The Student Performers’ Guild Festival is an integral part of the Vancouver/Burnaby Branch. Its primary goal is to provide learning opportunities for students in a supportive and encouraging environment; its secondary goal is to distribute scholarships and awards to deserving young musicians. Registration is open to all students of the Vancouver/Burnaby Branch members as well as its STA members.

The SPG Festival is a workshop style festival, where students will get a chance to work with the adjudicator at the piano in front of the other students.

For more information on the history of this important Branch activity, please  CLICK HERE

The SPG Committee wishes to thank our sponsor Tom Lee Music Ltd for generously providing the festival pianos and a portion of the scholarship prizes to be awarded in 2024.

2024 SPG FESTIVAL INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE:

• If you cannot find an entry, it may have been reclassified due to the SPG Rules and Regulations regarding class and level.

• All participating teachers will be contacted shortly by the Adjudicator Assistant Coordinator regarding volunteer adjudicator assistant signup.

* * * * *

FESTIVAL DATES: February 20-24, 2024

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 23, 2024 at 10:00pm

ADJUDICATORS:

• Jean Brown, BC - Elementary, Junior & Intermediate Adjudicator

• Miranda Wong, BC - Senior Adjudicator

FESTIVAL VENUE: Unitarian Church of Vancouver (949 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver BC, V5Z 2T1)

SPG RULES & REGULATIONS: CLICK HERE

REGISTRATION GUIDE: CLICK HERE

2024 FEES & TIME LIMITS: CLICK HERE

2024 REGISTRATION WORKSHEET: CLICK HERE

2024 SPG FESTIVAL PROGRAM: CLICK HERE

HONOUR RECITAL 2024:

• ​Date: Sunday, March 10, 2024
• Time: 6:00-8:00PM
• Venue: Unitarian Church of Vancouver (949 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver)

2024 HONOURS CONCERT PROGRAM: CLICK HERE

2024 LIST OF AWARD RECIPIENTS: CLICK HERE

FOR ENQUIRIES: contact spg@bcrmta.org

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

• Chair - David Vandereyk
• Treasurer - Torey Zachary/ Brenda Lam
• Scheduler - Barbara Siemens
• Adjudicator Coordinator - Susan Chan
• Webmaster - Hailey Wong
• Adjudicator Assistant Coordinator - Gaye Alcott
• Awards Coordinator -  Emily Logan
• Venue/Piano Coordinator - Rebecca Cheng

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

1. Parents will be registering and paying entry fees for their children through individual accounts with the guidance of their teachers; therefore, it is essential that teachers read the SPG Rules and Regulations.

2. It is the responsibility of the teacher/participant to ensure all entry information is correct. While the festival committee makes every effort to ensure all entries are in the correct class, we accept no responsibility if an entry has been made incorrectly – teachers are expected to check the confirmation emails sent to them by the SPG once their student has registered. If a piece is entered in the wrong level or category, the performance will be heard and adjudicated but no mark or rank will be awarded.

3. Teacher's confirmation emails from the SPG may end up in the spam/junk mail folders, so please check there for them.

4. TEACHER VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT: The SPG is a community effort and the support of the branch members is both appreciated and essential. In order for the Festival to run effectively, volunteer assistants are required for each 2-3 hour session. Teachers will be notified when the schedule is posted in early February with an email and a link to the volunteer sign-up sheet. The students of teachers who do not volunteer, do not provide an alternate, or are absent from their assisting session without providing a replacement, will be ineligible for scholarships, awards and trophies.

5. BEVERLEY KAGNOFF AWARD: Each year, the Committee will select a class category in which $40 will be given to the highest mark for each level, 1 to 12. For 2024, the class category will be the BAROQUE CLASS.

6. There is no piano warmup or tryout at the festival venue.

1. DIVISIONS

• Preparatory (Pre Level 1)
• Elementary (Levels 1, 2, 3)
• Junior (Levels 4, 5, 6)
• Intermediate (Levels 7, 8, 9)
• Senior (Levels 10, 11, 12)
• Adult (students 19 years and older as of January 1, 2022)

2. CLASS CATEGORIES

• Solo - Levels 1 to 12 (Preparatory Level is entered as Concert Group only)
  • Baroque (BA)– music written approx. 1600-1750
  • Classical Levels (CL) 1-9 - music written approx.1750-1825 including Sonatinas and Sonatas
  • Classical Levels (CL) 10-12 - music written approx. 1750-1825, complete and incomplete Sonatas as listed in the current RCM Syllabus; should fewer than the required number of movements be played, the performance will not be eligible for a rank or award
  • Romantic (RO) – music written approx. 1820-1870
  • Post Romantic/Impressionistic (PR) - music written approx. 1870-1910
  • 20th/21st Century (TC) - excluding Canadian compositions
  • Canadian (CA) - music either composed or arranged by Canadian Composers
  • Own Choice (OC) - for repertoire not listed in any current syllabus, incomplete sections, or when students wish to play more than one piece in a specific style/class
  • Technical Study (TS) - memory is compulsory (including RCM Popular Selections); pieces listed in the current RCM Etude book must be entered in this category or in a Concert Group.

• Concert Group (CG) - Preparatory to Level 12

  • Preparatory students may enter 2 or 3 pieces, *please note* this is the only class  available for the Preparatory Level.
  • Three selections are played in one group, chosen from contrasting styles (including Technical Studies).
  • Selections should be as listed in the RCM syllabus, except "Classical" pieces which are ONE movement only.
  • One of the selections may be chosen from the next grade higher.
  • Pieces may not be entered in any other class.

• Mini Lessons (ML) - Levels 1 to 12

  • Lesson time with the adjudicator may be selected as 15 minutes or 30 minutes.
  • The performance should take no more than 25% of the time allotted
  • There are no medals, marks, written adjudications or certificates awarded in the Mini-Lesson category
  • Pieces may be "in progress" or partially complete.
  • Memory is not required.
  • The mini-lesson will be scheduled during the Festival dates.

• Ensemble (EN) - Levels 1 to 12

  • One partner may be one level above or below the level entered.
  • Only one piano is available on site.