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March 26-27, 2010

Applications Now Being Accepted

2009 Festival Results | Pictures | Events


The 2010 festival will be held on March 26-27 (Friday & Saturday), 2010 with a "kick-off" program on Thursday evening, March 25th at 7:30 P.M.

Mesa State College
Department of Music
Moss Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue*
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501

* Although North Avenue is the mailing address of the Moss Peforming Arts Center, it is actually located at the corner of 12th St. and Bunting Ave. at 1221 N. 12th St.




Eligibility:

Pianists up to age 19 as of 3/25/10 from anywhere in the world.


Applications:

Auditions and recordings are not necessary. Enrollment is open but limited to 20; priority is given to earlier applicants. See application page.


Repertory and Attendance Requirements :

Students play up to 15 minutes of repertory (any style, for one or two pianos). After students perform, they will receive about 10 to 20 minutes of constructive verbal feedback from the judges. All students will also receive written comments.

To qualify for First Prizes, all students must attend the Saturday evening Winners Recital and one or both of the two preceding evening concerts.

IMPORTANT NEW REQUIREMENT: In addition, all students must attend a minimum of 3 adjudications (in addition to their own).

All adjudications are open to the general public. There will be a nominal fee of $5 per adjudication session (excluding contestants' own adjudications). Alternatively, a flat $20 fee will entitle any individual to attend every adjudication session throughout the festival - or a flat $25 fee will entitle all members of the same family to attend every adjudication. Fees are payable in advance or at the door and will be waived for festival volunteers (e.g., those who help by being door monitors, taking festival pictures, providing refreshments, etc.).

Students who cannot meet all attendance requirements may, at the discretion of the Director, qualify for honorable mention prizes. Contact Dr. Houle.


Philosophy and unique educational mission:

This festival is the only competition of its kind in the world, combining both classical and jazz idioms in a constructive educational setting. Students compete for standard baroque through contemporary repertory prizes, as well as for novel prizes that promote neglected but important creative skills and repertory -- e.g., original concerto cadenzas & classical embellishing/improvisation (skills demonstrated by nearly all great composers yet all but forgotten today), versatility (needed to survive in today's competitive market), lyricism (usually overshadowed by "loud and fast" playing), original compositions (few venues exist for young serious composers), works by female composers, tasteful arrangements/transcriptions (often disallowed in other venues), etc.

We seek to foster diverse and well-rounded musicianship that goes beyond the "autonomic wizardry" that is often overemphasized in other competitions. Above all, pianists are urged to develop and showcase their unique talents and perform with individuality, personality, exuberance, originality and spontaneity.

The festival has been cited on NPR, in a major article in the April 2003 issue of Clavier, and in other music publications such as Piano & Keyboard, Piano Today, and the London-based Piano magazine. Most recently the festival was profiled in the March 2009 issue of Grand Valley Magazine. Sponsors have included many piano dealerships at the local and corporate level. Please patronize our generous sponsors.


Participants:

Up to 20 students.


Judges/clinicians:

Our world-class judges are generally experts in both classical and jazz/pop styles as well as all forms of improvisation. This combination of skills is rare; furthermore, judges are chosen for their ability to work well with young people and provide useful, learned and positive feedback, both verbally and in writing.


Featured adjudicator: John Salmon.

We are pleased to announce that two other distinguished judges will join Dr. Salmon for the 2010 festival: Arthur Johnson and Monte Atkinson.


Donations:

We need and appreciate your generous support!
Donations have tax benefits, and are payable to Mesa State College Music Department.

IMPORTANT: Please indicate "piano festival" in the memo portion of checks.

Mailing address for donations:
Dr. Calvin Hofer
Chair, Department of Music
Mesa State College Moss Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Telephone: 970.248.1163


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