Awards & Information

All participants, all ages, will be recognized with one special, individually tailored award certificate to honor their finest achievement.
Teaching artists may, at their discretion:  ​
  • Offer award recognitions not listed below
  • Present more than one of the same award to different participants
  • Not confer some of the awards​
We are grateful to all of our generous award sponsors! Many of these festival awards are sponsored by an individual who has a special affinity for a creative musical skill. We appreciate their dedication and commitment to helping others develop creative skills at the piano.

Budding Pianist (12 and under) Awards:

Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK

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

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

Director/Judges Awards  
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY JOHN SALMON
 
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY KEVIN OLSON
 
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY WYNN-ANNE ROSSI
​
Creative Elements
  • "CO-CREATING WITH THE MASTERS" - FOR CREATIVE STYLISTIC VARIETY

  • EXCELLENT 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 AN EXCELLENT 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 AN EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK, OR PLAYING FROM A JAZZ/POP LEAD SHEET
 
  • EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE

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

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

  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE WRITTEN WHOLLY BY A FEMALE COMPOSER
 
  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL & PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK
   
  • THE KAREN COMBS - TRIBUTE AWARD FOR PIANO VERSATILITY 

    
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT COMPOSITION (ANY STYLE) WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE  CONTESTANT   
Additional awards are available to students who submit a separate written composition for additional feedback!

Teen Pianist (13-19) Awards:

Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A PRE-BAROQUE OR BAROQUE PERIOD WORK
​
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A CLASSICAL PERIOD WORK

  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A ROMANTIC PERIOD WORK

  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK BY AN IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER

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

Director/Judges Awards  
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY JOHN SALMON
 
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY KEVIN OLSON
 
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A WORK WRITTEN, ARRANGED OR EDITED BY WYNN-ANNE ROSSI​
​
Creative Elements
  • "CO-CREATING WITH THE MASTERS" - FOR CREATIVE STYLISTIC VARIETY

  • EXCELLENT 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 AN EXCELLENT 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 AN EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP, GOSPEL OR RAG STYLE WORK, OR PLAYING FROM A JAZZ/POP LEAD SHEET
 
  • EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF GENUINELY SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION IN ANY STYLE


Special Awards

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

  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION IN ANY STYLE WRITTEN WHOLLY BY A FEMALE COMPOSER

  • THE EVELYN BILLBERG AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL & PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK

 
  • THE KAREN COMBS TRIBUTE AWARD FOR PIANO VERSATILITY 
​
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT COMPOSITION (ANY STYLE) WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY THE  CONTESTANT    ​​
Additional awards are available to students who submit a separate written composition for additional feedback!

Lifelong Learners (20+) Awards:

Historical (Pre-21st c.; i.e., written before 2001)
  • AN EXCELLENT  PERFORMANCE OF A PERIOD WORK - PRIVATE SESSION MASTERCLASS WITH ONE OF OUR WORLD-CLASS TEACHING ARTISTS
​
  • AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A 20th CENTURY WORK (written 1901 to 2000, Any Style)
​
Twenty First Century
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A 21ST CENTURY WORK BY A LIVING COMPOSER

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

  • IMPROVISATION IN ANY CONTEMPORARY STYLE (Jazz, Pop, etc.)
​
Special Awards
  • EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK, EVELYN BILLBERG
​
Composition
  • THE LUKE RACKERS AWARD FOR AN EXCELLENT 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 teaching artists and directors will choose up to 3 written compositions from each of the 5 levels below to be performed at the Participant Written Composition Award Concert in July!
Festival directors 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 platform.  
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.
​
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

Creative Teacher Incentive AwardS
  • This award is open to teachers with enrolled students of any age in the Festival for Creative Pianists.
  • Finale software will be awarded to two exceptional teachers whose students have demonstrated exemplary skills in composition and/or creativity.​​

Check out our generous Festival for Creative Pianists award sponsors!

Picture
Eliza Keating, age 15 (at left) - one of the many proud participants in the 2016 festival.
Questions? Contact: Luke Rackers (Executive Director, Abundant Silence).