2025 SANDY UMTA PIANO FESTIVAL
SPONSORED BY THE SANDY CHAPTER UMTA
WITH THE PURPOSE OF FOSTERING EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE &
ENCOURAGING A LIFE-LONG LOVE FOR MUSIC
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For over 35 years, the Sandy UMTA has sponsored a piano festival and competition to benefit the education and pursuit of excellence of its teachers and students. With careful consideration and with the input of its members, the Sandy UMTA is continuing its festival with a few notable changes, as explained below. Please read carefully and reach out if you have questions. This new festival hopes to further the original aim of fostering excellence and a love for music in all its students and teachers.
Students may choose to perform in as many divisions as they would like, as shown below. Students cannot play the same piece in more than one division. Each competition will be held in recital format (about an hour in length) and each participant will receive written comments from qualified judges. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize will be awarded at the end of each recital competition, thus eliminating the need for a later awards recital. Students will be able to hear the performances of their peers, be exposed to more music and celebrate the achievements of each other. We look forward to welcoming more students and teachers to the festival. We hope these changes will bring a new vitality and enthusiasm for the festival.
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ELIGIBILITY: Any student who currently studies with an active member of UMTA Sandy Chapter is eligible to participate in this festival. If a student is taught by 2 teachers, both teachers must be current members of the Sandy UMTA. For 2025, any currently paid-dues member of the Sandy UMTA may enter students. Participating teachers must volunteer on one of the days of competition. To enter students in 2026, teachers must 1) attend at least 3 monthly meetings during the previous year OR 2) volunteer a minimum of 12 hours to the Sandy Chapter during the previous Chapter year.
REPERTOIRE: Chosen pieces must be selected from the Standard Classical Literature (see MTNA.org/Performance Guidelines/Composer Classification). Pedagogical pieces such as Vandall, Gillock, Mier, and method books etc., are allowed only in the Young Artists Elementary and Junior divisions. Transcriptions, arrangements, pop, Schmidt, Broadway, etc. are not accepted.
TEACHERS: We invite all teachers of the Sandy UMTA to enter students into the festival. There is a division designed for every student. The Young Artists Competition is a 1-piece competition, with three different divisions: 1) perform a pedagogical piece, 2) a Baroque or Classical piece, or 3) a Romantic or 20th Century piece. Students may participate in each option but must play a different piece in each. The Distinguished Artists Competition is a 2-piece competition, and the student must perform 2 contrasting pieces. One of the pieces must be a Baroque or Classical piece.
STUDENT DIVISIONS: Age as of September 1, 2025. Elementary (ages 12 and under), Junior (13 – 15 yrs), Senior (16 – 18yrs).
COMPETITION FORMAT: Each competition will be conducted in recital format of about 50 – 60 minutes. Students are grouped by age and level, with between 8 - 10 students per recital. Some divisions may have more than one recital, or a recital may have more than 10 students at the discretion of the chairman and number of entrants. All participants should plan to attend the duration of the recital. Judges will adjudicate the quality of the performance, as well as the difficulty. At the end of the recital, the judges will decide the winners and notify the recital host, who will announce the winners and present the awards. Judges' decisions are final. Teachers may attend but are expected to display an example of grace and professionalism. Parents, teachers and students should not approach or speak to the judges before or after the competition and respect the judges' decisions. No photography or video recording will be permitted during the competition recitals.
REGISTRATION: Student registrations must include a copy of the student’s birth certificate. Students cannot request a specific judging date or time. Teachers submit each student’s registration and one combined check for their entire studio postmarked no later than October 7th, 2025 mailed to Cassandra Broadhead 9840 S. Countrywood Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092 or submitted at the meeting on Oct. 7th. Please direct any questions to Cassie at 801.918.5431.
We invite all teachers in the Sandy Chapter UMTA to enter their students into the festival.
We look forward to welcoming all students to the festival.
YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITIONS
~ ONE PIECE MEMORIZED ~
3 Divisions & Time limits ~ Elementary 4 minutes ~ Junior 5 minutes ~ Senior 6 minutes
Age is determined as of September 1, 2025 ~ Elementary (12 and under) ~ Junior (13 - 15 yrs) ~ Senior (16 - 18yrs).
3 Competition categories: ~ Pedagogical & non-classical (Elementary and Junior division only, no Senior division) ~ Baroque & Classical
~ Romantic & 20th century
*A student cannot play the same music in both the Young Artists and Distinguished Artists Competition.
Judging: Students will be judged by qualified judges on the quality of the performance, not just the difficulty.
The quality includes musicality, style, tempo, technique, memory, as well as difficulty.
Entry Fee: $25 per student, per each division entered. The same music cannot be played in more than 1 division.
Dates: November 7, 8, 2025 at Riverton Music, 9550 South East Frontage Road, Sandy, Utah.
DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS COMPETITION
~ TWO PIECES MEMORIZED ~
Students will select two pieces from contrasting periods of the standard classical literature.
One piece must be from the Baroque or Classical period. No pedagogical pieces, transcriptions, pop, etc.
3 Divisions & Time Limits: ~ Elementary 6 min ~ Junior 8 min. ~ Senior 10 min.
Age is determined as of September 1, 2025 ~ Elementary (12 and under) ~ Junior (13 - 15 yrs) ~ Senior (16 - 18yrs).
*A student cannot play the same music in both the Young Artists and Distinguished Artists Competitions.
Judging: Students will be judged by qualified judges on the quality of the performance, not just the difficulty.
The quality includes musicality, style, tempo, technique, memory, as well as difficulty.
Entry Fee: $40.00 per student
Dates: November 21 - 22, 2025, at Daynes Music, 6935 S. State Street, Midvale, Utah.