COMPETITION RULES

Rule 1 – AGE DETERMINATION:
• All contestants are required to upload “proof of age” at the time of entry, except returning contestants who have provided such documents before.

Rule 2 – ORIGINAL MUSIC Required:
(a) Contestants are required to bring their own music.
(b) For categories with own choice of music, NOTE: original music or legally purchased-online music must be provided for the judges (no illegal photocopies are permitted).

Rule 3– MEMORIZATION & REPEATS:
(1-a) ALL music must be performed from memory.
(1-b) Except Duet & Duo events, which can be performed with music.
(2-a) No “repeat” is allowed in any of the HTC designated/preselected pieces, unless instructed in the syllabus to do so. 
(2-b) Showcase piano & instrumental contestants may choose to repeat their music, if time allows.

Rule 4- TIME LIMIT FOR ALL CONTESTANTS:
(1) All pieces contestants play shall not longer than 8 minutes during the competition.
(2) All pieces contestants play shall not longer than 5 minutes during performance at the Prizes winner’s Concert.

Rule 5 – 2023 Official Accompanying Policies:
a. The Accompanying Registration Fee collected at the time of registration covers ONE rehearsal (not to exceed an hour) plus the actual competition itself.
b. The accompanist will provide a rehearsal place unless the contestant has a better place and the accompanist agrees to use it.
c. ALL First Place Winners will require the assistance of their accompanists at the designated Prize Winners’ Concerts. An additional fee of $70 should be paid directly to the accompanist.
d. Contestants are welcome to request additional rehearsal(s) with their assigned accompanists, to be arranged and paid directly between the contestants and their assigned accompanists.
e. All staff accompanists are assigned to contestants by the Accompanying Director. When entering an event that requires an accompanist, contestants may request for a certain accompanist from the official accompanists’ list. The Accompanying Director and his scheduling team will make every effort to assign that accompanist to the contestant (if at all possible). Because of multiple events that are going on simultaneously each day, it is impossible to guarantee that all requests be granted, even though they will be seriously considered. Once the accompanists are assigned, no request to “switch” accompanists will be allowed. There is no exception to this rule.
f. All students must schedule rehearsal and provide music to their assigned staff accompanist no later than July 15 th, 2019. The HTC does not schedule any rehearsals between the contestants and their assigned staff accompanist; it is solely the responsibility of the contestants. The piano parts provided by the contestant to the staff accompanist must be the same edition (in legible quality) as the contestant’s instrumental solo part. Negligence or failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the student’s participation in the competition, without a refund.

Rule 6 – FOR ALL PRIZE WINNERS:
All prize winners (including 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners) must attend the concerts to receive their awards.

All Winners whether performing or not, must attend their designated Prize Winners’ Concerts on Friday, July 26th, 2019 in order to receive their certificates, medals and cash awards. Only First place winners receive cash awards. Winners are expected to attend the Prize Winners’ Concerts in formal attire. No one is permitted to receive a medal for an absentee. If a winner cannot attend the concert(s), he/she may request the medal(s) to be mailed to them (for which a $25 shipping and handling fee will apply).