, Piano Quartet or Piano Quintet

• Any movement from the piano trio/quartet/quintet repertoire.

• Age categories: Junior (13 years and under) & Senior (14 years and over) - Age of pianist determines age category.

• Maximum duration: ​ 

  • Junior - 8 minutes

  • Senior - 10 minutes

 

Prizes

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1. Best Pianist/Runner Up - AGE GROUP 8 years and under                                R500/R300

2. Best Pianist/Runner Up - AGE GROUP 10 years and under                              R800/R500

3. Best Pianist/Runner Up - AGE GROUP 11-13 years                                             R1000/R750

4. Best Pianist/Runner Up - AGE GROUP 14-16 years                                            R1500/R1000

5. Best Pianist/Runner Up - AGE GROUP 17-19 years                                            R1750/R1250

6. Prize for BEST PERFORMANCE of a JS Bach work - Junior/Senior                 R500/R750

7. Prize for BEST PERFORMANCE of a Sonata/Sonatina - Junior/Senior           R500/R1000

8. Best Duet/Trio of the competition - Junior/Senior                                             R600/R750

9. Best Collaborative Performance - Junior/Senior                                                R1000/R1500

10. Best Chamber Music Performance - Junior/Senior                                            R1000/R1500

11. Qden Blaauw Discretionary Award                                                                        R1000

12. Best Pianist of the Competition                                                                              R2000

13. ALL PRIZE WINNERS must perform in the Prize Winners Concert where they will receive their PRIZE MONEY and CERTIFICATES/MEDALS.  Age Group winners might be asked to play TWO works performed during the competition week, and Best Performance winners perform the piece for that category

 

Sponsors

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Special thanks to the following sponsors of prizes:

• INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC COMPETITIONS for sponsoring all the Best Pianist prizes for all age groups and the Best Pianist of the Competition

• MUSIC MATTERS for sponsoring all the Runner Up prizes.

• DR. BERTHA LE ROUX for sponsoring the JS Bach prizes.

• SHANE GOODALL PIANO STUDIO for sponsoring Sonata/Sonatina prizes.

• DR. RONELLA VAN RENSBURG of ScoreS2Duo for sponsoring the Best Duet/Trio prizes.

• LUCY NORTON for sponsoring the Best Collaborative Performance Prize.

• VIVO MUSIC for sponsoring the Best Chamber Music Performance Prize.

• JPN MUSIC BOOKS for their contribution towards organisational operations.

• QDEN BLAAUW discretionary award

• IAN BURGESS-SIMPSON PIANOS for preparing the Shigeru Kawai grand piano for the competition.

• WESTERFORD HIGH SCHOOL & MUSIC DEPARTMENT for the use of the venue.

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Acknowledgement & Thanks

ALL PIANO TEACHERS of studios and music departments of schools for preparing your students and supporting the Western Cape Piano Festival Competition.

ALL PIANISTS for sharing your musicianship and celebrating pianism in the Western Cape.

PARENTS of the young pianists for your financial and personal support.