Constance W. Murray Piano Festival

Saturday, March 15, 2025, 9:00AM-4:00PM
​Swope Music Building at West Chester University
​817 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19383
Video Option Also Available - Details Below
This festival is an opportunity for piano students to gain performance experience in a noncompetitive environment and receive encouraging and constructive feedback from a judge. Students of all ages are encouraged to participate!

Guidelines for Enrollment

  1. REPERTOIRE:  Two contrasting pieces. No arrangements. Given the time constraints, please omit repeats (“Da capos” are permitted), and no concerto movements will be accepted. It is preferred to represent two different time periods and composers. However, any two pieces of sufficiently contrasting style – such as two movements of the same work – will be accepted. Memorization is strongly encouraged but not required.
  2. TIMED LENGTH:  Please time each piece in minutes and seconds. Accurate timings are vital for keeping the festival day running on schedule.
  3. TIME REQUESTS:  AM and PM time requests are to be used for student conflicts only, not for preference and convenience. Please check with students before registering. No specific time request can be guaranteed. 
  4. FEE:  A non-refundable entry fee of $20.00 is required for each student. Payment is made online when you finish registering your students.
  5. REGISTRATION:  In order to participate, teachers must have current MLMTA membership and must be available to help on Festival day. Please arrange your schedule accordingly. Go the Members Only tab and select Registration for Events. Registration opens February 2 and closes February 22.
  6. SCHEDULE: Teachers will receive their schedule and monitor assignment by e-mail. Teachers must inform students of their assigned performance times. Please report all cancellations immediately.
Registration will open February 2 and close February 22.
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NOTE:  Please arrange your schedule so that you can help on festival day.

Guidelines for Festival Day

  1. Students should arrive 10-20 minutes ahead of time and check in.  To reduce congestion and noise, we ask that students be accompanied by only one adult if possible. Practice rooms will be available.
  2. Students should have an original copy of their music. However, photocopies will be permitted only if one of the following conditions apply: the music is out of print, it is an IMSLP download, or it was purchased from a website. Photocopying copyrighted music is strictly prohibited. We ask that students with non-memorized performances bring a second copy, or a photocopy that the judge will then destroy. Students without music will be disqualified.
  3. Auditions are private between student and judge only.
  4. The decision of the judge is final. Evaluation results will be emailed to teachers.
  5. All students will receive a ribbon and certificate. Students whose performances were memorized will also receive a special recognition on their certificate.
    Ribbons will be awarded as follows:
    1. SUPERIOR - A performance which is very musical and technically controlled.
    2. EXCELLENT - A performance which is mostly in control and reaches an acceptable standard of excellence.
    3. VERY GOOD - A performance which shows some commendable aspects but needs more work to achieve a convincing performance.
    4. HONORABLE MENTION – An inadequate performance.
  6. Ribbons and certificates must be picked up by 4:30 PM. If you cannot pick up ribbons and certificates on festival day, you must arrange for a substitute, or pick them up at the award coordinator’s Chester Springs residence. (Contact Award Coordinator Miriam Shingle at [email protected])
  7. To eliminate confusion/error, please do not enter the tabulating room.

Video Option

For students who for any reason cannot attend the in-person festival, we also offer a video submission option. Recorded submissions are adjudicated to the same guidelines as in-person performances, while expanding accessibility to students whose schedule conflicts, health concerns, or personal goals make virtual participation preferable. You will receive detailed recording instructions upon registration.
Please note:  ribbons and certificates for virtual participants must be picked up on Festival Day, as with in-person participants.

Deadlines for Video Participants:
· Videos must be submitted online between February 23 and March 3.
· Requests to change to in-person format must be made no later than February 22.
· Requests to change to virtual format must be made no later than March 14.
For questions or help, including any registration changes, contact
Chairperson Max Esmus at [email protected].