Adjudicator: | Richard Deering FTCL GTCL LRAM ARCM PGCA | Closing date for entries: 17th November 2023 |
Venue: | The Menuhin Room, Central Library, Portsmouth. PO1 2DX | * Please send entries to: Carol Frogley |
Dates: | 12th – 14th February 2024 | 34 Woodlands Avenue, Emsworth, PO10 7QE piano@portsmouthmusicfestival.co.uk |
* Enter online below under Subcategories |
Richard Deering has been an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals for well over 30 years, adjudicating at an average of 12 festivals a year, including many overseas festivals, as a piano or brass specialist and generalist.
Although no longer active as a performing brass player, he has given piano performances – as soloist and accompanist – in over 90 countries and has held teaching positions in establishments such as London College of Music, Trinity College of Music, Middlesex University, Cambridge University, Auckland University and New York State University. Composers of the calibre of Malcolm Arnold, Malcolm Williamson, Edward Gregson, Edward McGuire, Thomas Wilson, Brian Chapple and Charles Camilleri have written piano works especially for him, and for several years Richard had a close performing relationship with Elisabeth Lutyens.
In 2023 he is recording the entire piano works of Hubert Parry and William Wordsworth, as two separate projects, while his recording of Lutyens piano music, recorded on her 70th birthday, is due for re-issue.
Richard was also an Adviser to the London Arts Board on contemporary music and jazz. He has also made several commercial recordings in both UK and Japan.
His Federation work included serving on the Central Board of Trustees, Vice-Chair of the Adjudicator’s Council and with the administration of the PGCA qualification. He was also one of the presenters at both the Warwick and Leeds BIFF celebratory events in 1996 and 2000 respectively.
Currently he is the Chair of Trustees of Croydon Performing Arts Festival and, was honoured, by being elected as a BIFF Fellow in 2012.
Richard is also a high-ranking international cricket umpire, a Life Member of Essex County Cricket Club and a season ticket holder at Sutton United Football Club.
The Clifford Benson Piano Prize (junior & senior) will be awarded for outstanding musicianship and communication
The Zurich Insurance Piano Cup will be awarded for the best performance, 18 years and under
The Margaret Jewell Memorial Trophy will be presented to the most promising solo pianist in the Young Pianists’ section
Note: When deciding on your music, you might like to remember some anniversaries which may inspire your choices:
e.g. Busoni, Fauré, Smetana, Bruckner, Mancini, Puccini.
Please see the full rules and regulations here.
Enter online below under Subcategories
Own choice of music from film, TV or musical for piano.
P88 - Film Music - Amateur
P89 - Film Music - Open
A group of up to FOUR players with any combination of instruments TO INCLUDE A PIANIST.
P93 - Ensemble Class -Open - A group of up to FOUR players with any combination of instruments TO INCLUDE A PIANIST (e.g. string trio, wind players etc.) any style.
Any one piece. Exact time should be stated on the entry form.
P84 - Own Composition Class. Open. Any one piece. Please state title and exact time on the entry form.
An opportunity to demonstrate your skills as an instrumentalist. Perform one piece on the piano and another on any other instrument or voice with or without accompaniment. Own choice. Please state the second instrument, the titles, composers and the total time of the chosen music on the entry form.
P86 - Piano Plus - Amateur
P87 - Piano Plus - Open
An opportunity to have your accompaniment skills adjudicated. Bring a friend or relative with an instrument (e.g. recorder, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, trumpet, singer etc.) and play ONE prepared piece. Own choice. Please state title, composer and time of chosen music on the entry form.
P85 - Prepared Accompaniment - Open. Own choice. Please state title, composer and the time of the chosen music on the entry form.
Performers will be assessed on their choice of programme, dress and presentation as well as their performance and are encouraged to play one piece from memory. They should introduce their programme to the audience. (NB Introductions are included in the time limit.)
P79 -
Recital Class - Amateur. A group of contrasting pieces (no sonata movements).
P80 - Recital - Open. A group of contrasting pieces (no sonata movements).
Entrants may take part in ONE of these classes.
P81 - Sight Reading - Amateur. (Free if entering ONE other class). Music to be chosen by the adjudicator. Please enter 10 minutes as the time limit.
P82 - Sight Reading - Open (Free if entering TWO other classes) Please enter a time limit of 10 minutes.
P83 - Sight Reading Duet for Fun (Free if entering ONE other class). Music to be chosen by the adjudicator. Please enter a time limit of 10 minutes.
P55 - 9 years and under
P56 - 12 years and under
P57 - 15 years and under
P58 - 18 years and under
P59 - 9 years and under with adult or teacher
P60 - 10-12 years and under with adult or teacher
P61 - 13-15 years and under with adult or teacher
P62 - 16-18 years and under with adult or teacher
A group of three or four players, any combination of orchestral/school instruments TO INCLUDE A PIANIST. Please state the title and length of the chosen music on the entry form.
P65 - A group aged 11 years and under
P66 - A group aged 16 years and under
P67 - A group aged 18 years and under
P68 - Players of any age.
These classes are open to any age but performers must be members of the same family or friends.
P63 - Duet
P64 - Trio
For adjudication only: an opportunity for you to play any one piece of your own choice.
P34 - Own choice
Any one piece. Please state title and time on the entry form.
P32 - 15 years and under
P33 - 16 - 18 years
Entrants may take part in one of these classes. Please enter a time limit of 10 minutes.
P49 - Grade 1-2 (FREE if entering ONE other class)
P50 - Grade 3-5 (FREE if entering TWO other classes)
P51 - Grades 6-8+(FREE if entering TWO other classes)
Entrants may take part on only ONE of these classes. Please enter a time limit of 10 minutes.
P52 - Grades 1-2 (FREE if entering ONE other class)
P53 - Grades 3-4 (FREE if entering TWO other classes)
P54 - Grades 5-6 (FREE if entering TWO other classes)
P19 - Pre-grade pieces
P20 - Grade 1 pieces
P21 - Grades 2-3 pieces
P22 - Grades 4-5 pieces
P23 - Grades 6-7 pieces
P24 - Grades 8-8+ pieces
Please note that amateur status applies to entrants without musical qualifications, and who do not work as a performer or teacher in a professional (paid) capacity.
P69 - Novice. A novice is a performer who has not been learning the piano for more than 18 months on 1st September 2023.
P70 - Amateur: Grades 1-5
P71 - Amateur: Grades 6-8
P72 - Senior Citizen. Music written before 1900.
P73 - Senior Citizen. Music written after 1900.
P74A - Sonata Class – Open. Any complete sonata written between 1750 and 1950. (Please state exact time on the entry form).
P74B - Sonata Class – Open. Any ONE movement of a sonata
P75 - Baroque – Open. Any one piece.
P76 - Romantic and Impressionist – Open. Any one piece.
P77 - 20th & 21st Century – Open. Any one piece.
P78 - Swing, Jazz and Blues - Open. Own choice of one or more pieces.
P09(P9) - Pre-grade pieces
P10 - Grade 1 pieces
P11 - Grades 2-3 pieces
P12 - Grades 4-5 pieces
P13 - Grades 6-7 pieces
P14 - Grades 8-8+ pieces
To show improvement in piano technique. See the syllabus for full details and set repertoire. Please state title and exact time on the entry form.
P35 - Up to Grade 3 See Piano Syllabus for details of pieces.
P36 - Grades 4-5 See Piano Syllabus for details of pieces.
P37 - Grades 6-7 See Piano Syllabus for details of pieces.
P38 - Grades 8-8+ See Piano Syllabus for details of pieces.
Own choice of music from film, TV, musical or popular music arranged for piano.
P31 - 18 years and under
A novice is a performer who has not been learning the piano for more than 18 months on 1st January in the current Festival year.
P1 - 7 years & under
P2 - 8-9 years
P3 - 10-12 years
P4 - 13-18 years
An opportunity to show your versatility as an instrumentalist. Perform one piece on the piano and another on any other instrument (e.g. recorder, clarinet, cello, trumpet, voice etc.) with or without an accompaniment. Own choice, any age under 18. Please state the second instrument, titles, composers and total time of the chosen music on the entry form.
P42 - 16 years and under
P43 - 18 years & under
A group of contrasting pieces. N.B. Performers will be assessed on their choice of programme, dress and presentation as well as their performance and are encouraged to play one piece from memory. They should introduce their programme to the audience. Introductions are included in the time limit. Please note: Music chosen should be appropriate to grades specified.
P46 - Grades 3-5
P47 - Grades 6-7
P48 - Grade 8 & Diploma
Please state title and exact times on the entry form.
P39 - 11-13 years. Any ONE movement of a sonata or sonatina.
P40 - 14-16 years TWO contrasting movements of a sonata or sonatina
P41 - 17-18 years A complete THREE movement work.
P25 - 7 years & under
P26 - 8-9 years
P27 - 10-11 years
P28 - 12-13 years
P29 - 14-15 years
P30 - 16-18 years