The NVMTA Bach Baroque Competition and Festival is an annual event that celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as many other Baroque composers. The event takes place on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA.
Our committee welcomes all teachers to this wonderful event. We have been contacting teachers throughout our organization to make sure they re-enroll students if they participated in past years. And this is the second year that we have called teachers who are new to the event to encourage them to enter for the first time.
For all teachers, and particularly new teachers, there is no need for undue worry about the level of performance. Teachers may enroll students in the more relaxed Festival Division. Students who prefer the extra intensity of competition may enroll in the Competition Division.
In addition to pianists, we endeavor to include other instruments in our festival. In particular, there exists a lot of baroque repertoire for strings students. Either Kate Moore or Alina Goldman will contact strings teachers to encourage their violists, violinists, cellists and bassists to participate. Several teachers have already committed to enter the event, which makes more strings teachers available to evaluate the finer points of string performance.
For all teachers, please note that students are assigned to their performance hour by repertoire, not by age, grade or number of years studied. Students are required to play one piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. They may also play a second piece by JS Bach. However, they may also explore the huge range and stylistic variety of many other baroque composers: Handel, the Scarlattis (father and son) Seixas, Soler, Purcell, Arne, Telemann, Sammartini, Vivaldi, Corelli, Rameau, Dacquin, Dandrieu, Lully, Loeillet, Couperin. So much beautiful repertoire to consider! The NVMTA Bach Baroque website page clearly lists all the repertoire categories: https://nvmta.org/event/bach-baroque-festival-and-competition/.
First round performances take place in hour-long recitals. Both parents and students hear varied piano repertoire as well as other instruments’ literature. Students can mark their recital programs with their favorite pieces to play in the 2024 Bach event! As in previous years, 2nd round performances take place by audition.
As a bonus, pianists may play the harpsichord in the foyer of the church after they have performed. Students, teachers and parents only benefit by entering the Bach Baroque Competition and Festival this February, so do not delay! Inform your parents and students, select literature and sign up as soon as registration opens!
We on the Bach committee, Silva Blazquez, Laura Bogart, Ruriko Osawa, Kate Moore and Ying Zhao are happy to answer your questions.
