A recital highlighting the best and brightest of pianists studying at the Wells School of Music. The recital is free and open to the public and begins at 8:15 p.m. https://www.wcupa.edu/music/eventsCalendar.aspx?event=995300312&startMonth=04&startYear=2024

The West Chester University Annual Pre-Collegiate Piano Competition, now in its 34th year, strives to provide students ages 9-18 with performing opportunities and raise the standard of excellence of young pianists. This is a national competition with no geographic restrictions. There are three age groups with up to five cash prizes awarded in each group. Information regarding repertoire requirements, competition guidelines, awards, and how to apply is found below.

This year’s competition will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in the Swope Music Building on our beautiful West Chester University Campus. The Wells School of Music is grateful for the support of Jacobs Music as they continue to co-sponsor this event in 2024.

A Recital & Awards Presentation will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm in the Ware Family Recital Hall. The recital will include performances by the first, second, and third place winner in each group and must be attended by all Honorable Mention winners. Absences in either category will result in the cancellation of the award.

Preceding the Recital will be a Masterclass in Ware Family Recital Hall from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm. The Masterclass will be conducted by our esteemed Wells School of Music Associate Professor of Piano, Dr. Carl Cramner. Both Masterclass and Winner’s Recital are open to the public. https://www.wcupa.edu/music/specialPrograms.aspx

To give students an opportunity to develop creativity, self-expression, and better musicianship through the art of composition. Entries due April 1, 2024

• Elementary – Age 5-10 as of January 1
• Junior – Age 11-14 as of January 1
• Senior – Age 15-18 as of January 1
• Young Artist – Age 19-25 as of January 1

Learn more and apply

Call for Clinicians – Due February 29, 2024
The Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association’s state conference planning committee invites you to submit a proposal for the 2024 State Conference. This year’s conference theme is “Head to Heart: Celebrating the Power of Musical Connections” and will be held in person on June 14-16, 2024 on the campus of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. College students are invited to apply!

The deadline for submissions is February 29, 2024.
For consideration, please e-mail the following to both co-conference chairs:
Maria Asteriadou asteriad@kutztown.edu AND Melody Quah mquah@psu.edu

General Sessions

• A one-page proposal outlining the proposed session for a 50-minute session.
• A 100-word or less description of the proposed 50-minute session.
• A one-page biography and 50-word biography of each of the proposed
  presenter(s).
• A color photo of each proposed presenter.

College students (open to students currently enrolled in a music program anywhere in the country)

• A one-page proposal outlining the proposed session for a 25-minute session.
• A 100-word or less description of the proposed 25-minute session.
• A one-page biography and 50-word biography of each of the proposed
  presenter(s).
• A color photo of each proposed presenter.

All components listed above must be sent to Maria Asteriadou and Melody Quah no later than February 29, 2024.

All will receive notification that their proposal was received by February 29,
2024. Notifications of acceptance will be sent during the week of March 18, 2024. As you are preparing your proposal, please check the PMTA website for information about our concert artist, masterclass artist, and keynote speaker Artina McCain.

We look forward to receiving your application!

The former Mansfield Piano Competition is expanding its format to become the Mansfield Piano Festival, with the first festival to be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

The mission of the new Mansfield Piano Festival is to encourage music education among motivated students, to provide performance opportunities for developing pianists, and to spread the joy of piano studies in the Mansfield community and beyond. A highly educational event, the Mansfield Piano Festival welcomes pianists of all ages who reside in Pennsylvania and nearby states: New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, and Connecticut.

There are two categories pianists can participate in: Festival Recital and Scholarship Audition.

FESTIVAL RECITAL (Open to all ages, including adults)

This category is open to pianists of all ages who would like to perform in a recital setting while receiving feedback from professional musicians. Multiple recitals will be scheduled throughout the day, presenting all festival participants. Each pianist may perform one or two compositions in a festival recital. Total performance time for each pianist is limited to 7 minutes, and memorization is required for all pieces. A panel of adjudicators will provide constructive comments for each performer.

SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION (Open to High School Grades 11 and 12)

This event is open exclusively for high school pianists in grades 11 and 12. Each student will perform two contrasting pieces from memory, followed by a musicianship test. Mansfield Piano Scholarships totaling $5,000 may be offered to best-qualified students. (Scholarship recipients must be academically admitted by CU-Mansfield, enrolling as a Piano Performance major, piano concentration in Music Education, Music Technology, or Music Business, or a BA Music piano track.)

Total performance time should be between 6 and 12 minutes, and memorization is required for both pieces. Students are to perform two contrasting pieces in the classical style chosen from the following list.

1. A contrapuntal work or a dance movement by J.S. Bach, or a sonata movement by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert.
2. A piece from Romantic, Impressionistic or Contemporary classical repertory.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURE 

All applicants must register by completing the registration form and purchasing a ticket for $12 at mansfield.booktix.net. (At the ticket site, click the blue “View Performances” button to purchase tickets.) Registration will close on Saturday, Feb. 17.  Event details will be emailed to each student by Saturday, Feb. 24.

Piano Monster Concert >click here for PDF flyer
February 3, 2024, 121 Cogswell Hall, IUP Department of Music

Be part of Indiana Musicale’s seventh Piano Monster Concert!
• Dozens of pianos onstage: a giant piano ensemble concert
• 1 day event including rehearsals, activities and lessons
• Music for event emailed to teachers by December 10, 2023
• Two levels offered: Division I (levels 2-3) & Division II (Int-Advanced) – Teachers are also welcome to register with their students and join in the fun!
• Breakfast snacks and Lunch provided

Deadline for registration: November 20, 2023

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY (Cogswell Hall 121)
9:00 am. Welcome and breakfast snacks
9:15 am-12:30 pm. Sessions to include:
• Large ensemble rehearsal
• Sectional rehearsals (according to division)
• Coaching sessions
• Exercises for performing pianists
• 15-minute morning refreshments break
12:30-1:00 pm Lunch provided at North Dining Hall (IUP Campus)
1:45 pm Warm up/Dress rehearsal
2:30 pm CONCERT

REGISTRATION FEE – $30.00 REGISTER ONLINE HERE
Includes all music repertoire, piano moving and tuning, food and beverages, one
free ticket for concert guests (children are free), and all of the scheduled activities.

Piano Celebration Day for High School Pianists!
Date: February 26, 2024
Check-in time: 8:30am
Event time: 9:00am-5:00pm
Registration deadline: February 19 or until all spots are filled

Visit Messiah University and experience the joy of making music at the piano with us! You will get to meet and interact with the piano faculty and learn about music theory, jazz piano, technique, and more! If you have music you are preparing for upcoming competitions, you’ll be matched with a Messiah practice buddy. There will also be a piano ensemble rehearsal and an opportunity to take a campus tour! Lunch and other goodies are provided at no cost for high school attendees. Email music@messiah.edu to register.

Teachers or other guests should email music@messiah.edu if they have questions or are interested in attending themselves.