Welcome to the Young Musicians Harp Festival page. Click a topic below to learn more.
Sunday March 2, 2025
- The 2025 Voice YMF will be held at Saxe Middle School, New Canaan CT
- January 31st is the registration deadline
- Please contact Wendy Kerner for information about YMF Harp: [email protected]
What is Harp Festival?
Information for Teachers, Parents and Students
The purpose of the Young Musicians Festival is to provide a non-competitive performance environment for students of public school age. Students benefit by hearing other students at a similar level perform and by practicing their performance skills. Students are required to play two pieces, one from YMF Harp Syllabus (HERE link), and one choice piece of comparable difficulty that is not “popular”. These performances are adjudicated by 2 professionals who give written comments and a rating (1-5 points) on the student's performance. Each performer receives a certificate according to their achievement rating. Points accumulate annually and are noted on the student's records. When 15 points have been acquired, the student receives a gold cup. Further points are accumulated toward additional cups.
Who May Enter?
- Entrants must be under 19 years of age as of June 1st or in their senior year of high school of the Festival year.
- Entrants may participate up to and including the senior year of high school.
What are the Requirements for Solo Performance?
Students are required to play two pieces, one from YMF Harp Syllabus (https://schubertclub.org/wp-content/uploads/FESTIVAL-lst-music-2024-Harp.pdf), and one choice piece of comparable difficulty that is not “popular”. Concerto and ensemble applicants perform one selection chosen by the teacher according to the student's ability and years of study.
How is a Gold Cup Earned?
Up to 5 points are earned annually and are duly recorded and accumulated on individual student records. When 15 points have been earned in a given event (e.g. solo, duet, concerto) the student receives a Gold Cup award for that event. Further points are accumulated toward a second or third gold cup. (It takes a minimum of 3 years to be awarded an engraved gold cup.) Seniors may combine points across entry categories in their senior year of participation.
What is the Purpose of the Young Musicians Harp Festival?
- Students have the opportunity to perform in a non-competitive setting.
- The Festival gives music students the opportunity to hear performances by other young people studying at their own level.
- The Festival develops performance poise.
- The Festival encourages further study by providing recognition for achievement at each level of musical progress and a further incentive to continue as outlined above in the Gold Cup program.
How Does the Festival Operate?
Students will perform in a performance space. The performers will be divided into recital classes, based on the number of participants in a given year, the student's level of performance and the students time availability. Solo performances and chamber ensembles may be on the same program. A typical class is made up of eight to twelve performances and lasts approximately one hour. Classes are open to family and friends. Anyone is welcome to attend as many recitals as we have scheduled.
Two adjudicators preside over each class writing comments and evaluating each performance. These adjudications may contain constructive criticism as well as praise for the musical achievements of each performer at his or her stage of studies. These comments are distributed by the student's teacher in the weeks following the Festival.
Finally, points (up to a possible 5) are awarded for each performance. These evaluations are based on average ability, quality of preparation and excellence of the individual performance. Each performer receives a certificate indicating the number of points awarded.
Student and Teacher Fees for Participation
The Festival consists of a variety of events including solo, concerto and ensemble classes. The solo entry fee is $30. The ensemble entry fee is $50.
The music teacher must be a member in good standing of the Schubert Club or may become a new member of the Schubert Club here:
Further Information
Festival Registrar
Marjie Brake
46 Glenarden Road
Trumbull, CT 06611
1673728032
Festival Rules
ALL EVENTS
Revised 1/9/2023
Replaces all previous versions; In effect until replaced by a later version
GENERAL RULES FOR HARP
SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY
- Every student must be sponsored annually by an individual teacher. Music schools may not be sponsors. The sponsoring teacher must:
- be a paid-up member of THE SCHUBERT CLUB of FAIRFIELD COUNTY, INC. as of the deadline for Festival applications, or
- submit a new member fee of $70 along with their application payment.
- The YMF is a non-profit, volunteer enterprise that relies on the active participation of all teachers involved.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
- Entrants must be under 19 years of age or in their senior year of high school on the Festival year.
- Entrants may participate up to and including the senior year of high school.
- Pre-Primary Guidelines: Juniors should be no more than eight years of age and have studied no more than one year.
FEES & PAYMENT
- The cost for a solo or concerto application is $30; for a duo/duet application, $30, larger ensembles $50 per ensemble.
- Fees are not refundable.
- Only one check will be accepted from each teacher for all students (regular or special request)
- All checks must be postmarked no later than January 31. Please send to Marjie Brake, registrar, 46 Glenarden Road, Trumbull, CT 06611
APPLICATIONS
- Applications (and the appropriate fees) with special requests must be received not later than January 31. Incomplete applications will be returned. The Festival reserves the right to disqualify entrants for infractions of these rules.
- One application must be completed for each soloist and one for each ensemble of two or more performers.
- In a given year, entrants may enter as many categories as they wish, but only one entry in each category. (Categories: solo, duet, ensemble or concerto).
- Include one check or money order payable to The Schubert Club. Multiple checks from individual families will be returned.
- No exceptions will be allowed for late registration nor will changes be made after the registration deadline.
MEMORIZATION
Memory is strongly suggested but not required.
SCORES, PHOTOCOPYING AND CHOICE OF MATERIAL
- Published scores of the required and choice pieces (not photocopies) must be provided for the judges. Permission must be sought from the publisher for music that is out of print, not just unavailable or temporarily out of stock.
- Required pieces MUST be chosen from the current YMF Harp Syllabus available here: https://schubertclub.org/wp-content/uploads/FESTIVAL-lst-music-2024-Harp.pdf
- Entrants in all solo events must perform two pieces: one from the Syllabus of Required Pieces and one choice piece that represents a comparable level of difficulty. The choice piece should not be a required piece.
- Entrants in the concerto event are not required to play a choice piece. Only one movement of one concerto should be played.
- Entrants in all ensemble events may play one piece assigned by their teacher, preferably at a level of difficulty comparable to their solo entry.
- Popular music is not allowed.
REPEATS, OMISSIONS AND TIME LIMITS
- Teachers are asked to observe the following guidelines for time limits (combined required and choice compositions). If pieces are likely to exceed these limits (perhaps the required piece or concerto is a long one), please attach a note to the application for the Registrar.
Moderately Difficult - Difficult | 8 minutes |
Very Difficult - Musically Advanced | 10 minutes |
Concerti | 10 minutes |
- Repeats should generally be omitted.
ENSEMBLE PARTNER SUBSTITUTION
In unavoidable circumstances a teacher or other student may substitute for an ensemble player (with no score being awarded to the substitute player).
VIDEO RECORDING and PHOTOGRAPHY
Video recording and photography will be allowed during Festival performances. Parents should set up equipment in advance of the class performances and to operate cameras from the back of the room to keep disruption at a minimum. No flash photography please. Parents may only record or take pictures of their own child.
PROGRESSION
Entrants who receive a rating of 5 points should progress to a higher class in the following year except in the following cases:
- A new required piece at the old level works best for that student.
- The highest level class in an event may be entered repeatedly with a different required and choice piece
AWARDS & CERTIFICATES
- Each performance will receive a rating from the presiding judges. A certificate will be issued to each Festival participant for each event entered. Points will be accumulated for each Instrument-Event. When 15 points have been earned in any one category, the first Gold Cup will be awarded, pending points going toward a second cup, etc.
- A Gold Cup is awarded each time 15 points are accumulated. Second, third and fourth Gold Cups are successively larger.
- In ensemble events, points are awarded separately to each performer.
GOLD CUP PLAN
All points counted toward a Gold Cup must be earned in the same event, with one exception. High school seniors may aggregate points across performance events on a given instrument (i.e. Harp Solo, Harp Concerto or Harp ensemble) and with any other instruments played (piano, wind, strings) and composition.
INSTRUMENTS
Harps will be provided. All students will use the instruments that are provided.
CONCERTI
Harps will be provided. All students will use the instruments that are provided. Students may play one movement of any standard concerto with or without accompaniment. No additional music is required. Points accrue as a separate event, unless the entrant is a senior, in which case they can be added to the total of the regular event.
FURTHER INFORMATION
| Harp Chairperson: | Festival Registrar: |
Wendy Kerner | Marjie Brake |