Chopin Festival

This event is open to students of MTAC San Diego Branch members. Teachers must login to view the registration information below.

EVENT DATE: May 10, 2025
LOCATION: First Presbyterian Church of San Diego
REGISTRATION OPENS: March 16, 2025
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 1, 2025

PURPOSE
To showcase Chopin’s solo piano works, and encourage the highest level of Chopin piano performance for students of all MTACSD teachers. This event is open to students 19 years old and under.*
(*Student age as of the event date)

CATEGORIES
Division I - Waltz or Mazurka
Division II - Etude
Division III - Nocturne
Division IV - Impromptu or Polonaise
Division V - Scherzo, Ballade, Barcarolle, or Fantaisie
Division VI - Open (non-competitive)
Other Works - (competitive)**

If any category has 20 or more contestants, the category will be divided into two groups. These two groups, one younger and one older, will each have their own 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. After registration is complete, but before the competition takes place, the dividing age will be chosen to create relatively equal-sized groups.

**If a student wishes to compete with a miscellaneous Chopin piece that is not listed in the categories above, the piece will be entered in an existing competitive category (Division I through V) at the sole discretion of the event chair. The event chair will determine the appropriate existing category for this miscellaneous piece based upon the difficulty level and the style of the piece entered. Neither the teacher of the student nor the student performing the miscellaneous piece may request a specific division.

REPERTOIRE
Performers will play the repertoire in its entirety or an entire movement of a Sonata. There will be no time limit.

JUDGING
The panel will consist of qualified, impartial judges. The judges will choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category. Ties are not allowed. Decisions of the judges are final. Participating teachers and parents are not allowed to contact the judges at any point regarding the competition nor the competition results.

New or Contributory members must have joined the San Diego branch 30 days before the registration deadline, in order to participate in the Chopin Festival.

Teachers must be logged in to view the Student Registration Instructions below.