Midwest Keyboard Performers Challenge
- Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023
- Location: Harper College
- Online registration Deadline: January 15, 2023
- Late Fee Deadline: February 1, 2023
- Registration fee (per category): $10
- Late Registration fee (per category): $15
Replacing the Awards Competition, the Midwest Keyboard Performers Challenge is a new way of looking at ways to motivate and encourage budding pianists in the art of piano performance. Taking a decidedly different pathway to “judging”, students are grouped together in small recitals 15-25 minutes long. Each recital has a theme or category. The students will present themselves and interact with their peers and the judge. The performances will be awarded points according to the piece level and the quality of the playing. Students can enter as many categories as they wish and the accumulated points can be exchanged for a trophy.
Categories
Baroque Period
Classical Period
Romantic Period
Impressionist Period
Contemporary Period
Composers of BIPOC
Etudes
Jazz and Rag
Original Compositions
Duet (1 piano 4 hands)
Method book pieces (3-piece groupings)
Family Time Commitment
This will not be a typical in-and-out event where parents can drop off their kids and wait in the car. We would like to develop a healthy support system for our students where parents and teachers are asked to take an active role in cheering and attending performances. We are hoping that this will be the equivalent of a sporting event where families can meet and kids can make friends. We are hoping for 1.5 to 2 hour time commitment from the children who will perform in the recitals.
Deadlines and Event Date
Deadline: January 15, 2023
Late Fee Deadline: February 1, 2023
Event Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023 at Harper College
Registration Fee: $10 per category
Category Registration and Scoring
Students may enter as many categories and as many pieces in each category as they wish. Each piece entered in any given category is $10 with the exception of method book pieces, which are to be performed in a three-piece group. The combined three pieces would have an entry fee of $10.
Benefits of Participating in the Event
Students preparing for AIM or any other event can use the Midwest Keyboard Performers Challenge as a practice event.
Students who are new to piano performance and would like to practice in front of a friendly audience.
Students will get a feedback from a judge.
Students will get a chance to hear peers performance and be exposed to a variety of repertoire.
Students will have a chance to meet other like-minded performers of their age.
Teachers and families have a chance to be involved in a bigger musical community than their own studios.
Who is running the event?
Currently Brenda Huang and Janice Razaq. We are looking for committee members to help iron out details and coordinate on the event day.