Categories of the Competition
The categories of the competition are:
Piano, harpsichord, electronic keyboard, organ, electronic organ, accordion, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, harp, classical guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, recorder, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet/cornet, flugelhorn, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, orchestral percussion, drum kit, classical singing (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, etc.), popular voice (jazz, pop, rock, R&B, gospel, folk, country, alternative, etc.), musical theater and traditional musical instruments.
Auxiliary instruments can also be used.
Piano, harpsichord, electronic keyboard, organ, electronic organ, accordion, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, harp, classical guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, recorder, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet/cornet, flugelhorn, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, orchestral percussion, drum kit, classical singing (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, etc.), popular voice (jazz, pop, rock, R&B, gospel, folk, country, alternative, etc.), musical theater and traditional musical instruments.
Auxiliary instruments can also be used.
Levels of the Competition
Each category is divided into five Levels of difficulty, with Level 1 being the easiest and Level 5 being the most difficult. At each Level, entrants must select repertoire that conforms to the following specifications:
LEVEL 1: PRELIMINARY
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of an essentially elementary nature. Only the most basic, and hence most common, time signatures and keys must be used. Melodic and rhythmic material must be simple. Indications of dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation must be occur only sporadically in the music, and must be limited to the most basic types. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 15 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 2: ELEMENTARY
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of a more demanding nature than for previous Level. The number of keys and time signatures which may be used is increased. Melodic and rhythmic material must be more complex. Indications of dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation must be a more regular feature of the music, and a wider variety of type may be used. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 20 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 3: INTERMEDIATE
The repertoire selected for this Level must be described as being at the technically less demanding end of the spectrum of professional repertoire. The number of keys and time signatures which may be used extends to the full range of possibilities. Melodic and rhythmic material may include a significant degree of complexity. The music must include passages where dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation demand considerable dexterity and flexibility. Musicality is judged to be almost as important as technical accomplishment in the assessment, and the entrant is expected to communicate with an emerging sense of musical personality. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 30 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 4: ADVANCED
The repertoire selected for this Level must be described as being technically inside the spectrum of professional repertoire. The entrant must present a program of a standard which one might expect to hear at a concert venue, demonstrating a clear maturity of personality and interpretation. Security of technique, and the ability to communicate a degree of flair and imagination in performance, will be expected. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 40 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 5: EXPERT
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of a technical standard sufficient to demonstrate performance mastery of the highest professional and artistic levels, and should be comprised of technically and musically demanding works, all of which should be fully inside the spectrum of professional repertoire. An extremely secure and versatile technique, together with the ability to communicate a tangible sense of interpretative awareness and convincing musicianship, will be expected. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 50 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 1: PRELIMINARY
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of an essentially elementary nature. Only the most basic, and hence most common, time signatures and keys must be used. Melodic and rhythmic material must be simple. Indications of dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation must be occur only sporadically in the music, and must be limited to the most basic types. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 15 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 2: ELEMENTARY
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of a more demanding nature than for previous Level. The number of keys and time signatures which may be used is increased. Melodic and rhythmic material must be more complex. Indications of dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation must be a more regular feature of the music, and a wider variety of type may be used. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 20 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 3: INTERMEDIATE
The repertoire selected for this Level must be described as being at the technically less demanding end of the spectrum of professional repertoire. The number of keys and time signatures which may be used extends to the full range of possibilities. Melodic and rhythmic material may include a significant degree of complexity. The music must include passages where dynamics, articulation, phrasing and ornamentation demand considerable dexterity and flexibility. Musicality is judged to be almost as important as technical accomplishment in the assessment, and the entrant is expected to communicate with an emerging sense of musical personality. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 30 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 4: ADVANCED
The repertoire selected for this Level must be described as being technically inside the spectrum of professional repertoire. The entrant must present a program of a standard which one might expect to hear at a concert venue, demonstrating a clear maturity of personality and interpretation. Security of technique, and the ability to communicate a degree of flair and imagination in performance, will be expected. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 40 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
LEVEL 5: EXPERT
The repertoire selected for this Level must be of a technical standard sufficient to demonstrate performance mastery of the highest professional and artistic levels, and should be comprised of technically and musically demanding works, all of which should be fully inside the spectrum of professional repertoire. An extremely secure and versatile technique, together with the ability to communicate a tangible sense of interpretative awareness and convincing musicianship, will be expected. The total duration of the submitted video-recorded audition may be generally limited to 50 minutes maximum, including short pauses between works.
