11:59 pm on June 30 Pacific Time marks the deadline for entry in the Seattle International Piano Competition. Participants must prepare a free program (no minimum number of works or required style periods). The preliminary round is conducted by a blind selection committee from video links. The purpose of video is for staff confirmation only; no committee listening member has access to video footage.
Here are some tips, rules, and guidelines when preparing your video links for submission (due at the time of application).
- Audio quality is the most important! Ensure your audio is of sufficient quality to convey the details and qualities of the performer
- Most video recorders’ built in microphone setup is poor for this purpose, compressing audio and “flattening” the sound; strongly consider an external recording source for your audio
- Video quality needn’t be production-quality clarity; it need only show the performer’s hands and face
- The video angle must be fixed, and clearly show the performer’s hands and face at all times
- Do not identify yourself! Do not speak or include voices or other identifiers in the audio. Naturally, your links may have whatever text you wish; the listening panel will not see these
- The performance must commence within the first 5 seconds of footage; our committee’s time is valuable, and they have many entries to review throughout the months of June and July
- Include a separate link for each work that you submit; or at the least, chapter marks to easily identify starting points of different works on a single long video
Most importantly, make sure your links are openly accessible without special passwords or account privileges! Your entry cannot be selected if the panel cannot hear your performance
Karina-
Dear Mr.Christofer Bowlby,
I have a question regarding length of the program.
Should we not repeat an Exposition of the Sonata Form, even when it has a slight difference between 1st and 2nd ending?
(Example: Brahms- Sonata in F Minor op.5, 1st movement).
Thank you very much in advance for your attention towards this issue.
Sincerely,
Karine. Bagdasarian.
Christopher Bowlby-
Dear Ms. Bagdasarian,
It is your prerogative whether or not you wish to include repetitions in your works. It is not required. However, if your repeats contain interesting nuance you feel helps distinguish your entry, by all means, include the repeat. If you are worried only about 1st/2nd ending differences, you needn’t be. Omitting repeats is very common, even if there will be a few less notes. You will not be penalized in any way.
We hope this helps.
-SIPF