NEW YORK STATE         MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

THE HEDDY KILIAN EMPIRE STATE COMPETITION 2023-2024

Junior High, High School and Collegiate Competitions in piano, voice and instrumental

The Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition is a virtual competition where participants submit video recordings of their performances.

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Registration Deadline: 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time, September 6, 2023

Video Upload Deadline: 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time, October 13, 2023 

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The New York State Music Teachers Association encourages member and non-member teachers to consider entering their accomplished students in the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition (HKESC). It takes place this year virtually in 2023. Competition levels include junior high school, high school and collegiate, with separate categories within each level for piano, voice and instrumental participants. 

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ELIGIBILITY

1. All entrants must be New York State residents or a resident student attending a school in New York State.

2. A student may not enter both the MTNA and Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition in the same performance medium in the same year.

3. Previous first place winners of a category may not compete in the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition until reaching the minimum age for the next category. 
    

APPLICATION (deadline: 3:00 PM on September 6, 2023)

1. Online Application only

2. Click here for information regarding submission of videos to YouTube. Note that participants will submit url links to performance videos they’ve uploaded to YouTube.

3. ​Click here for information about preparation of videos. Once you have registered, you may submit video links here.  Please download the attached video prep guidelines.

4. Application fee: Students of NYSMTA members: $35; Students of non-NYSMTA members: $50. By submitting an application, participants acknowledge that application fees are non-refundable.

5. In the event there is only one entrant in HKESC, there will be no competition for that
   category. The application fee in this case will be refunded, and the applicant will have the option to participate in the MTNA competition instead with the appropriate application and fees.

6. Every attempt will be made to announce results with winners posted online in early November, 2023. Results will be communicated to the email address used to register. Please check your primary and junk mail.

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REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

One composition or movement in each category fulfills the requirements. Several very short selections by the same composer may also be grouped together to form one category. Competition repertoire must demonstrate sustained, lyrical playing as well as technical agility.

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TIME LIMITS
The "audition time" listed in each category indicates the amount of time adjudicators will listen. If the total duration of repertoire submitted is less than the audition time limit , all selections will be heard in their entirety.  If the total duration exceeds the audition time limit, judges will listen for the amount of time allotted (i.e. audition time), dividing listening among portions of each work submitted.  EX.  Performer submits 4 selections totaling 20 minutes.  Audition time for performer's category is 10 minutes.  Adjudicators will listen for 10 minutes, hearing portions of each of the 4 selections.

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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PIANO

1. Grades 7 through 9 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 10 minutes

3. Select from at least 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.    

5. All music must be performed by memory. 

6. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

7. Award: The Eleanor MacDougal Prize in Junior High School Piano $200

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL

1. Grades 7 through 9 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 10 minutes.

3. Select from 2 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra.

6. Award: NYSMTA Junior High School Instrumental Prize $200
    

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PIANO

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.      

5. All music must be performed by memory.  

6. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

7. Works composed by the entrant are not allowed as competition repertoire.

8. Award: The Heddy Kilian Prize in High School Piano $350 
    

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOICE

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. 4 selections, which must include: (1) an Italian art song, (2) an American art song (in English), (3) an art song in a language other than Italian or English, (4) an opera or oratorio aria, or another art song of the contestant’s choice.      

4. All music must be performed by memory. 

5. Music theater songs and works written by the entrant are not allowed.  

6. Award: The Heddy Kilian Prize in High School Voice $350
    

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. Select from 2 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra.

6. Award: NYSMTA Past-Presidents’ High School Instrumental Prize $350
    

COLLEGIATE PIANO 

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2023

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.

5. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

6. Memorization is required.

7. Award: The Hadassah Sahr Prize in Collegiate Piano $500

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COLLEGIATE VOICE

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2023

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. 6 selections in total. 4 selections (art song) in contrasting styles and in a minimum of 3 languages, one of which must be English. In addition, 2 arias: one opera and one oratorio.

4. All selections must be memorized.

5. Music theater songs and works written by the entrant are not allowed. 

6. Award: NYSMTA Prize in Collegiate Voice $500  

COLLEGIATE INSTRUMENTAL 

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2023

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra. 

6. Award: NYSMTA Prize in Collegiate Instrumental $500