Festival rules for each competition and the Chinese Instrument and Voice category are listed below, followed by general information.
FESTIVAL RULES
CONFUCIUS COMPETITION
Eligibility, Instrument Categories and Age Divisions
Open to cellists, pianists and violinists ages 5 to 18. There are four age divisions for each category: Youth (age 8 and under), Junior 1 (9-11), Junior II (12-14), and Senior (15-18). A minimum of 3 contestants is required in order to hold the competition for a given age division and instrument.
Competitors who are previous first-prize winners in an age division group must compete in the next higher age division. All other contestants must compete within their designated age division.
Repertoire
All contestants are required to perform two pieces from memory without the repeats. Before performing, contestants must announce each piece and composer. The two pieces include:
• A Chinese piece selected from the Required Chinese Music Repertoire List.
• A piece of the contestant’s choice.
Contestants must bring the original score of each piece, plus one additional xerox copy for the judges. Each and every measure must be numbered on the original and the copy. These MUST be presented at the time of registration, otherwise the contestant will risk disqualification.
Performance Times
Total performance times for all divisions are limited to the following:
| Youth Division | 6 min |
| Junior I Division | 8 min |
| Junior II Division | 8 min |
| Senior Division | 10 min |
| Amei Hu Lin Scholarship | 12 min |
| Virginia Geyser Behrendt Scholarship | 12 min |
Awards and Recognition
CASH PRIZES
The total cash prize of $4,000 will be distributed as awards to first, second and third place winners designated by the judges for each age division in each instrument category as summarized below.
| Division | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize |
| Youth | $100 | $75 | $50 |
| Junior I, II | $150** | $100 | $75 |
| Senior | $200* | $150 | $100 |
FIRST PRIZE WINNER RECOGNITION
First prize winners in each division and category will be invited to perform at the annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Winner’s Concert.
AMEI HU LIN SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Eligibility
Open to musicians ages 18 or younger. A minimum of 3 contestants/groups is required to hold the competition. In order to be eligible for this competition, ALL of the musicians in the ensemble (if any given year is not a solo competition) must meet the age requirements and enter the competition as part of an ensemble group.
Repertoire
Contestants are required to perform a required Chinese piece from memory without the repeats. The competition committee designates the required piece each year for different instruments and ensemble groups.
Contestants must bring the original score of each piece, plus one additional xerox copy for the judges. Each and every measure must be numbered on the original and the copy. These MUST be presented at the time of registration, otherwise the contestant will risk disqualification.
Award and recognition
The winner will receive a scholarship of $500 and will be invited to perform at the annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Winner’s Concert.
VIRGINIA GEYSER BEHRENDT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Eligibility
Open to musicians ages 25 or younger. A minimum of 3 contestants/groups is required to hold the competition. In order to be eligible for this competition, ALL of the musicians in the ensemble (if any given year is not a solo competition) must meet the age requirements and enter the competition as part of an ensemble group.
Repertoire
Contestants are required to perform the required Chinese piece from memory without the repeats if it is a solo competition. Contestants may use the music scores to perform an ensemble piece. The competition committee designates the required piece each year for different instruments and ensemble groups.
Contestants must bring the original score of each piece, plus one additional xerox copy for the judges. Each and every measure must be numbered on the original and the copy. These MUST be presented at the time of registration, otherwise the contestant will risk disqualification.
Awards and Recognition
The Virginia Geyser Behrendt Scholarship winner will receive a scholarship of $1200 (joint award of $1200 for ensemble group winner) and will be invited to perform at the annual Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Winner’s Concert.
CHINESE INSTRUMENT AND VOICE CATEGORY (CIVC)
Eligibility
Open to non-professional players of all Chinese instruments and vocalists of all age groups. A minimum of 3 participants is required to hold the festival.
Total Performance Time
Each participant will have a total performance time of 10 minutes.
Repertoire
Participants are invited to perform a Chinese repertoire piece of their choice.
All participants are required to perform pieces from memory. Before performing, participants must announce their piece and composer.
Participants must bring an original score of each piece, plus one additional xerox copy for the judges. Each and every measure must be numbered on the original and the copy. These MUST be presented at the time of registration, otherwise the participant will risk disqualification.
Award and recognition
All participants will be awarded a MFHC-CIVC Certificate of Participation, along with the judges’ comment sheets, which will be mailed to them by the Music Festival committee.
At their discretion, the judges and the MFHC committee may select a participant from the Chinese Instruments Category to perform at the Annual MFHC Winners Concert in November. If selected, the participant will be informed by the Music Festival committee.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Age Eligibility
Age eligibility for all competitions is determined by the contestant’s age as of September 28, the birthday of Confucius.
Confucius Competition and Chinese Instrument and Voice Category participation rewards – HUANG ZHONG TROPHIES
The Huang Zhong (“yellow bell”) plays an important symbolic role in Chinese music. In ancient times this object was used to set the pitch of Chinese musical instruments. Each year, participants in the Confucius competition and Chinese Instrument and Voice Category earn “Huang Zhong merit points” based on their performance score. Each contestant who accumulates a certain number of merit points, detailed below, for a given instrument category will receive a Huang Zhong trophy. Points are accumulated within an instrument category.
POINT REWARD SYSTEM
| Performance Rating | Points Given |
| Superior | Five |
| Excellent | Four |
| Very Good | Three |
| Good | Two |
| Accumulated Merit Point | Trophy Level |
| First 12 merit points | Bronze |
| Second 12 merit points (Total 24 points) | Brass |
| Third 12 merit points (Total 36 points) | Gold |
Judges and Winner Decision/ Notification
All competition judges are accomplished professional musicians, music educators, and specialists in their respective performing arts field. Judges will select the winners in all competitions, and their decisions are final. Winners will be informed by the Music Festival committee.
Winners Concert
All first prize winners will be invited to perform at the Music Festival Winners’ Concert. The Music Festival Committee will select the concert program. At the Committee’s discretion, a participant in the Chinese Instrument and Voice Category may also be invited to perform. A performing winner is expected to honor his/her performance commitment after the program has been decided, and shall perform only the assigned piece.
Ordering Chinese Music
Music may be ordered by contacting Chinese Fine Arts Society at mfhc@chinesefinearts.org. Reference copies are available at Sherwood Community Music School (312-369-3100) and the Chinatown Branch of the Chicago Public Library (312-747-8013).
Purchase music books on line at the CFAS store.
Disclaimer
The Music Festival committee reserves the right to modify competition procedures and to enforce contest rules as necessary. Participants shall be notified of changes and updates via email.
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