Piano Competitions Chair: Rebecca Eng

Vocal Competitions Chair: Lisa Casia

ANNUAL FALL PIANO AND VOCAL COMPETITIONS

• This year's 2025 Fall Competition will be held in person only.   
  

• The NJFMC holds an annual competition for pianists and vocalists (9 - 18 years old). 

• Students are required to perform two contrasting works by memory. 

• To be eligible, students must study with a current NJFMC teacher in good standing. Entrants must have studied with the same NJFMC affiliated member for 4 months preceding the competition.

• Online registration opens: October 1st (Register here)

• Online registration closes: October 15th  

  • Only member teachers can register a student. Student levels are needed at this time to register. 

  • Registration fee is $65 per student entrant.

  • Invoices will be sent to each member teacher.

  • Registration forms are not confirmed without payment. 

• The piano competition will be held in Traditional Performance Format. 
  • Student entrants will perform in a private one on one setting.  Public viewing is not permitted.
• The vocal competition will be held in Recital Performance Format which will be available for public view.
  • Each level will enter together as a group and perform their selections.  Each student is required to stay for the entire time slot.  Judges critiques are final and are only shared with students and their teachers. 
  • Vocal entrants will be provided a piano accompanist. A capella performances and recorded tracks are not allowed.
  • All vocal entrants will be billed an additional $27 to cover the accompanist for the cometition and the Winners' Concert.
  • Submit your vocal music scores to us in advance by clicking on the link in the directions of the registration form. 
  • A capella performances and recorded tracks are not allowed.

• Student entrants are expected to dress in performance attire: no sneakers, jeans, sweats, miniskirts or bare midriffs. 

• Winners will be notified through their teachers by November 4 via email. The decisions of the judges are final.  All winners must perform at the Winners' Concert one repertoire selection.  Repertoire pieces for the Winners' Concert are selected by the Competition Chair.   Any winner who is unable to perform at the concert will not receive their certificate and award.

• Judges comments will be emailed in PDF format to the teachers.

COMPETITION DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS:

• Teacher Registration Deadline: October 15, 2025

• Competition Date: Sunday, Nov 2, 2025

  • Time: TBA

  • Location: Dorothy Young Center for the Arts at Drew University, 36 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ 07940 

  • Campus Map

• Winners' Concert Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025  

  • Time: 7 PM

  • Location: Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ

 PIANO COMPETITION LEVELS:

• Level 1 (9 to 11 year olds ??“ 8 minutes)

• Level 2 (12 to 13 year olds ??“ 10 minutes)

• Level 3 (14 to 15 year olds ??“ 12 minutes)

• Level 4 (16 to 18 year olds ??“ 15 minutes)

PIANO COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS:

• All piano entrants must play 2 contrasting selections. 

• Please identify works by Opus #, Key, K#, movement, Well Tempered Clavier Book #, etc.

VOCAL COMPETITION LEVELS:

• Level 1 (9 to 10 year olds - 8 minutes)

• Level 2 (11 to 12 years old - 9 minutes)

• Level 3 (13 to 15 year olds - 10 minutes)

• Level 4 (16 to 18 year olds - 12 minutes)

VOCAL COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Vocalists must perform
  • one foreign language Art Song (not English)

  • one Musical Theater piece (in English).  

  • transcriptions are accepted only if they are part of the standard repertoire.