Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition
January 18, 2025 - January 19, 2025
| $40Application Requirements
1. Please register at new.mtfest.com. Registration will open on November 15 and will close on December 5.
2. Pay fees online through mtfest.com. Click on Billing, then click on the $ next to the event. 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.
3. Teachers are responsible for checking their entries online for any errors in submitted applications. If there are any errors, you must edit your entry online (click on the pencil icon next to student name) by December 5. Changes to applications are not permitted past December 5. 4. Non-NVMTA members have to pay the $50 fee (per student per event) plus registration fee. 5. Snow date for this event is January 25, 2025.Levels and Time Limits
| Level 1 | Grades 2-4 | 6 minutes |
| Level 2 | Grades 5-6 | 7 minutes |
| Level 3 | Grades 7-8 | 10 minutes |
| Level 4 | Grades 9-10 | 12 minutes |
| Level 5 | Grades 11-12 | 18 minutes |
Repertoire Requirements
Students who play the same concerto for more than one year may not repeat the same movement. Only one movement is allowed. Only cuts to orchestral tutti are permitted. Students must perform the entire movement unless stopped by the room monitor. A room monitor will ask the performer to skip to the cadenza if the total performance time is longer than the allotted time limit. Music must be performed from memory.
If a cadenza for the movement exists, it must be played. Students who play a concerto without a cadenza risk being disqualified from prize eligibility if there is a cadenza in existence for that concerto, and a cadenza is not performed. A student may compose and perform his/her own cadenza for a Mozart or Haydn concerto, but it must be notated/printed in legible format for the judges. It is understood that the quality of the cadenza will be taken into consideration when judging the contestant’s performance. Prior approval is required. Any questions about cadenzas should be referred to the chairman BEFORE the application deadline. Teachers must indicate the timing of the cadenza on the judges’ score.
The following is a list of repertoire that has been used in the past to give you an idea of ages/repertoire/and levels for this event. It is intended as a guide only, not a required repertoire list. NVMTA Repertoire Lists – Concerto Competition-Piano.
Entrant 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
Students may play at current school grade or higher. To enter at a higher level, students must obtain the written approval of a chairman. In subsequent years these students must enter at consecutively higher grade levels. First-place winners may not compete again in the same level. First place winners are no longer required to wait a year before competing in a higher level. In order to enter NTMVA student events, either the teacher or student must live in Northern Virginia, or, the lessons must be taught in Northern Virginia.
Awards
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |
| Level 1 | $30 | $20 | ---- |
| Level 2 | $50 | $25 | ---- |
| Level 3 | $200 | $100 | $50 |
| Level 4 | $300 | $150 | $75 |
| Level 5 | $500 | $250 | $125 |
Teacher Guidelines
Teachers may not accompany their own students.
Please provide one published score of the concerto and cadenza with all measures numbered, and which must not bear the student’s or teacher’s name.
Teachers must agree to abide by the Rules for Competitive Events as well as the Teacher Responsibilities. Teachers will be assigned duties and should expect to be available for volunteer duty on the day of the competition. Assignments and hours are at the discretion of the chair.