Awards & Information

Awards are available for Festival participants of all ages. Festival adjudicators use their discretion, based on our rubric and guidance, to determined which awards are granted. Some awards may not be given depending on repertoire submitted and performed by the participants. Please click on the Education/Explanatory Info & Resources link in each category for more information, suggested repertoire, and educational ideas.

These awards are subject to change as we make our final plans for 2021.

Budding Pianist (12 and under) Awards:

All awards are $50 unless otherwise noted.
Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK
 
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK
 
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK BY AN IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER
 
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A 20TH CENTURY WORK (written 1901 to 2000, ANY STYLE)

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Twenty First Century
  • Best Performance of a 21st Century Work (written 2001 or later)

Director/Judges Awards  
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY JOHN SALMON
 
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY KEVIN OLSON
   
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY CHEE-HWA TAN

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Creative Elements
  • "CO-CREATING WITH THE MASTERS" - FOR CREATIVE STYLISTIC VARIETY

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONCERTO MOVEMENT FEATURING THE PERFORMER'S OWN ORIGINAL CADENZA(S) AND/OR LEAD-IN(S) (in appropriate Baroque, Classic or Romantic period work, or in appropriate Neo-Classical contemporary work)Tasteful embellishing and/or improvising on Classical Work
 
  • THE KAREN GREENHALGH AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A TASTEFUL TRANSCRIPTION OR ARRANGEMENT (IN ANY STYLE, ORIGINAL OR NOT) FOR PIANO SOLO OR FOR 4 OR MORE HANDS ON 1, 2, OR 3 PIANOS
 
  • ​THE DARIUS HOULE AWARD FOR BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK, OR PLAYING FROM A JAZZ/POP LEAD SHEET
 
  • BEST DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE

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Special Awards
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A METHOD BOOK PIECE (Beginner level, NOT BEYOND A typical book 2)


 
  • THE DONNA BURGESS AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY MARJORIE BURGES [Arthur - $150? $200? $50?]
 
  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE WRITTEN WHOLLY BY A FEMALE COMPOSER
 
  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL & PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK
   
  • THE KAREN COMBS - TRIBUTE AWARD FOR MOST VERSATILE PIANIST

    
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR BEST COMPOSITION (ANY STYLE) WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE  CONTESTANT    

  • FINALE Notation Software - AWARD for?​

Additional awards are available to students who submit a separate written composition for additional feedback!

Teen Pianist (13-19) Awards:

All awards are $50 unless otherwise noted.
Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK
​
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK BY AN IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A 20TH CENTURY WORK (written 1901 to 2000, ANY STYLE)
​
Twenty First Century
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A 21ST CENTURY WORK (Written 2001 or later) 

Director/Judges Awards  
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY JOHN SALMON
 
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY KEVIN OLSON
   
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY CHEE-HWA TAN

​
Creative Elements
  • "CO-CREATING WITH THE MASTERS" - FOR CREATIVE STYLISTIC VARIETY

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONCERTO MOVEMENT FEATURING THE PERFORMER'S OWN ORIGINAL CADENZA(S) AND/OR LEAD-IN(S) (in appropriate Baroque, Classic or Romantic period work, or in appropriate Neo-Classical contemporary work)Tasteful embellishing and/or improvising on Classical Work
 
  • THE KAREN GREENHALGH AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A TASTEFUL TRANSCRIPTION OR ARRANGEMENT (IN ANY STYLE, ORIGINAL OR NOT) FOR PIANO SOLO OR FOR 4 OR MORE HANDS ON 1, 2, OR 3 PIANOS
 
  • ​THE DARIUS HOULE AWARD FOR BEST DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK, OR PLAYING FROM A JAZZ/POP LEAD SHEET
 
  • BEST DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE


Special Awards


  • THE DONNA BURGESS AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE BY MARJORIE BURGES

  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE WRITTEN WHOLLY BY A FEMALE COMPOSER
 
  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL & PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK
   
  • THE KAREN COMBS TRIBUTE AWARD FOR MOST VERSATILE PIANIST
 
​
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR BEST COMPOSITION (ANY STYLE) WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE  CONTESTANT    ​

  • FINALE Notation Software - AWARD for?​

Additional awards are available to students who submit a separate written composition for additional feedback!

Lifelong Learners (20+) Awards:

All awards are $50 unless otherwise noted.
Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A PERIOD WORK - PRIVATE SESSION MASTERCLASS WITH ONE OF OUR WORLD-CLASS TEACHING ARTISTS
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  • 20th CENTURY WORK (written 1901 to 2000, Any Style)
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Twenty First Century
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A 21ST CENTURY WORK BY A LIVING COMPOSER

  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A 21ST CENTURY WORK IN THE ABUNDANT SILENCE CATALOG
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  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A WORK BY A LIVING COMPOSER, EVELYN BILLBERG ​
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Creative Elements
  • CO-CREATING WITH THE MASTER, CREATIVE STYLISTIC VARIETY

  • IMPROVISATION IN ANY CONTEMPORARY STYLE (Jazz, Pop, etc.) - PRIVATE SESSION MASTERCLASS WITH ONE OF OUR WORLD-CLASS TEACHING ARTISTS ​
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Special Awards
  • BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK, EVELYN BILLBERG
​
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR BEST COMPOSITION (ANY STYLE) WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE  CONTESTANT    ​​
​
Additional awards are available to students who submit a separate written composition for additional feedback!

Written Composition  (All Ages)

Festival adjudicators and teaching artists will place all written compositions into the appropriate level listed below. All students who are accepted to the festival will submit their work using the OpenLearning portal. 
Piano Discovery
PIANO WORKS COMPOSED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE LEARNING THE BASIC RULES AND STRUCTURES FOR HOW TO REPRESENT MUSIC AND ARE EXPLORING HOW TO CREATE SOUNDS AT THE PIANO. THIS IS EQUIVALENT IN PERFORMANCE LEVEL TO EARLY-MID ELEMENTARY.

Piano Foundations
PIANO WORKS COMPOSED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE PATTERNS AND USE MOVEMENT, ARTICULATION, RHYTHMIC SYNCOPATION, AND SUBTLE DYNAMICS TO CREATE THEIR WORK. THIS IS EQUIVALENT IN PERFORMANCE TO LATE ELEMENTARY-EARLY INTERMEDIATE.

Piano Craft
PIANO WORKS COMPOSED FOR STUDENTS WITH AN ANALYTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO USE MUSIC THEORY TO CREATE WORK, UTILIZE INDEPENDENT PARTS TO CREATE A WHOLE, AND PLAN STRUCTURE. THIS IS EQUIVALENT IN PERFORMANCE TO MID-INTERMEDIATE.

Piano Artistry
PIANO WORKS COMPOSED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF MUSIC THEORY, CAN THINK OUTSIDE OF THOSE GUIDELINES, AND CREATE SUBTLE ARTISTIC WORK BEYOND ANALYTICAL THINKING. THIS IS EQUIVALENT IN PERFORMANCE TO LATE INTERMEDIATE-EARLT ADVANCED.
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Piano Mastery
PIANO WORKS COMPOSED FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED THE CAPACITY TO NOT ONLY UTILIZE RULES AND STRUCTURES BUT ALSO USE THEIR INTUITION TO CREATE NUANCED SOUNDS AND COMPLEX REALITIES. THIS IS EQUIVALENT IN PERFORMANCE TO EARLY ADVANCED-ADVANCED.

Special Award for Teachers with Participating Students

Most Creative Teacher Award(s)
  • Most Creative Teacher - open to teachers with enrolled students in the Festival for Creative Pianists of any age or teachers who participate in the Lifelong Learners category

Check out our Festival Award Sponsors!

Questions? Contact: Luke Rackers (Executive Director, Abundant Silence).