2024 Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition Tier

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The 2024 Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition will be held during three in-person rounds on three weekends in April. For each division there will be an enrollment cap so that we can ensure a quality experience for all. All participants must compete in the division corresponding to their age by April 1, 2024.

To allow broader participation, we are initially asking each teacher to limit their enrollment to two students per division.

Participants must complete and submit the full application. Registration opens January 2nd, 2024 and closes April 1, 2024 or once the maximum of applicants is reached per division. The 2024 Competition is only open to applicants from the six New England states.  

The dates for the 2024 Steinway Piano Competition are:

  • Division I:  Ages 10 and under – Saturday, April 13
  • Division II: Ages 11 to 14 – Saturday, April 20
  • Division III: Ages 15 to 18 – Saturday, April 27

Register for 2024 Steinway Society Piano Competition

A NON-REFUNDABLE application fee of $125 USD must be paid at the time of application submission.

Application questions will include student, parent/guardian, and teacher information.

 

A confirmation message will be sent once the application and payment have been received. Ms. Christina Dietrich will contact participants with further instructions regarding the competition.

We will be awarding up to 10 Winners per division, grouped into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers. Each division’s Winners will be invited to perform in a divisional Winner’s Concert. 

WINNER NOTIFICATIONS and CONCERTS

The Winners will be announced via the SSOMA Website by 9 pm on the following Monday after each Division.

Each Division of the 2024 Steinway Society Piano Competition will be held LIVE and IN PERSON at M. Steinert & Sons Newton Location. The competition schedule of performances will be available closer to the event. The Winners of the Competition of each Division will be announced via the SSOMA Website on the following Monday after 9 pm – Division I – Monday, April 15; Division II – Monday, April 22; and Division III – Monday April 29.  

Winners Concert 

The Winners Concerts TBA. These concerts will also be recorded and available for viewing at a later date.  

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS & REGULATIONS

Each participant is required to perform two pieces and will be allotted the following amount of time for the combined performance of both pieces:

  • Division I: Ages 10 and under max. 9 minutes
  • Division II: Ages 11-14 max. 12 minutes
  • Division III: Ages 15-18 max. 15 minutes 

Each participant will perform two contrasting piano works – one from the Baroque or Classical and the second from the Romantic or Twentieth/Twenty-first century – from memory and in their entirety. Original compositions and improvisations are not permitted. Repeats may be played at the performer’s discretion but are not required.  For this performance you should wear concert dress and include appropriate concert etiquette. 

 

For the competition, ALL applicants should bring the original scores of their sheet music with minimal markings for the judges. If a published score of a piece is not available in the United States an IMSLP score will be allowed. Please notify Ms. Dietrich in such cases. 

Contestants will be graded on the following criteria equally:

Musicality and artistry:

Students who score well will not simply play their selected pieces cleanly but will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of aspects of performance including artistic and stylistic interpretation. Judges will look for students who exhibit attention to details of musicality such as phrasing, dynamics, touch, and shaping, and who can elevate their performance from merely playing the written notes, to giving a dynamic and engaging performance.

Technical mastery:

Students who score well will demonstrate that they can meet the technical requirements of their selected pieces. They should be able to comfortably navigate the technical challenges of the literature. Their performance should be free of major note or fingering errors. Students should utilize an appropriate tempo and when required, clean pedaling.

Adherence to the score:

Students who score well will demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the composers’ intent in both pieces they perform. Their performances should reflect instructions given by the composer in the score including (but not limited to) tempo, style, pedaling, dynamic markings, etc., as well as customs of the period in which their selected piece was written.

Stage presence:

Students should demonstrate a high level of professionalism throughout their auditions. Students who score well will display both confidence and charisma, whether it is their first time participating in a competition, or they are more experienced. Students should remember that if they receive an award, they will be expected to perform in front of their peers and guests. This includes appropriate performance attire.

Memory:

Students are expected to perform their selected pieces without referring to the score. 

Other Requirements/Rules:

Age requirements apply to the applicant’s age as of April 1, 2024. Open to applicants from the New England region. 

 

Judges will be announced on the Steinway Society website. If a change is made, it will be announced prior to the competition.

 

Students, teachers, and parents, should not contact the judges for any reason before or during the competition.

Students who study or have studied with any of the announced judges should notify Ms. Dietrich. In such a case an alternate judge will adjudicate the competition performance.

Competitors are responsible for their own expenses to participate in the competition.

Contestants should wear their best performance attire. Gentlemen should be in suits/tuxedos and Ladies in formal dresses/gowns.

Evaluations for the competition made by the jury committee are final.

M. Steinert & Sons reserves the right to photograph, record, or video the performances of contestants and winners and to use these documents in promoting the competition. No extra fee will be paid to the contestants.

Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s) and paying any expenses associated with any prizes, which are not specifically provided for in the official rules.

Each winner must provide M. Steinert & Sons with valid identification and a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number before any prize will be awarded. Any person winning over $600 in prizes from M. Steinert & Sons will receive an IRS form 1099 at the end of the calendar year and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS.

M. Steinert & Sons reserves the right to interpret the Terms and Conditions of the Regulations.