2023 Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The 2023 Steinway Society of Massachusetts Piano Competition will consist of THREE divisions in TWO Rounds. For the Preliminary Round ALL divisions will compete VIRTUALLY. All participants must compete in the division corresponding to their age by April 1, 2023.
Participants must complete and submit the full application. Registration opens February 15th, 2023 and closes May 15th, 2023 at 11:45 pm ET. The 2023 Competition is open to applicants from New England.
Register for 2023 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 submission of video recordings via YouTube for the Competition.
The Applicant’s 1st Round Video recording will be due by May 20th, 2023 at 11:59 pm. A separate video submission form will be sent to all confirmed and paid applicants. We are simulating the environment and requirements of a live competition: One Recording – both pieces performed during the same video session.
Three Judges will meet virtually on May 27th – Division 1, May 28th – Division 2, and May 29th – Division 3 to determine the finalists.
WINNER NOTIFICATIONS and CONCERTS
The Finalists will be announced via the SSOMA Website on Monday, May 29th after 9 PM.
The Final Round of the 2023 Steinway Society Piano Competition will be held LIVE and IN PERSON on Sunday, June 11th at M. Steinert & Sons Newton Location. The Competition Final Round Schedule of Performances will be available closer to the event. The Winners of the Competition for all three Divisions will be announced via the SSOMA Website on the evening of June 11th after 10 pm.
Winners Concert:
The Winners Concerts will take place on Sunday, June 25th, 2023 at the new M. Steinert & Sons Spirio Salon at Carriage House Violins Boston. This new recital venue at 236 Huntington Avenue in the Symphony area of Boston features a new Steinway B Grand piano and comfortable seating.
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
Your recording of two contrasting piano works – one from the Baroque or Classical and the second from the Romantic or Twentieth/Twenty-first century – must be performed 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. Please consider this a performance so you should wear concert dress and include appropriate concert etiquette. From these videos, we will select the winners!
For the competition, ALL applicants should scan and send 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. All scanned scores should be sent to Ms. Dietrich.
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, 2023. Open to applicants from the New England region. Students who participated and won first place in the competition last year may not enter again in the same division.
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 in their video recording. 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.