ELIGIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE LEVELS Students throughout the entire East Texas region who are in school grades 3 through 12 (or in the equivalent home school curriculum levels) compete in divisions according to their grade in school:

Students should prepare two contrasting pieces from memory. One piece must be from the Baroque or Classical period (or in Neobaroque or Neoclassical style).

An original score of each piece performed must be provided for the preliminary round judge. Measures must be numbered ahead of time.

Simplified editions of piano works or piano arrangements of music originally written for other genres may not be used, unless arranged by the original composer.

Participants may choose to perform repertoire more difficult than average for their level; however, they will be held to the same standard of preparation expected of others in that division. A more difficult piece will not win if it is less meticulously prepared than other entries.

The entry fee is $20 per student (non-refundable) with checks made payable to:

SFA School of Music

All students will privately perform both of their prepared pieces for a judge, who will critique and select three finalists from each of the performance divisions. Students must perform BOTH of their preliminary selections well in order to be chosen as a finalist and advance to the Winners Recital. Finalists will be announced at the end of each division.

All festival participants will receive preliminary-round critiques evaluating their performances.

The Winners Recital will take place in Cole Concert Hall and is free and open to the public. Finalists from all divisions will perform one selection chosen by the preliminary judge. The finals competition will be team-judged by a jury of three adjudicators to choose first, second and third place awards.

• Overall Best Performance of a Baroque period piece
• Overall Best Performance of a Classical period piece
• Overall Best Performance of a Romantic period piece
• Overall Best Performance of a Impressionistic period piece
• Overall Best Performance of a Contemporary period piece

At the conclusion of the Winners Recital, those receiving Honorable Mentions will be announced at this time and presented CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT. TROPHIES will be awarded to all place winners in each of the five divisions.

*Judges reserve the right to NOT choose a division place winner and/or Overall Best Performance of a period award if they feel an award is not deserved.

NOTE: Students, parents and teachers are urged to attend the WINNERS RECITAL AND AWARDS CEREMONY, which will be open to the public. All students receiving place awards, Honorable Mention certificates or Overall Best Performance of period awards will be photographed for newspaper release. If you aren't there, you miss out!

For the first time, the 2010 ETPSF will host additional events!