Strings
Entries will be accepted online from 1 January 2023
Blackheath Music Festival will be held as an in-person festival in early May 2023. Exact dates will be announced shortly.
The venue is Eltham College Senior School, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF
Important announcement concerning awards and written adjudications at the 2023 festival:
Performers gaining one of the four highest levels of achievement will be awarded a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Award respectively. There will be eight categories of achievement, and all categories will be awarded certificates.
No 1st, 2nd or 3rd placings will be awarded in any class in any section at the 2023 festival. This is to encourage performers to continue to aspire to even higher achievements as they continue to learn.
Pro Corda have kindly offered two bursaries to be redeemed at one of their very popular solo or chamber music courses that take place throughout the year. These awards will be decided by the adjudicator once the whole festival has concluded.
An additional award will be given to a promising string chamber music player, again at the discretion of the string adjudicator. This Award will be known as the Dr. & Mrs. Hindley Chamber Music Award
Dates: |
To be held in early May 2023. Exact dates to be advised |
Closing date for entry: |
Monday 13 March 2023 at 23:59, or earlier if class lists are full |
Age qualification: |
Age as at 1 April 2023 |
Venue: |
Eltham College, Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF |
Adjudicator: |
Kay Tucker |
The String Secretary is: Jessica O'Leary: |
|
Official Accompanist: |
Karen Newby If you wish to use the services of Karen Newby, please contact her on 07808 071206 or by email at pianogirl2211@hotmail.com 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 - 320 are open to violin, viola, 'cello, double bass and harp only.
The online entry system is now closed
SOLO STRING CLASSES
Class 300: Preliminary – any age.
Entry £8:50 Time limit 3 mins.
Tuition not to have commenced before May 2021. 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.
Class 301: Grade 1.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 1 standard pieces. 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.
Class 302: Grades 2 & 3.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 2 or 3 standard pieces. 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.
Class 303: Grades 4 & 5.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 5 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 4 or 5 standard pieces. 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.
Class 304: Grades 6 & 7.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 5 mins.
Own choice of one Grade 6 or 7 standard pieces. 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.
Class 305: Grade 8.
Entry £10.00 Time limit 6 mins.
Own choice of one Grade 8 standard piece. No exam higher than Grade 8 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.
The parameters for the following four classes should be read carefully.
Performers in the following four classes will receive verbal and written adjudications. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 306: Grades 1 & 2 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.00. Time limit 3 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 307: Grades 3 & 4 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Limit 4 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 308: Grades 5 & 6 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Limit 4 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece can be from either current or old examination lists or free repertoire. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 309: Grades 7 & 8 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
RECITAL CLASSES
Class 310: Recital – 12 years & under.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 10 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 311: Recital – 16 years & under.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 12 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 312: Recital – Open.
Entry £11.00. Time limit 15 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 313: 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.
Entry £10.00
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.
Class 314: 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.
Entry £11.00
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.
OWN COMPOSITION CLASSES
Class 113: 11 years & under - Own composition.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 3 mins
Class 114: 12 years & over - Own composition.
Entry £9.50. Time limit 3 mins
GROUP CLASSES
Class 315: String Duet – 12 years & under.
Entry £9.00. 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.
Class 316: String Duet – Any age.
Entry £9.50. 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.
Class 317: Chamber music – 12 years & under.
Entry £10.00. 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.
Class 318: Chamber music – open.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 319: Unison string class – 10 years & under.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 320: Unison string class – 12 years & under.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 321: String ensemble, any number of players per part – 10 years & under (ALL players are to be 10 years or under on 30 April 2022).
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 322: String ensemble, any number of players per part – 11 years & over (ALL players are to be 11 years or over on 30 April 2022).
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 323: String ensemble, any number of players per part – Open (players can be any age)
Entry £11.00. 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.
OTHER CLASSES FOR STRING PLAYERS
Please note the following three 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. The following is for information only. Entries for this class cannot be made by selecting the String Syllabus section of the online entry form.
Class 139: Family ensemble – any age.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 6 mins
Two, three or four players from the same family, including adults. Any combination of instruments or voices. Own choice of one or two pieces.
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator
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 classes will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 140: 12 years & under, two instruments
Entry £10.00. Time limit 6 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 141: 13 years & over, two instruments
Entry £10.00. Time limit 8 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 300: Preliminary – any age.
Entry £8:50 Time limit 3 mins.
Tuition not to have commenced before May 2021. 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.
Class 301: Grade 1.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 1 standard pieces. 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.
Class 302: Grades 2 & 3.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 3 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 2 or 3 standard pieces. 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.
Class 303: Grades 4 & 5.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 5 mins.
Own choice of one or two Grade 4 or 5 standard pieces. 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.
Class 304: Grades 6 & 7.
Entry £9.50 Time limit 5 mins.
Own choice of one Grade 6 or 7 standard pieces. 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.
Class 305: Grade 8.
Entry £10.00 Time limit 6 mins.
Own choice of one Grade 8 standard piece. No exam higher than Grade 8 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.
The parameters for the following four classes should be read carefully.
Performers in the following four classes will receive verbal and written adjudications. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 306: Grades 1 & 2 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.00. Time limit 3 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 307: Grades 3 & 4 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Limit 4 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 308: Grades 5 & 6 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Limit 4 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece can be from either current or old examination lists or free repertoire. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
Class 309: Grades 7 & 8 level. Any age, without Awards
Entry £9.50. Time limit 6 mins.
Performers can play one or two pieces at this level of difficulty. The piece(s) can be from either current or old examination lists, free repertoire, or a combination of both. The piece(s) is to be declared at the time of entry.
RECITAL CLASSES
Class 310: Recital – 12 years & under.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 10 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 311: Recital – 16 years & under.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 12 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 312: Recital – Open.
Entry £11.00. Time limit 15 mins
Own choice of two contrasting pieces. Concerto movements must be entered in either class 313 or 314. The title(s) of the piece(s) to be performed must be shown on the entry form at the time of entry.
Class 313: 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.
Entry £10.00
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.
Class 314: 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.
Entry £11.00
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.
OWN COMPOSITION CLASSES
Class 113: 11 years & under - Own composition.
Entry £9.50. 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 Friday 15 April 2022 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 114: 12 years & over - Own composition.
Entry £9.50. 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 Friday 15 April 2022 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
GROUP CLASSES
Class 315: String Duet – 12 years & under.
Entry £9.00. 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.
Class 316: String Duet – Any age.
Entry £9.50. 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.
Class 317: Chamber music – 12 years & under.
Entry £10.00. 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.
Class 318: Chamber music – open.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 319: Unison string class – 10 years & under.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 320: Unison string class – 12 years & under.
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 321: String ensemble, any number of players per part – 10 years & under (ALL players are to be 10 years or under on 30 April 2022).
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 322: String ensemble, any number of players per part – 11 years & over (ALL players are to be 11 years or over on 30 April 2022).
Entry £11.00. 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.
Class 323: String ensemble, any number of players per part – Open (players can be any age)
Entry £11.00. 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.
OTHER CLASSES FOR STRING PLAYERS
Please note the following three 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. The following is for information only. Entries for this class cannot be made by selecting the String Syllabus section of the online entry form.
Class 139: Family ensemble – any age.
Entry £10.00. Time limit 6 mins
Two, three or four players from the same family, including adults. Any combination of instruments or voices. Own choice of one or two pieces.
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator
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 classes will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 140: 12 years & under, two instruments
Entry £10.00. Time limit 6 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
Class 141: 13 years & over, two instruments
Entry £10.00. Time limit 8 mins
This class will be heard by the piano adjudicator.
The online entry system is now closed.
