The Category System
The Category System divides students by instrument, skill level, and age. The system is to allow fair competition between students of peer level in the music festival.
Category Number Shorthand
Categories are abbreviated by a combination of letters and numbers called ‘Category Number’.
Ex: VN/ E7 = Violin (Instrument Category) / Entry Qualified (Category) Age 7 (Age Number)
Instrument Categories
The first letter(s) in a Category Number indicates instrument or component instruments if in an ensemble group. Below is a guide to abbreviations. More details regarding categories can be found in the specific pages for these instruments and ensemble groups.
| Primary Instruments | Other Instruments |
|---|---|
| VN = Violin | HC = Harpischord |
| VA = Viola | H = Harp |
| VC = Cello | GT = Guitar |
| DB = Bass | OB = Oboe |
| PN = Piano | FL = Flute |
| Primary Ensemble | Other Ensemble |
|---|---|
| SD = String Duet | MS = Mixed String |
| ST = String Trio | HF = Harpsichord Four Hands |
| SQ = String Quartet | HD = Harp Duet |
| PU = Piano Quintet | GD = Guitar Duet |
| PT = Piano Trio | WD = Woodwind Duet |
| PQ = Piano Quartet | WM = Mixed Woodwind |
| PF = Piano Four hands |
Category
The first letter after the ‘/’ indicates overarching categories. These categories main specify the skill level the student has registered into. Prodigy is the only exception as, in addition to skill level, it indicates repertoire number.
| Qualified | Description |
|---|---|
| E = Entry Qualified | Beginner category for students who have less than a year of formal music study. Performances are limited to 4 minutes. |
| J = Junior Qualified | Beginner category for students who have less than three years of formal music study. Performances are limited to 4 minutes. |
| Q = Qualified | A category for students who have three years or more of formal music study. Performances are limited to 4 minutes. |
| QD = Qualified Duet | A category for groups of students who would like to perform in a less competitive environment together. Performances are limited to 4 minutes. |
| QS = Qualified Sonata | A category for students performing with piano or with piano accompanist. Performances are limited to 4 minutes. |
| Grand Prize Eligible | Description |
|---|---|
| O = Open | A category for students who would like to participate in a competition with a regular competitive environment. Performances are limited to 6 minutes. |
| P = Prodigy | A category for experienced students who would like to participate in a rigorous competitive environment. Students will be expected to play 2 contrasting pieces. Performances are limited to 10 minutes. |
| PC = Prodigy Concerto | A category for experienced students who would like to participate in a rigorous competitive environment. Students will be expected to play 2 contrasting Concerto pieces. Performances are limited to 10 minutes. |
Age Category
Age Category is determined by the age of the student. However, certain categories will have multiple ages grouped together into an age range. This is due to historic low student turn-out in those particular categories. Most of these being less commonly played instruments which have been grouped together into ‘Other Instruments’.
A student’s registered age in the competition is determined by their age on November 1st of that year.