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Pine Tree Music Competition and Evaluations

​The Pine Tree Music Competition is a biennial event organized for piano and string students in Maine. It is a state level event that is designed to encourage Maine music students to work toward their highest potential by recognizing and rewarding their excellence in musical performance. â€‹It includes a non-competitive Evaluation Program for students who want to work toward a goal, but who may not be ready or willing to participate in a competition.

When

May 10, 2025 

 

Location

​Gould Academy
39 Church Street
Bethel, ME 04217

​Purpose

To offer piano and string students of Maine a state-level competition that will encourage them to work toward their highest potential by recognizing and rewarding their excellence in musical performance.

 

Eligibility

All piano and string students of Maine. Any non-MaineMTA teachers will be assessed a $60.00 fee to register their student(s).

 

NEW 4-Hand Piano Category

For Junior and Senior divisions only. Duet partners would prepare the same repertoire requirements as the solo division for their age group. Memorization would be optional. Students could choose between evaluation or competition. This  category is for 4-hand/one piano only. Pieces for 2 pianos will not be allowed.

 

Evaluation Option

For those students not interested in live competition, we offer an evaluation-only option. Students may choose to (1) perform live on May 10 at Gould Academy (performance is not open to the public), or (2) submit pre-recorded videos of their performance by May 3 and receive written feedback no later than May 10.

 

Repertoire requirements are the same as the competitive format but memorization is optional. Please note that due to the complexity of the scheduling, we will not be able to accommodate changes from evaluation to competition.  We may, however, be able to accommodate changes from competition to video evaluation.​

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Divisions

  • Early Elementary (through grade 3)

  • Late Elementary (grades 4-6)

  • Junior (grades 7-9)

  • Senior (grades 10-12)

 

Competition Awards

Monetary awards will be awarded based on sponsorship.

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Fees

  • Early & Late Elementary Division Fee $35

  • Junior & Senior Division Fee $55

  • Junior & Senior Four Hand Piano Division $30 per student

  • Non-MaineMTA Teacher Fee $60

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Registration

Online registration forms must be completed by a teacher. Click the appropriate button below to register your student(s). Registration is now closed. It ended March 1, 2025​

requirements
​​Deadlines

​Registration begins February 1, 2025 and ends March 1, 2025. Deadline to submit evaluation videos is May 3, 2025. Written feedback will be returned no later than May 10, 2025. 

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Important Competition Information

Please read the following section carefully before applying:  

  • Students must bring original music to the competition, photocopies are not allowed. Printed music that is purchased online or legally downloaded is allowed.   

  • Any names or other identification marks on the music should be covered for the purpose of anonymity.

  • Judges reserve the right to hear only a portion of the program prepared.

  • First, second and third place winners may be chosen and will be announced on the day of.

  • Judges’ decisions are final.

  • Winners will be invited to perform on the day of.

  • All awards will be judged upon the day’s performance only.  Judges’ comments will be provided to individual entrants following the competition.

  • By submitting students to the competition, teachers are committing to volunteer in some capacity on the competition day.  All participating teachers will be assigned a task.

 

Repertoire Requirement Notes

  • Solo Divisions: All pieces should be original to their instrument–no arrangements.

  • Piano Duet Division: 4-hand/one piano only.  Pieces for 2 pianos will not be allowed.  Arrangements are acceptable.

  • Ragtime is acceptable as a 20th/21st Century piece.

  • No pieces written for prepared piano.

  • No fiddle music for the strings division.

  • Strings should have a live piano accompanist for at least one of their pieces.

 

Repertoire Requirements (Piano & Strings)

Early Elementary Division - Competitors (through 3rd grade) will be required to perform, from memory, two contrasting pieces (not to exceed 5 min):  one composition from either the Baroque, Classical, or Romantic/Impressionistic period and one from the 20th/21st Century.

 

Late Elementary Division - Competitors (grades 4-6) will be required to perform, from memory, three contrasting pieces (not to exceed 9 min):  two compositions from two different periods, Baroque, Classical, or Romantic/Impressionistic period and one from the 20th/21st Century.

 

Junior Division - Competitors (grades 7-9) will be required to perform, from memory, three contrasting pieces (not to exceed 14 min):  two compositions from two different periods, Baroque, Classical, or Romantic/Impressionistic period and one from the 20th/21st Century.

 

Senior Division - Competitors (grades 10-12) will be required to perform, from memory, three contrasting pieces (not to exceed 18 min):  two compositions from two different periods, Baroque, Classical, or Romantic/Impressionistic period and one from the 20th/21st Century.

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