Festival Policies and Proceedures

We are so pleased to welcome all young pianists! Beginners and Intermediate students (ages 4 - 18) are welcome to apply to participate in this event for a ribbon and adjudicator feedback. Competitive advanced students are encouraged to apply for the Victor Borge Award. Please review the following policies carefully:

Audition Information:

Please arrive early for your assigned audition time and enter and exit quietly to respect fellow participants.

Respectable decorum is expected from all Festival participants, families and instructors. Individuals that do not display respectable decorum will be asked to leave, and refunds will not be granted.

You are welcome to stay and listen to others' auditions. All are encouraged to stay for the seminars (see schedule). All entrants should bring their score (with measures numbered) to the audition.

Memorization:

Memorization is required for participants in the Victor Borge Legacy Award Competition, as winners must perform memorized in a future winners' recital and memorization is a critical component of professional piano careers.

Memorization is not required for the regular division of the Festival, although it will be part of the adjudication criteria. Entrants that do not memorize their pieces should still bring a score with numbered measures to the audition.

Adjudication Criteria & Evaluation:

All participants will be evaluated by a professional adjudicator and will receive a rating, comments and a participation ribbon corresponding to their score. Each student will begin with a technical exercise (below) and then perform a piece that showcases the student's current playing level.

Each audition is a maximum of five minutes total per student (including technique, for the regular and Victor Borge divisions; auditions are limited to one piece). Memorization is not required for the regular division, although memorization is part of the adjudication criteria, which may be viewed here. Memorization is required for both the technical and repertoire components of the Victor Borge portion. The rating and comments will be sent to the student's instructor shortly after the Festival.

Technical Exercise Requirements:

Please consult with your student's instructor regarding your student's current playing level. Scales and cadence patterns are to be in the key of the audition piece and memorized if competing in the Victor Borge Legacy Competition. The audition will progress in the following order: scale, cadence pattern, audition piece.

Beginner: Play a one-octave scale and a I-V7-I cadence pattern with both hands (chords may be simplified).
Intermediate: Play a two-octave scale and a I-IV-I-V7-I cadence pattern with both hands.
Advanced: Play a four-octave scale and a I-IV-I-V7-I cadence pattern with both hands.

Funding for the Victor Borge Legacy Award is provided through a generous gift from R. James and Janet Borge Crowle, Saint Michaels, Maryland. Additional support provided by the Charles W. and Norma J. Wilson Foundation and the Eric & Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust.