Strings


The next festival will be held on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 2025

​​Entries will be accepted online via this website from
Saturday 1 February 2025

Please note our new 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.  
 
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The venue is Eltham College, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF

Performers and listeners are all invited to Blackheath Music Festival.  There is a modest entry fee on the day to cover essential expenses

Adults   £3.00
Non-performing children   £1.00
Performers & Patrons    FREE
Programmes   £2.50

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.​ ​
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Dates:
To be held on Saturday 10 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 Wednesday 1 May 2025
​Venue:
Eltham College Junior and Senior Schools, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF
Adjudicator:
Kay Tucker
​The String Secretary is:
Jessica O'Leary:

Email: [email protected]
Official Accompanist:
Karen Newby
If you wish to use the services of Karen Newby, please contact her on 07808 071206‬ or by email at [email protected]  
Her services are available on the day (without rehearsal) at a cost of £5.00 per performance.  Alternatively, private rehearsals can be arranged with Karen Newby during the days before the festival by contacting her via the above contact details. The music must be sent (email or post) to the official accompanist at least two weeks before the festival.
Classes 300 - 319 are open to violin, viola, 'cello, double bass, harp and guitar only.



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SOLO STRING CLASSES

Class 300:  Preliminary – any age
Time limit 3 mins
Tuition not to have commenced before May 2022. Performers must not have taken Grade 1 exam or above.  Graded examination music cannot be played in this class. Own choice of one or two pieces.  The title(s) of the piece(s) need not be given on the entry form. The instrument to be played must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

​Class 301:  Grade 1
Time limit 3 mins
Own choice of one or two Grade 1 level pieces; these pieces can be either free repertoire or current examination music.  No exam higher than Grade 1 should have been passed.  Title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
Class 302:  Grades 2 & 3
Time limit 3 mins
Own choice of one or two Grade 2 or 3 level pieces; these pieces can be either free repertoire or current examination music. No exam higher than Grade 3 should have been passed.  The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

Class 303:  Grades 4 & 5
Time limit 5 mins
Own choice of one or two Grade 4 or 5 level pieces; these pieces can be either free repertoire or current examination music. No exam higher than Grade 5 should have been passed.  The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
Class 304:  Grades 6 & 7
Time limit 5 mins
Own choice of one Grade 6 or 7 level pieces; these pieces can be either free repertoire or current examination music. No exam higher than Grade 7 should have been passed.  The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
Class 305:  Grade 8
Time limit 6 mins
Own choice of one Grade 8 level pieces; this piece can be either free repertoire or current examination music. No exam higher than Grade 8 should have been passed.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

UNACCOMPANIED BACH CLASS
Class 306: Unaccompanied Bach class
Own choice of one or two movements up to a maximum of 8 minutes total. The title of the movement(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry. 
Entry £18.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)

RECITAL CLASSES

Class 307:  Recital – 12 years & under
Time limit 10 mins  
Own choice of two contrasting pieces.  Concerto movements must be entered in either class 309 or 310.  The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
Class 308:  ​Recital – 16 years & under
Time limit 12 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 309 or 310.  The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
​Class 309:  Recital – Open
Time limit 15 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 309 or 310. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

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CONCERTO CLASSES

​Class 310: Junior Concerto -  any age
This class is open to performers of concertos commonly regarded as student concertos eg. Rieding, Kuchler, Seitz.  These can include concerto movements included in examination syllabuses as well as 'free choice' concerto movements.  If in doubt please contact the String Secretary.
Own choice of one movement.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

Class 311: Senior Concerto -  any age
This class is open to performers of concertos by the established major composers eg. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn etc.  These can include concerto movements included in examination syllabuses as well as 'free choice' concerto movements.  If in doubt please contact the String Secretary.
Own choice of one movement.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00

GROUP CLASSES

Class 312:  ​String Duet – 12 years & under
Time limit 5 mins
Own choice of one piece for any two stringed instruments. Can be accompanied or unaccompanied.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
​Class 313:  String Duet – Any age
Time limit 7 mins  
Own choice of one piece for any two stringed instruments. Can be accompanied or unaccompanied.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Official accompanist (optional) £5.00
 
​Class 314:  ​Chamber music – 12 years & under
Time limit 10 mins  
Own choice of music using three or more players, one player per part. Any combination of instruments; strings, piano, wind or brass.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
 
​Class 315:  ​Chamber music – open
Time limit 12 mins
Own choice of music using three or more players, one player per part.  Any combination of instruments; strings, piano, wind or brass.  The title of the piece to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
 
Class 316:  Unison string class – 10 years & under
Time limit 8 mins
Own choice of music using three or more players. Any combination of instruments.  
The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
 
Class 317:  Unison string class – 12 years & under
Time limit 8 mins
Own choice of music using three or more players. Any combination of instruments.  Title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)

Class 318:  String ensemble, any number of players per part – 10 years & under (ALL players are to be 10 years or under on 1 May 2025)
Time limit 10 mins 
Any combination of string instruments which may include piano accompaniment.  Title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)

Class 319:  String ensemble, any number of players per part – 11 years & over (ALL players are to be 11 years or over on 1 May 2025)
Time limit 10 mins
Any combination of string instruments which may include piano accompaniment.  Title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)

Class 320:  String ensemble, any number of players per part – Open (players can be any age) 
Time limit 12 mins
Any combination of string instruments which may include piano accompaniment.  Title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)

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OTHER CLASSES FOR STRING PLAYERS
  • Please note the following three classes (127, 128 & 129) 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. The following is for information only. 
  • Entries for this class cannot be made via the String Syllabus section of the online entry form.
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​Class 127:  Family Ensembles, any instruments/voice, any number of players, any age
                   This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator
No minimum time limit, 6 minutes maximum time limit​
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)


TWO INSTRUMENT/VOICE 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 String Syllabus section of the online entry form.

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 classes will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
 
Class 128:  12 years & under, two instruments  
Entry £15.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Time limit 6 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
 
​Class 129:  13 years & over, two instruments
Entry £20.00 (Please be aware of the new Entry fee/Registration system now in place)
Time limit 8 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
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​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 String Syllabus section of the online entry form.

Class 130:  11 years & under - Own composition. 
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
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Class 131:  12 years & over - Own composition. 
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
​​Entries will be accepted online from Saturday 1 February 2025. Please enter using the green 'Click here' button (below) on or after that date.
​Click here
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