1. Eligibility

The Andrew De Grado Biennial Piano Debut Competition for piano soloists and piano accompanists is open to American born or naturalized American citizens age twenty-three and above, currently residing in the Eastern Coastal Region of the United States as listed below. Note: Instrumentalist or vocalist, who performs with the piano accompanist, must also be American born or a naturalized American citizen currently residing in the United States.

2. Musical Qualifications

The competition is open to all pianists who have not had a formal debut that was reviewed. All pianists have the opportunity to compete whether they have studied music privately, at a college, or at a music conservatory. The pianist’s present occupation will have no bearing on their eligibility to compete.

3. Award

The Piano Soloist Winner will be presented in a combined New York City Debut Recital with the Piano Accompanist Winner. Each winner will have equal time on the entire program. However, in the event only one winner is chosen due to the high standards set by the Adjudicator Chairman, the single winner, either a piano soloist or a piano accompanist will perform the entire 75-minute program.

Note: In the event a Piano Accompanist is one of the winners or the only winner, the same instrumentalist or vocalist who performed on the submitted video and audio recordings will be required to perform with the winning piano accompanist.

4. Piano Accompanist Category

The Piano Accompanist chooses either one instrumentalist or one vocalist only. The Piano Accompanist who is chosen to compete in the Semi-finals, Finals or Winners’ Concert must perform with the same instrumentalist or vocalist who performed on the submitted video and audio recordings. A substitute performer for the instrumentalist or vocalist will not be accepted.

5. Music Chosen by Pianist

Music submitted (audition video and audio recording) for the Preliminaries is the music that the winning-competitor will perform in its entirety at the New York City Debut. It is also the music that is to be played for the Foundation’s panel of judges at the Semifinals and Finals. No changes or substitutes to the program will be allowed. Choose music from your repertoire that you feel most comfortable playing. It should be music that you play best and that you truly enjoy.

- Piano Soloist Category: Music is performed from memory.
- Piano Accompanist Category: Music may or may not be performed from memory.

6. Semifinals & Finals

- Competitors reaching the Semifinals segment are required to bring three photocopies of their music with them to the Semifinals.

- All competitors entering the Semifinals and Finals are to be prepared to perform the entire program or any part of the program. The judges will decide whether the pieces are to be heard in their entirety or portions.

7. Preliminaries, Semifinals, and Finals

All decisions made by the Foundation’s judges are final. Competitors shall not make contact nor speak with the judges during the competition. Any violation of this rule will disqualify the competitor. No judge will participate in the evaluation of any competitor who is related to, or is, or has been a student of said adjudicator.

8. Dress Code

Appropriate dress must be adhered to for the Winner’s Concert.

- Ladies: Evening gown or formal style long dress
- Gentlemen: Tuxedo or black suit with tie.

9. Mail Application to:

Andrew George De Grado Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1064, Springfield, NJ 07081-1064
A non-refundable check, bank draft, or money order in the amount of $75.00, is to be made payable to: Andrew George De Grado Foundation, Inc.

- Application Form (typewritten, completed & signed)
- Applicant Agreement/Release Statement (signed)

Note: Applying to the Competition constitutes acceptance by the competitor of all published rules, regulations and procedures.
Rules may be amended only by action of the Competition Executive Committee.

10. Postage

Applicants who wish to have their video and audio recording returned, must include a $10.00 shipping charge along with the $75.00 enrollment fee. Video and audio recordings will be returned to applicant via U.S. Postal Service “Priority Mail.”

11. Audition Video and Audio Recordings

Accepted only if performed within the period of May 9, 2004 through May 9, 2005.
Both recordings are to be submitted:

- One video recording (VHS or DVD)
- One audio recording (CD or audiocassette)

Time: Maximum of 75 minutes (which is to include a short encore)

12. Repertoire

- Choose from the following periods: Baroque, Romantic, Classical, Impressionistic or Contemporary.
- List of repertoire must include the composer’s full name, exact title and movement (if applicable) of each work, including opus number or equivalent, and exact time of each work as performed by applicant.

13. Documents

Photocopy of applicant’s birth certificate, driver’s license or passport, which states proof of age.
Do not send original documents, as they will not be returned.

14. Biography

Typewritten brief biographical profile of pianist suitable for program and publication.
Also, piano accompanist is to include a similar biographical profile of their instrumentalist or vocalist.

15. Photographs

- Piano Soloist - submit recent photograph.
- Piano Accompanist – submit recent photograph of piano accompanist with soloist (instrumentalist or vocalist).

16. Important

The Foundation accepts NO RESPONSIBILITY for lost recordings and documents.
All application material submitted becomes the property of the Andrew George De Grado Foundation, Inc.

Note: The Foundation suggests that applicants should retain copies of all materials sent with their application.

17. Deadline - May 9, 2005

Completed application, required documents, and recordings (audio & video) must be postmarked by May 9, 2005. Applications received after deadline date will not be accepted.

The Andrew De Grado Biennial Piano Debut Competition is made possible in cooperation with:

Kean University School of Visual and Performing Arts
Dean Carole Shaffer-Koros

Dr. Mark Terenzi, Chair of the Music Department

Lindsay Gambini, Director of Theatre Management & Programming

Kean University Foundation

Kean University Relations
Robert "Bob" Cole, Vice President