Festival Generated Awards

Superior Certificates

• Superior certificates are awarded to every student who receives a superior in any event. (Note: it is not the same as the participation certificate.)

• These certificates may be picked up by the teacher at any Festival site, or at the Gold Cup concert

The Gold Cup Program

More details are available in the Festival Bulletin.  The following is a summary:

• This is an incentive program sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs in which students are awarded a Gold Cup upon the accumulation of 15 points and multiples thereof in an individual event.   (NOTE: “ Superior” = 5 points, “Excellent” = 4 points, etc.)

• Please note:  points from different events do not combine (with the exception of Jr 3 and Senior concerto points for high school students.)

• The “Piano Solo” event and the “Lynn Freeman Olson Piano Solo” event are interchangeable.

• See the National Festivals Bulletin for complete details.

• Teachers are responsible to register for the anticipated Gold Cup on the Student Online Registration form.  

• The Gold Cup size increases with the point totals.

• In the 9th grade and above, Junior III and Senior Concerto points can be combined with Solo points for faster progress with Piano Solo. The solo level MUST be Difficult I or above. For Voice, the same applies with Musical Theater and Art Song.  See bulletin for more details. 

Please check with your center head to arrange to pick up your Gold Cup/NJ Trophy order.

The New Jersey Trophy

This trophy is a special award for the purpose of encouraging students to play multiple events. Teachers are responsible for ordering the anticipated NJ trophy during the online registration for students.

There are two different ways to earn the NJ trophy:

 1) The NJ Trophy may be earned in one year by playing in three separate events (e.g., piano solo, concerto, duet)

 2) The NJ Trophy can be earned in a two year period by playing in two events for two consecutive years.

Gold Cup Criteria

The NJFMC has one Gold Cup Concert each year.  The concert is free and everyone is welcome to attend, although only Gold Cup winners may perform (see the following restrictions).

Gold Cup Concert:  Any students receiving their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Grand, or President’s Gold Cups may perform.  1st cup winners age 15 and above are also eligible to perform.  The concert usually is held in early May, and features the winners of the Junior Composers Competition and Bookstabler Competition as well.  See the current calendar on the website for the date and location.

Provide the following information to the Gold Cup Concert Chairman:

• Student Name and age
• Which Gold Cup and Event (for example:  3rd Gold Cup, Piano Solo)
• Name of Piece, including any opus number, and Composer
• Length of piece (this can be approximate)
• Name of teacher
• Name of Accompanist (if applicable)

Please be aware that students receiving their 1st Gold Cups are not eligible to perform unless they are age 15 or older on the day of the concert.

• Since there is only one piano available, no piano concertos or duos can be performed.  However, duets are welcome.

• Performers of piano solos are required to play by memory.

• Vocalists and instrumentalists must provide their own accompanist.

• All performers are required to wear concert attire (Boys: dress shirts and ties. Girls: dresses or skirts).  This rule applies to accompanists as well.

• If the students wish to be presented with their Gold Cup at the end of the concert, they must bring it with them.  Their name must be on the Gold Cup (it can just be taped to the back if necessary). They need to give the Gold Cups to the person running the concert before the concert starts.