VCU Virginia Jazz Piano Competition

Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting a Jazz Piano Competition this fall to recognize outstanding high school jazz pianists.

Thousands of dollars in prizes!

RULES

High School students only may enter. A signature of a high school official or private piano teacher is required. Previous winners are ineligible.
Submissions required: entry form, demo CD (no cassettes), plus $5 entry fee (via check payable to “VCU Jazz Students Fund”; non-refundable). ENTRY MATERIALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
Though a quality demo CD is required, a studio recording is not. Entries will be judged on the merits of the performance itself, not on the audio quality.
The audition CD must include at least 10 and no more than 15 minutes of music and be marked with your name and the tune titles. No editing within tracks!
Repertoire must include the following:
- Track 1: a solo piano rendition of "Autumn Leaves" (Bb/Gm) in swing or ballad style. (The other two pieces may include bass or bass and drums.)
- Track 2: a swing blues.
- Track 3: a bossa nova or Afro-Cuban selection.
- Tracks 2 and 3 may be original compositions.
- Include within each tune the melody presentation and an improvised piano solo (and no solos by other instruments).
Submissions must be received by October 1. Finalist invitations will be issued October 23, with finalist auditions held the afternoon of November 4, the winner announced by December 1. No winner need be chosen if the judges find that no entry merits the award.

PRIZES
First Prize:

$2000 VCU scholarship ($1000 first year or $500 x four semesters)
$200 cash
Potential VCU Performance opening for a concert (and concert recording of same)
Assistance towards additional performances and other media relations

Second Prize:

$500 cash
Assistance towards additional performances and other media relations

Participating students will receive additional consideration towards a full in-state tuition, four-year Jazz Studies scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University!

Sponsors:

   JAMinc
   Plan 9 Music
   Richmond Jazz Society, Inc.
   Richmond Piano
   Style Weekly
   VCU Jazz Students Fund

TO ENTER

Mail your required CD recording, along with your Entry Form and $5 non-refundable Entry Fee (via check payable to "VCU Jazz Students Fund") to:

Prof. Antonio J. García, VCU Jazz
922 Park Avenue, Box 842004
Richmond VA 23284-2004
(Note that the Box number must be included.)

Download the brochure with entry form HERE.

Trouble downloading the .pdf? Click the logo to get the latest version of the Acrobat Reader. If you are still experiencing problems, try downloading the file to your computer first (right-click, "save as") and then open from there.

If none of the above techniques work for you, click here the following to download a simple image files of the brochure: page 1 | page 2

To learn about the outcome of the previous competition, click here.

Questions? Contact ajgarcia@vcu.edu