EPTA UK National Competitions

**Please note that entries for the 2024 season are closed**

Aims

To inspire, encourage, motivate and honour high levels of piano playing and piano teaching nationwide, and to promote musical awareness through participation in performing.  

Rules of Entry

• The competition has an age limit of 25 and under for all graded categories.
• Entrants are allowed to enter one class only. 

Categories

• Graded Classes
  These are open to all pianists except for principle study pianists at specialist music schools or Junior Conservatoires. Participants from these institutions who are not principal study will need to confirm this on the entry form. The competition organisers reserve the right to contact the institution concerned if in any doubt.
• Age Range Classes 
  These are open to all pianists including those at a specialist music school or Junior Conservatoire. If the demand for any Age Range Class is substantial, the adjudicator retains the right to select in advance part of the programme. 

Round 1

• All participants will receive verbal and written adjudications and certificates of entry. 
• Round 1 adjudicators and venues will be chosen by local Regional Organisers.
• Certificates of high commendation will be awarded where appropriate by the adjudicator.
• The adjudicator will choose a maximum of TWO performers from each class in each category to go forward into the regional final rounds.
• Performances selected for the regional final rounds must be “Outstanding” or with “Distinction”. It is not necessary or expected that anyone be ranked according to number or place.
• If more than two performers received “Outstanding” or “Distinction”, only two must go through. There are no exceptions and this important rule must always be observed.
• If numbers are very small in a class, there is no obligation to put students through to the regional finals.
• The preparatory class will have the option of non-competitive entries. All non-competitive entries will receive a certificate of participation. All first rounds must be completed by 19th February 2024. 

All Classes

Two or more contrasting pieces should be played in each round.  The category entry for Graded Classes is determined by the piece of the highest grade in the set, all ages for Age Classes are their age on 31st August 2024.

A repertoire list is available to assist teachers in the categorisation of pieces. This is an ongoing list. For enquiries, please contact admin@epta-uk.org.  The competition organisers reserve the right to re-allocate a participant to a different class.

Participants may play the same or different repertoire in round 1 and the regional final round as long as the grading level remains the same.

Performance Rules

• No changes to the repertoire are permitted after the final entry date of the competition.
• Performance time limits must be observed. Time starts on the first note and includes the time in between pieces. Pianists are not required to announce their pieces; any spoken introductions must be included in the overall performance time.
• The adjudicator has the right to stop any performance that goes over the time limit. The performer will be adjudicated on the performance heard.
• The adjudicator(s)’s decision is final. 

Categories for participants

• Preparatory (non-competitive)
  Grade 1 or below
  3 minutes
  £6 (+£1.21 booking fee)
   
• Preparatory (competitive)
  Grade 1 or below
  3 minutes
  £6 (+£1.21 booking fee)
   
• Elementary 
  Grades 2–3
  5 minutes
  £7 (+£1.30 booking fee)
   
• Intermediate I
  Grades 4–5
  7 minutes
  £9 (+£1.46 booking Fee)
   
• Intermediate II
  Grades 6–7
  9 minutes
  £9 (+£1.46 booking fee)
   
• Advanced I
  Grade 8
  10 minutes
  £10 (+£1.55 booking fee)
   
• Advanced II
  Post-Grade 8
  11 minutes
  £12 (+£1.70 booking fee)
   
• Under 12 on 31st August 2024
  Two or more contrasting pieces
  12 minutes
  £13 (+£1.79 booking fee)
   
• Under 15 on 31st August 2024
  Two or more contrasting pieces
  15 minutes
  £16 (+£2.04 booking fee)
  
  
• Under 18 on 31st August 2024
  Two or more contrasting pieces
  18 minutes
  £19 (+£2.29 booking fee)
  
  
• Over 18 on 31st August 2024
  Two or more contrasting pieces
  25 minutes
  £21 (+£2.46 booking fee)

First Round Applications

All entries must be submitted by the closing date set by the organiser(s) of the first rounds. Entries will not be accepted without payment 24 hours after the closing dates.

After submitting your application, please follow the link on the application confirmation page to pay your entry fee. Alternatively, complete your payment on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2023-2024-epta-uk-competition-round-1-entry-tickets-741100480487?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you are a teacher applying for more than one candidate, you can pay for up to 10 entries per category in one transaction via the payment page.

EPTA Lancashire | Sunday 28 January 2024
Museum Theatre, Rossall School, Fleetwood, FY7 8JW
Adjudicator: Benjamin Powell
Deadline: 21 January 2024 
Enquiries: Yvette Price

EPTA North East | Saturday 3 February 2024
Jesmond United Reformed Church, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3AE
Adjudicator: John Treherne
Deadline: 20 January 2024
Enquiries: Andrew Higgins

EPTA Swansea| Saturday 3 February 2024
Coach House Pianos, 878 Carmarthen Road, SA5 8HR
Adjudicator: Anthony Williams
Deadline: 21 January 2024
Enquiries: Hyelim Morris

EPTA Cambridge | Sunday 4 February 2024
Gonville and Caius College
Adjudicator: Michael Young
Deadline: 20 January 2024
Enquiries: Ilga Pitkevica

EPTA Kent | Sunday 4 February 2024
39 Ashford Road, Maidstone, ME14 5DP
Adjudicator: Beate Toyka
Deadline: 21 January 2024
Enquiries: Nancy Litten

EPTA Manchester | Sunday 4 February 2024
Forsyth Brothers Limited, 126 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2GR
Adjudicator: Graham Scott
Deadline: 26 January 2024 (extended)
Enquiries: Murray McLachlan

EPTA Norfolk | Saturday 10 February 2024
Gresham’s School, Cromer Rd, Holt, NR25 6EA
Adjudicator: Paul Harris
Deadline: 26 January 2024
Enquiries: Benjamin Howell

EPTA Yorkshire | Sunday 11 February 2024
The Clothworkers Centenary Hall, University of Leeds School of Music, Cavendish Road, LS2 9JT
Adjudicator: Joanna Garcia
Deadline: 25 January 2024
Enquiries: Simon Burgess

EPTA Essex | Saturday 17 February 2024
Brentwood School, CM15 8EE
Adjudicator: Christian Dawson
Deadline: 31 January 2024
Enquiries: Alex Gray

EPTA London | Saturday 24 February 2024
Peregrine’s Pianos, 137A Grays Inn Road, WC1X 8TU
Adjudicator: Yulia Chaplina
Deadline: 10 February 2024
Enquiries: Administrator

Semifinal

There are to be two semifinal rounds during March and April.

• Northern Regional Semifinal | Sunday 17 March 2024, 1-5pm
  Forsyth Brothers Limited, 126 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2GR
  Adjudicator: Adam Swayne
  
  
• Southern Regional Semifinal | Sunday 7 April 2024, 1-7pm
  Parish Church of St Barnabas, 146 Lavenham Rd, London SW18 5EP
  Adjudicator: Ian Jones

All classes will be represented in the Regional Final with 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in every class.  

Final 

Selected performers from the Semifinals will be invited to compete in the EPTA UK Final on 20 April 2024 at Deptford Town Hall, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW.
Adjudicator: Penelope Roskell

Prizes

Prizes awarded to each of the two semifinal winners of each of the Graded Classes as follows: 

• Preparatory £15
• Elementary £20
• Intermediate I £25
• Intermediate II £30
• Advance I £35
• Advance II £40 

Prizes awarded to each of the two semifinal winners of each of the Age Classes as follows: 

• Under 12 £30
• Under 15 £40
• Under 18 £50
• Prizes for Over 18 to be announced.

We hope to give recital opportunities for the winners, and they will be contacted nearer the time.