PIANO
The provisional dates for next festival are Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May 2026
These dates will be confirmed by 1 October 2025
Please note our approach to what has been previously known as an 'Entry Fee'. It has been decided that these fees will now be known as a 'Registration Fee'. The Registration fee will be inclusive of all door money charges. There will be no money taken on the door, and each performer will be welcome to bring as many family members and supporters as they wish each time they play at no extra cost. The festival must still be self-funding: this explains the two levels of Registration Fee, which are broadly based on the time taken in performance by each performer.
The venue is Eltham College, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF
Performers and listeners are all invited to Blackheath Music Festival free of charge.
Performers gaining one of the four highest levels of achievement will be awarded a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Award. In total there will be seven categories of achievement, and all categories will be awarded certificates.
Platinum and Gold Award performers will be announced but not ranked. No 1st, 2nd or 3rd placings are awarded at Blackheath Music Festival. This is to encourage performers to continue to aspire to even higher achievements as they continue to learn.
All performances will be timed from the start of the first note of the first piece to the end of the last note of the second piece to ensure the time limits are strictly adhered to. Performances that fall out side these minimum and maximum limits will be adjudicated, but no Award will be given.
Performers and listeners are all invited to Blackheath Music Festival free of charge.
Performers gaining one of the four highest levels of achievement will be awarded a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Award. In total there will be seven categories of achievement, and all categories will be awarded certificates.
Platinum and Gold Award performers will be announced but not ranked. No 1st, 2nd or 3rd placings are awarded at Blackheath Music Festival. This is to encourage performers to continue to aspire to even higher achievements as they continue to learn.
All performances will be timed from the start of the first note of the first piece to the end of the last note of the second piece to ensure the time limits are strictly adhered to. Performances that fall out side these minimum and maximum limits will be adjudicated, but no Award will be given.
Dates: |
Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May 2025 |
Closing date for entry: |
Sunday 23 March 2025 (or earlier if class lists become full) |
Age qualification: |
Age as at Thursday 1 May 2025 |
Venue: |
Eltham College, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF |
Adjudicators: |
Timothy Barratt and Joseph Tong |
The Piano Secretary is: Geoffrey Molyneux: |
12 Christchurch Road, Sidcup, DA15 7HE Tel: 07546 348903 and 020 8300 7255 Email: [email protected] |
PIANO SOLO CLASSES
Class 100: 4 & 5 years only
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 2 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played, although some elements of hands together playing must be shown. The piece(s) to be played in this class do not need to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 101: 6 years only
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 2 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 105).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class do not need to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 102: 7 years only
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 2 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 105).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class do not need to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 103: 8 years only
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 2 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 105).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 104: 9 years only
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 2 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 105).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 105: 6 - 9 years - long recital
This class will be held on the morning of Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £18.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
The performance must last between 2 minutes (minimum) and 5 minutes (maximum).
Own choice of two or three pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 106: 10 & 11 years
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 3 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 107).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) to be played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 107: 10 & 11 years - long recital
Entry £18.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
The performance must last between 3 minutes (minimum) and 5 minutes (maximum).
Own choice of two or three pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The pieces to be played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 108: 12 & 13 years
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 4 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 109).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece(s) played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 109: 12 to 13 years - long recital
Entry £18.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
The performance must last between 4 minutes (minimum) and 7 minutes (maximum).
Own choice of two or three pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The pieces played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 110: 14 & 15 years old
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total maximum time limit is 5 minutes. There is no minimum time limit. (Performers wishing to play for longer must play in class 111).
Own choice of one or two pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The piece)s) played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 111: 14 & 15 years - long recital
This class will be held during the evening of Saturday 10 May
Entry £18.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
The performance must last between 5 minutes (minimum) and 8 minutes (maximum).
Own choice of two or three pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The pieces played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 112: 16 years & over - long recital
This class will be held during the evening of Saturday 10 May
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
The performance must last between 6 minutes (minimum) and 10 minutes (maximum).
Own choice of two or three pieces. Any music will be accepted. There are no restrictions on the pieces chosen to be played. The pieces played in this class must be declared at the time of entry.
GRADED LEVEL CLASSES
Class 113: Grades 1 & 2 level. 10 - 17 years inclusive.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
There is no minimum time limit. Maximum time limit is 2 minutes. Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. Any appropriate music will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 114: Grades 3 & 4 level. 12 - 17 years inclusive
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place
There is no minimum time limit. Maximum time limit is 3 minutes. Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. Any appropriate music will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 115: Grades 5 & 6 level. 14 - 17 years inclusive
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
There is no minimum time limit. Maximum time limit is 4 minutes. Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. Any appropriate music will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 116: Adults - 18 years and over. Grades 1 - 5 level
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
There is no minimum time limit. Maximum time limit is 4 minutes. Performers can play one or two pieces at a level not higher than Grade 5. Any appropriate music will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
EXAMINATION MUSIC-ONLY CLASSES
Class 117: Grade 6 examination-only music, any age
This class will be held during the afternoon of Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
No time limit. One or two current examination-only pieces are to be played. Any music currently valid in any of the current examination syllabuses will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 118: Grade 7 examination-only music, any age
This class will be held during the afternoon of Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
No time limit. One or two current examination-only pieces are to be played. Any music currently valid in any of the current examination syllabuses will be accepted. The piece(s) must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 119: Grade 8 examination-only music, any age
This class will be held during the afternoon of Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
No time limit. One current examination-only piece is to be played. Any music currently valid in any of the current examination syllabuses will be accepted. This piece must be declared at the time of entry.
ONE PIECE-ONLY CLASSES
Class 120: 14 – 17 years
This class will be held during the evening of Saturday 10 May
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One piece. Minimum time limit 4 minutes, maximum time limit 8 minutes. Any music will be accepted. The piece must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 121: 18 – 29 years
This class will be held during the evening of Saturday 10 May
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One piece. Minimum time limit 4 minutes, maximum time limit 8 minutes. Any music will be accepted. The piece must be declared at the time of entry.
Class 122: 30 years & over
This class will be held during the evening of Saturday 10 May
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One piece. Minimum time limit 4 minutes, maximum time limit 8 minutes. Any music will be accepted. The piece must be declared at the time of entry.
DUETS - PUPIL & TEACHER CLASSES
Class 123: Duet 9 years & under with teacher.
This class will be held on Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
This class can be an ideal first festival experience. One or two pieces. No minimum time limit, 3 minutes maximum time limit. The piece(s) do not need to be declared at the time of entry
Class 124: Duet 9 years & under with teacher.
This class will be held on Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
This class can be an ideal first festival experience. One or two pieces. No minimum time limit, 3 minutes maximum time limit. The piece(s) do not need to be declared at the time of entry
Class 125: Duet 10 - 15 years with teacher.
This class will be held on Saturday 10 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One or two pieces. No minimum time limit, 4 minutes maximum time limit. The piece(s) are to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 126: Duet 10 - 15 years with teacher.
This class will be held on Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One or two pieces. No minimum time limit, 4 minutes maximum time limit. The piece(s) are to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 127: Duet 16 years & over with teacher.
This class will be held on Sunday 11 May at a time to be decided
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One piece only. No minimum time limit, 6 minutes maximum time limit. The piece is to be declared at the time of entry.
DUETS or TRIOS (not to include teachers)
Class 128: Duet, any age, not to include teacher
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
One or two pieces. No minimum time limit, 5 minutes maximum time limit. The piece(s) are to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 129: Family Ensembles, any instruments/voice, any number of players, any age.
This class will be on Sunday 11 May at 5:00pm and will be heard by the piano adjudicator
No minimum time limit, one, two or three pieces up to a 6 minutes maximum time limit
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place). The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
TWO INSTRUMENT/VOICE CLASSES
Performers should present one instrument from any two of the following categories – piano, strings (including guitar), brass, wind or singing – i.e. combinations such as singing & recorder, piano & trumpet, flute & trombone – but not two instruments within a category. Performers need to provide their own accompanist (if being used). Instruments/voices and pieces are to be declared at the time of entry. These two classes will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 130: Two instruments, 12 & under, 1 piece on each instrument/voice.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total performance time 6 minutes (including change of instrument)
Class 131: Two instruments, 13 & over, 1 piece on each instrument/voice.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Total performance time 8 minutes (including change of instrument)
OWN COMPOSITION CLASSES
- Please note the following two classes will be held within the piano section and will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
- All entries for this class should be made online by going to the Piano Syllabus section of the online entry form in order to find the correct class number.
- Entries for these two classes cannot be made via the Singing Syllabus section of the online entry form.
Class 132: Own composition. 11 years & under. The following class will be adjudicated by the piano adjudicator
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Time limit 3 mins
- The composition can be for any group from 1 - 4 players, singers or a mixture of both, and can be a free or fixed-form composition. The composer must be one of the performers
- The composition must be written down and a copy provided for the adjudicator.
- A paper copy of the composition must be submitted to the Piano Secretary by Thursday 1 May 2025 so that it can be sent to the adjudicator for pre-festival assessment
- All performers must perform ‘live’ on the day - no pre-recorded parts
- Only the composition (not the performance) will be adjudicated
Class 133: Own composition. 12 years & over. The following class will be adjudicated by the piano adjudicator
Entry £15.00. Time limit 3 mins
- The composition can be for any group from 1 - 4 players, singers or a mixture of both, and can be a free or fixed-form composition. The composer must be one of the performers
- The composition must be written down and a copy provided for the adjudicator.
- A paper copy of the composition must be submitted to the Piano Secretary by Thursday 1 May 2025 so that it can be sent to the adjudicator for pre-festival assessment
- All performers must perform ‘live’ on the day - no pre-recorded parts
- Only the composition (not the performance) will be adjudicated
Chamber music (including piano and any other instruments). See String syllabus – Classes 317 & 318
Please note that further to a previous announcement on this page, entry to Piano classes has now closed as class lists are full
