Information
Early Applications to the 2012 festival are now being accepted
Students applying now need not indicate repertory at this point.
The 2012 Festival for Creative Pianists will be held on April 12-14, 2012 with a "kick-off"
program on Thursday evening, April 12th at 7:30 P.M.
Colorado Mesa University
(formerly 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.
We are grateful to Hart Music for providing a special Yamaha AvantGrand as one of the two stage pianos throughout the 2011 festival.SPECIAL $500 PRIZE!
Due to the generosity of our supporters, the prize for BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION has been increased to $500.
Eligibility:
Pianists up to age 19 as of 4/12/12 from anywhere in the world.
Applications:
Auditions and recordings are not necessary. Enrollment is open but limited to 24; priority is given to earlier applicants. See application page.
Due to our limit of 24 participants, early applications are strongly encouraged. Early applications need not indicate repertory (repertory will be requested later); the non-refundable application fee will secure a place in the festival.
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 suggested donation fee of $5 per adjudication session per person; however, CONTESTANTS IN THE FESTIVAL (AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY) WILL NOT BE CHARGED FOR ANY ADJUDICATIONS. For others, an alternative to $5 per session would be a flat $20 fee, which will confer admission to every adjudication session throughout the festival. Fees are waived for festival volunteers (e.g., those who help by being door monitors, taking festival pictures, providing refreshments, etc.). Fees can also be waived in cases of financial hardship; adjudication fees and admittance fees to the Friday and Saturday evening programs are simply suggested donations to help support the festival.
Students who cannot meet all attendance requirements may, at the
discretion of the Director, qualify for honorable mention prizes.
Contact Dr. Houle.
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's Performance Today, various newspapers, and in music periodicals such as American Music Teacher,
Clavier Companion, Piano & Keyboard, Piano Today, and the London-based Piano magazine.
It was also profiled in a major article in the April 2003 issue of Clavier magazine.
Most recently, articles about the festival appeared in the Mesa State College Fall 2010 Newsletter and the March 2009 issue of Grand Valley Magazine. The festival was also endorsed by the International Piano Teachers Guild
"for providing an excellent competition for the piano community."
Supporters have included many piano dealerships at the local and
corporate level. Please patronize our business supporters.
Participants:
Up to 24 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 2012 festival:
Gary Smart and
Monte Atkinson.
Interested in Colorado Mesa University?
If you are a junior or senior in high school and considering colleges, your participation in this festival can double as an official audition to the Colorado Mesa University music program. Contact Dr. Houle.
Donations:
We need and appreciate your generous
support!
Donations have tax benefits, and are payable to Colorado Mesa University Music Department.
IMPORTANT: Please indicate "piano festival" in the memo portion
of checks.
Mailing address for donations:
Dr. Calvin Hofer
Chair, Department
of Music
Colorado Mesa University Moss
Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue
Grand Junction, CO
81501
Telephone: 970.248.1163