Performance Time Limit: 5 minutes

Application Fee: $50 solo performer; $40 per student for Duets, $35 per student Ensembles

Baroque Festival Rules:

• The Baroque Festival is open to all levels of piano, instrumental, and voice students, both solos and ensembles. In addition, repertoire that is chronologically Pre-Classical but stylistically Baroque will be accepted. Contact the Festival Chair or Festival Administrator with repertoire questions.    

• Students will receive awards of medals, ribbons, and certificates based entirely on adjudicators’ decisions. Students may enter a Non-Competitive category if they prefer to only receive adjudicator comments. Otherwise, students are separated into the following age categories: ages 11 and under, ages 12-14, ages 15-18, and adult. The top 25% of students in each age category receive 1st Place Medals, the next 25% of students in each category receive 2nd Place Blue Ribbons, the next 25% of students receive Honorable Mention Red Ribbons, and the next 25% receive a Yellow Participation Ribbon.

• Teachers may enter an unlimited number of students.
• Each student must actually study with the teacher who is entering him/her in the festival, and should have studied with the teacher for six months prior to the festival, unless permission is given by the previous teacher, or the teacher change was necessary because of a geographic move.
• There is a five minute time limit per performer. Pieces longer than five minutes may be ended by the presider. 
• Please remember that a MAXIMUM of TWO pieces per student are allowed ONLY if they are by the SAME COMPOSER AND from the SAME COLLECTION. Each piece must be under TWO minutes.
• All music must be memorized with the exception of duets, ensembles, and accompanists.
• Music should be in its original form NOT simplified or transcribed.
• No keyboard concerti will be allowed.
• Grounds for festival disqualification include failure to bring music for the judges, bringing photocopied music, performance of a piece other than the piece entered, and incomplete or inaccurate entry applications. In addition, accompanists cannot use photocopied music except to facilitate a page turn.
• Teachers are expected to work at the festivals in which they have entered students; failure to do so may result in a monetary fine or other penalties.
• Teachers may not accompany their own students.
• Parents may only videotape their son or daughter’s performance.

Baroque Festival Teacher Postage Fee link

If teachers are unable to attend the branch meeting on March 11, 2026 and wish to have the result packet mailed, please submit $11.90 (or current flat rate) for postage (USPS Priority Mail flat rate) at the Baroque Festival Teacher Postage Fee link.      

Reminder: No checks or cash will be accepted. Registration and postage fees are non-refundable.

Absolutely NO CHANGES, ADDITIONS, OR LATE ENTRIES will be accepted after the January 12, 2026 deadline as the website registration will close automatically.

After the registration deadline:
Participating teachers will receive information on students’ performance time, teachers’ work schedule, and map/directions via email.

On the festival day:
Make sure that each student knows the rules for recital etiquette, dresses appropriately, and brings a copy of the music (NO PHOTOCOPIES) with measures numbered.

Within a few days of the festival:
The Medal winners and Blue Ribbon winners will be posted on the mtac-occ.org webpage by student numbers. Certificates, evaluation sheets, medals, and ribbons may be picked up at the March 11, 2026 Branch Meeting.