Baroque Competition

Description and Purpose of Event

Solo, chamber (including piano duets), or concerto performance for Competition presented to a panel of judges and an audience in a recital format. Performances will be divided into roughly 1 hour programs. Selected winners will perform the following day at the Baroque Celebration Concert (winner’s recital).

Eligibility

Students of active teacher members of the HMTA branch. Students must be no older than High School Senior.

Repertoire Requirement

Music in Baroque style roughly from 1600-1750. Examples of composers and music collections include Handel, Hook, Purcell, Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach (including his sons, if composed before 1750), Daquin, Rameau, Couperin, Scarlatti, and others. Pieces from The Notebook for A.M. Bach are welcome.

Performance practice

Repeats are not allowed unless phrasing, dynamics, or articulation is altered on the repeats, ornaments are added on the repeats, or if the piece is under two minutes.

Registration Deadline and Info

Applications and online payments must be received by Saturday, September 26.

Check payments – postmarked by Wednesday, September 30. Mail to the treasurer:

Sergei Savitski
5707 McKnight St
Houston, TX 77035

Event Fees

$41 per student / discounted rate of $40 per student when paying via Zelle or Check.

Click the button at the bottom of this page to fill out and submit registration form for Baroque Competition (step 1), AND to pay registration fee (step 2). Please ensure that you do not close your window before finishing the checkout process, as your registration will remain incomplete.

Event Requirements and/or Rules

Student must be at the site 15 minutes before the scheduled program start time with their original music scores with measures numbered. Students are expected to stay for the entire program. Any student arriving after the performance begins or leaving before the end of their program will be allowed to perform, but will not be considered for the winner’s recital. Music must be performed by memory. If you have siblings in the competition or any special requests, please indicate on the application. 

NOTE: Changes to all the student’s repertoire information will be allowed up to one week prior to the event.

About fifteen (15) students will be chosen as winners and will perform in a winner’s recital on Sunday, October 18, 2026 – 2:30 PM.

Teacher Responsibility: All teachers entering students into this event are expected to assume they will be needed all day. Teachers will receive their scheduled duties one week before the event (October 10). If you are unable to attend and help then you will be required to send a responsible substitute in your place. This is a good opportunity for students to earn community service. The final decision on scheduling and related aspects of the event rests with the chairman.

Setting & Dress Code

Recital dress and shoes are expected. The competition and the winner’s recital take place on a stage in a recital format. The audience is expected to stay for the entire program.

Awards

All students will receive comments, participation ribbons, and participation certificates. Additionally, high school winners will receive a $50 prize (up to six high school students will be picked). Selected winners will perform at the Baroque Celebration Concert (winners’ recital) and receive trophies.

Any student unable to perform will not receive their trophy and an alternate performer will take his/her place.