39th annual Heber Valley Piano Festival
Division I: Elementary levels 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
Division 2: Intermediate levels 5,6,7 and Advanced levels 8,9,10
Levels:
Festival Categories and Rules:
Students many enter any or all of the following categories
Categories due at time of registration (deadline January 31):
1. Accompaniment (voice or other instrument) And/Or Duet
Students can choose between Duet or Accompaniment.
Duets and/or accompaniments should be video recorded and submitted at registration (Videos must be uploaded to Youtube this year).
Duet teams should consist of two or more STUDENTS, with the exception of Primer and special need students, who may play with a teacher or adult. Students who don’t follow this guideline will not be eligible for a Superior Rating in this category.
Two-piano duets are allowed.
Trios or more are allowed on one or two pianos.
Time Limits strictly enforced : Division 1: 3-minutes. Division 2: 5-minutes. Songs may be shortened to meet time limit requirement.
2. Technique
Requirements: See the Technique Guidelines pdf linked to on the REFERENCES tab of this website.
Submit a video recording of the student performing the various requirements for their level. (Upload to YouTube).
Make sure to position the camera in a side-view, showing a clear view of the fingers on the keys.
Students should announce their name, level, and key signatures they'll be playing in.
Preferred order: Play each element (scales, chords, arpeggios, etc) in one key, and then move on to the next key.
3. Composition
Students will submit an original composition (not an arrangement of another’s song).
Submit a video recording of the student playing their composition (Upload to YouTube).
Make sure to position the camera in a side-view, showing a clear view of the fingers on the keys.
Also submit a pdf of the notated composition. Can be handwritten or use musical notation software (MuseScore, Noteflight, Sibelius, Finale, etc).
All students who turn in a composition automatically receive a SUPERIOR rating, along with written feedback.
Video Rules and Regulations:
NEW in 2025: All videos will be submitted by uploading an Unlisted video to YouTube, and then submitting the YouTube link. (Information How-To PDF HERE. Tutorial video HERE)
Introductions may be recorded and edited in to the beginning of the recording.
NO CUTS OR EDITING ARE ALLOWED for the works performed. It must be a continuous and unedited performance.
Repeats indicated in the score are optional.
Player’s face and hands should be seen on the video.
Technique: Students may break the video play between each requirement, such as scales, chords, arpeggios, etc, but then must combine into one video (using a video editing software.).
In-person (Best dress):
4. Baroque/ Classical
Written by composers who lived from 1600-1820
Division I students may use modern pieces written in that style, i.e. method book pieces.
Must be memorized to earn Superior Musician.
Students must provide music for the judge. Original music is requested to abide by copyright laws. If the student is using their music to perform, a copy may be made for the judge, but we ask that it is disposed of after use.
Time Limits : Division 1: 3-minutes. Division 2: 5-minutes.
5. Romantic/ Contemporary
Written by composers who lived from 1820-Current
Division I students may use modern pieces written in that style, i.e. method book pieces.
Must be memorized to earn Superior Musician.
Students must provide music for the judge. Original music is expected (to abide by copyright laws). If the student is using their music to perform, a copy may be made for the judge but disposed of after use.
Time Limits : Division 1: 3-minutes. Division 2: 5-minutes.
6. Pop/ Jazz
Includes rock, dance, hip-hop, reggae, blues, boogies, rags, New Age, etc.
Students must provide music for the judge. Original music is expected (to abide by copyright laws). If the student is using their music to perform, a copy may be made for the judge but disposed of after use.
Time Limits : Division 1: 3-minutes. Division 2: 5-minutes.
7. Music Theory Test
Students Level 0-5 are tested in their current level, plus all previous levels. For example, a Level 3 student would complete Levels 0-3. A Level 5 student would complete Levels 0-5.
Levels 6 & 7 will complete Levels 0-4 plus their level (6 or 7).
Levels 8-10 will complete Levels 0-4, Level 7, plus their level (8,9, or 10).
A practice Theory Test can be found through the LINK on the REFERENCES page of this website.
What to expect at In-Person Performances:
Students are assigned to groups of around 5-8 participants of similar level and age (numbers will vary).
Groups will be assigned a block of time on Friday sometime between 2:30-8:00 PM, or Saturday sometime between 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
There will be three 30-minute rotations for levels 0-6, and three 45-minute rotations for levels 7-10, where they perform in a specified category at each rotation.
Participants will have a mini-recital at each rotation, where a judge will give them written feedback on their performances.
If there is time remaining after all students have played, judges will do a short activity relating to the Category that they are judging.
Students may bring guests to watch.
Do not send younger students alone who may need monitoring.
Judging:
All entrants will be judged by professional musicians or upper-level university students.
Entrants will not be competing against each other, but against themselves. (With the exception of the Outstanding Musician Award)
Participants will be rated as follow:
Superior with Honors: 100
Superior: 90-99
Excellent: 80-89
Very Good : 70-79
Good: 60-69
Judges will also give written feedback and suggestions.
Awards:
Certificate of Achievement
Each participant will receive a Certificate of Achievement for participating in the Festival that shows how they did in each category that they entered.
Superior Musician:
Students who enter at least six categories who receive at least five out of seven Superiors, will be named “Superior Musicians”. (If a students participates in both Duet and Accompaniment, their top score of the two will count toward Superior Musician qualification).
Students who receive at least 1) five or six out of seven Superiors, and 2) those who get seven out of seven Superiors will receive special recognition at the Honors Concert and the Wasatch Wave newspaper.
Level 0-7 Superior Musicians will receive a composer bust (at a later date).
Levels 8-10 Superior Musicians will receive a trophy (at a later date) .
New: In past years students who earned Superior Musician had to move up to the next level the following year. Participants may now repeat any level, but may only earn Superior Musician once per level.
Outstanding Advanced Musician:
This award is for Upper Level Division 2 participants in levels 8,9, or 10, and is given to the student who receives the highest total number of points.
A student may only receive this award once.
This student receives a plaque and a monetary award.
ElRoy VanWagoner Scholarship:
This scholarship will be awarded to graduating seniors who have participated in at the Piano Festival each year of high school (9-12th).
Students must participate in at least 6 categories each of their high school years to qualify.
Only students from Heber Valley are eligible for this award.
Best of Festival Honors Concert
The Best of Festival Concert is held at 7:30 pm, at Timpanogos Middle School, on the last day of the festival.
Judges nominate students that they felt gave Outstanding performances, and then they rank their list. Festival coordinators then use those nominations and rankings to design the Honors Concert.
Selected students will be invited to perform by phone call late Saturday afternoon, for the performance that evening.
Winners of the Outstanding Advanced Student and ElRoy VanWagoner Scholarship awards are announced.
New: All students invited to play in the Honors Concert must be nominated by judges, including Scholarship recipients.
Superior musician awards will be announced.
Pictures will be taken for social media and the Wasatch Wave newspaper.
2024 ElRoy VanWagoner Scholarship Winners: Jaden Henke & Kate Jorgenson
2024 Outstanding Musician Award Winner, Emersen Lyman
Thursday Night Events:
Piano Master Class
Around 6-7 students are selected to perform one of their pieces for a guest Master Teacher while other festival participants watch.
Students are able to watch first-hand how a master teacher explores the details of piano repertoire, and gain knowledge that they can later apply to their own repertoires.
Students who attend the master class will earn 5 Bonus Points that they can add to their lowest score. (10 Point Maximum)
Special Guest Concert
Festival participants are able to come and experience an advanced level concert of multiple musical periods and styles.
Attendees are instructed on proper concert etiquette, and enjoy having a question-answer time period at the end of the concert.
Students who attend the master class will earn 5 Bonus Points that they can add to their lowest score. (10 Point Maximum)
Teacher Volunteers:
The HVPF is run completely by volunteer piano teachers and parents.
Teachers, please contact Jan Judd at hebervalleypianofestival@gmail.com for the sign-up list.
