Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival (DSPF)

November 9, 2024

Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival
and Keystone Concerto Festival

Join PMTA President and US RCM Ambassador,  Wendy Bachman, as she takes you through a Royal Conservatory of Music Level 4 Piano exam video in her PowerPoint, “A Peak Into the Exam Room”.  Learn some background on the RCM Certificate Program and details on the grading and rubric for the certificate program.  This will be on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 1:00-1:50 p.m. in Room 22 of the Blair Music Building.

Begun in 1980 by Dorothy Sutton, the Dorothy Sutton Performance Festival is an opportunity for talented music students to participate in a State Festival in a Showcase Recital. To assure high standards, the student must first qualify with a Superior rating in Local Preliminary Auditions and must demonstrate a minimal knowledge of music theory by passing a written theory exam with a grade of 85%. Students performing at the State Festival Showcase Recital will receive a gold medal and a Certificate of Participation.

Eligibility & Requirements

Teacher

Participating teachers must be a member of PMTA and a member of a PMTA Local Association. The teacher must have paid local, state and national dues prior to the Local Association’s deadline for submitting applications. Teachers may belong to more than one Local Association, but students may perform at only one local event.

Student

Any piano, vocal or instrumental student of a PMTA member may participate in the DSPF Preliminary Auditions. Participating students must reside in Pennsylvania. Any age may participate, including adults.

Preliminary Auditions

GENERAL INFORMATION

Each local PMTA Association must hold local preliminary auditions. Auditions and theory tests must be conducted live and under supervised conditions on the same day and at the same site.

Contact your local chair for local entry forms. At these auditions, solo performers and ensemble teams will perform repertoire according to the Performance Requirements outlined below. Performers who receive a Superior rating and have scored 85% or higher on a theory test may advance to the state level for performance in a Showcase Recital where they must play the ONE piece the judge has chosen. All students at the preliminary level will receive written critiques from the judge with comments supporting the rating. Local Associations may offer additional awards to students, such as certificates, ribbons, trophies, medals, or other special recognition awards, at their own expense.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Musical Scores: Students must submit a purchased copy of their music for the judges. Students who do not provide scores will be disqualified. Photocopies are acceptable only under the following conditions:

1. Public domain works downloaded from ISMLP.org or CDSheetMUSIC.com
2. Out-of-print works for which the teacher must submit letter from the publisher allowing for
photocopying.

• Accompanists: accompanied works must have a live accompanist
• Length of time: Performances may not exceed fifteen (15) minutes and may be adjusted by the local chairperson.
• Solo: 
  • Piano and voice: Two (2) memorized pieces of a contrasting nature by different composers, preferably from two (2) different eras in the more advanced levels.
  • Other instruments: the same, however memorization is not required but STRONGLY recommended.
• All selections must be a minimum of sixteen (16) measures without repeats, including elementary level students. Simplifications or arrangements are NOT acceptable at the intermediate and advanced levels unless the original composer is the arranger (i.e. Liszt transcriptions, Brahms Waltzes.)
• Ensembles:
  • Memorization is not required.
  • All ensemble members must take a theory test. The test is optional for those students who previously scored 85% or higher on the Level 5 exam.
  • Two contrasting pieces or movements by different composers, preferably from 2 different eras in the more advanced levels.
  • List the name of each performer when entering the ensemble registration.

Theory Test

• Theory score to perform at the state event must be 85% or higher.
• The PMTA board has amended the rules to encourage students to attempt the higher levels without penalty. Levels 6 and above are optional for all instruments and voice.  Any student who has scored 85% or higher on Level 5 during a previous year may opt out of the theory requirement.  Students who attempt Level 6 or higher and receive a superior rating will qualify for the state showcase regardless of their theory score.  Students who receive a superior rating and choose to opt out of Levels 6 and higher also will be eligible for the state showcase. 
• Students need not progress to a new level every year.
• Ensemble students also performing as soloists will take only one test.
• Ensemble students performing as an ensemble only must take a test, at the level of least experienced member of the group.
• Test re-takes are not permitted.
• Students are not permitted to see or take the test before the designated test date.
• To assist teachers in preparing their students for the theory tests, click the following link to access practice tests for Piano, Levels Prep-8:  Practice Theory Tests for Piano
• Teachers are expected to check the DSPF Theory Test Guide, which lists the content assessed for each test level.

Dates & Locations

Local

Check with your Local Festival Chairperson.

Fees & Payments

State

• No charge for students  Teachers who will not attend the state showcase must pay a fee of $40.

State Showcase Recital Schedule

Links for the online state recitals will be emailed to participating teachers and posted on this website within ten (10) days of the close of registration.

Contact Information

Direct all questions regarding Local Preliminary Auditions to your Local Association DSPF Chair. Parent should not contact the State Chair. All participating teachers must have an email address to enroll students, as all communications will be done via email. All performance information will be sent by email and posted on website.

Jonathan Flowers, DSPF Chair
dspfchair@gmail.com

For More Information: