Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition

The New York State Music Teachers Association encourages member and non-member teachers to consider entering their accomplished students in the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition (HKESC). It takes place this year virtually in 2024. Competition levels include junior high school, high school and collegiate, with separate categories within each level for piano, voice and instrumental participants. 

ELIGIBILITY

1. All entrants must be New York State residents or a resident student attending a school in New York State.

2. A student may not enter both the MTNA and Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition in the same performance medium in the same year.

3. Previous first place winners of a category may not compete in the Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition until reaching the minimum age for the next category.

APPLICATION 

1. Application fee: Students of NYSMTA members: $35; Students of non-NYSMTA members: $50. By submitting an application, participants acknowledge that application fees are non-refundable.

2. In the event there is only one entrant in HKESC, there will be no competition for that
   category. The application fee in this case will be refunded, and the applicant will have the option to participate in the MTNA competition instead with the appropriate application and fees.

3. Every attempt will be made to announce results with winners posted online in early November. Results will be communicated to the email address used to register. Please check your primary and junk mail.
   

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REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

One composition or movement in each category fulfills the requirements. Several very short selections by the same composer may also be grouped together to form one category. Competition repertoire must demonstrate sustained, lyrical playing as well as technical agility.

TIME LIMITS

The “audition time” listed in each category indicates the amount of time adjudicators will listen. If the total duration of repertoire submitted is less than the audition time limit , all selections will be heard in their entirety.  If the total duration exceeds the audition time limit, judges will listen for the amount of time allotted (i.e. audition time), dividing listening among portions of each work submitted.  EX.  Performer submits 4 selections totaling 20 minutes.  Audition time for performer’s category is 10 minutes.  Adjudicators will listen for 10 minutes, hearing portions of each of the 4 selections.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PIANO

1. Grades 7 through 9 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 10 minutes

3. Select from at least 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.    

5. All music must be performed by memory. 

6. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

7. Award: The Eleanor MacDougal Prize in Junior High School Piano $200

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL

1. Grades 7 through 9 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 10 minutes.

3. Select from 2 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra.

6. Award: NYSMTA Junior High School Instrumental Prize $200

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PIANO

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.      

5. All music must be performed by memory.  

6. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

7. Works composed by the entrant are not allowed as competition repertoire.

8. Award: The Heddy Kilian Prize in High School Piano $350 

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOICE

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. 4 selections, which must include: (1) an Italian art song, (2) an American art song (in English), (3) an art song in a language other than Italian or English, (4) an opera or oratorio aria, or another art song of the contestant’s choice.      

4. All music must be performed by memory. 

5. Music theater songs and works written by the entrant are not allowed.  

6. Award: The Heddy Kilian Prize in High School Voice $350

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL

1. Grades 10 through 12 as of the competition year

2. Audition time: 15 minutes

3. Select from 2 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 4 or 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra.

6. Award: NYSMTA Past-Presidents’ High School Instrumental Prize $350

COLLEGIATE PIANO 

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2024

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are not allowed.

5. Repertoire for prepared piano or repertoire requiring additional equipment for its performance will not be accepted.

6. Memorization is required.

7. Award: The Hadassah Sahr Prize in Collegiate Piano $500

COLLEGIATE VOICE

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2023

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. 6 selections in total. 4 selections (art song) in contrasting styles and in a minimum of 3 languages, one of which must be English. In addition, 2 arias: one opera and one oratorio.

4. All selections must be memorized.

5. Music theater songs and works written by the entrant are not allowed. 

6. Award: NYSMTA Prize in Collegiate Voice $500  

COLLEGIATE INSTRUMENTAL 

1. 26 years of age or younger as of October 1, 2023

2. Audition time: 20 minutes

3. Select from 3 of the 5 following style categories; a work from category 5 is required. (1) Baroque (2) Classical (3) Romantic (4) Impressionist/Early 20th-Century (5) 20th & 21st-Century post-tonal and neo-tonal.

4. Concertos are allowed.

5. Memorization is not required in this category except for those works which are originally for solo and orchestra. 

6. Award: NYSMTA Prize in Collegiate Instrumental $500

TRANSCRIPTIONS AND ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS

1. This competition allows transcriptions of period works to suit repertoire requirements for instrument classifications where actual original repertoire may not be available. The transcription should remain faithful to the style period of the original. The date of the original composition determines the style period requirement satisfied by the transcription.

2. Original scores composed by competition entrants are allowed in all divisions with the exception of the High School Piano and Voice. Scores composed by the entrant must be submitted as a pdf by the application deadline. No handwritten scores will be accepted. Competitors will be notified within one week of the application deadline regarding acceptability. Any score not deemed acceptable may be substituted with a more suitable work.  

REPERTOIRE SCORES

1. Original scores must be provided for the judges. The Heddy Kilian Empire State Competition expects all entrants and accompanists to abide by the Federal Copyright Law. Works in the public domain which are available online may be used.  

2. No photocopies of scores under current copyright will be allowed unless accompanied by a letter from the publisher or the composer. Further information about Copyright Law in the United States.

ADJUDICATION

1. Judges may elect to declare no winner if competition performance standards are not met.

2. Judges’ decisions are final.

3. Due to time constraints, entrants may be stopped by the adjudicators during the performance of any work.