Students will compete within one of two categories:  
- Category 1: Prep (Composition only)

- Category 2: Grades 1-3  
- Category 3: Grades 4-6  

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To ensure fairness, judges will evaluate each performance based on the student’s ability to excel within the technical and musical expectations for their specific grade level. 

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What Judges Are Looking For:
1. Demonstration of Skill Relative to Grade Level: 
   - For lower grades in each category, judges will focus on foundational accuracy,             

rhythm, and expression.  
   - For higher grades, judges will look for advanced techniques, fluency, and deeper           

interpretive understanding.

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2. Musicality and Presentation:  
   - Regardless of grade, students will be judged on their ability to connect with the             

music and convey its character through dynamics, phrasing, and confidence.  

3. Effort and Growth:  
   - Judges will consider the level of challenge a student has undertaken relative to             

their grade and how effectively they have prepared and executed their                         

performance.  

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How Winners Are Selected:

 
Each performance will be evaluated based on the student’s individual effort, progress, and execution within their grade range. Students who demonstrate a strong grasp of their skills, confidence, and personal interpretation—regardless of whether they are at the start or end of their grade group—will stand out. This ensures that both younger and more advanced students within each category are judged fairly and have an equal opportunity to succeed.

 

Video entries can be recordings from a concert or a home environment or in a teacher's studio. Please note that piano auditions must be on an acoustic piano for the best quality sound.

 

Original compositions are welcome, with the focus on captivating audiences within the performance and interpretative demands of the composition.

 

The sheet music must be provided along with the performance video audition. We do require the original title of the piece.

 

For Violin, Guitar and Drum candidates, backing tracks are allowed. Alternatively candidates can play with other musicians or teachers to showcase musicality during the performance too. It is advisable to have some form of accompaniment.