Competition Rules and Guidelines

• The competition will be open to all students currently enrolled at Bowling Green State University. Before entering, contestants must have fulfilled respectively their piano and voice department jury requirements at the College of Musical Arts. There will be two divisions in which to compete—undergraduate and graduate. The singer’s academic rank will determine which division the team falls.
• Each singer/pianist duo team will seek each other out to form their collaboration; they will not be matched by any other process. Both artists must have prior approval from their respective studio teachers, whose nomination by signature will be an integral part of the application form. All applications are due by 5:00pm on March 2, 2012.
• Each duo will be required to prepare six (6) songs for the competition, with at least one song in each of the following languages: French, German, Italian and English. Each duo must also prepare at least one song from each of the following periods: Classical, Romantic and 20th century, as well as one song by a living composer. The remaining selections may be in any language and from any period the competitors may choose, with no more than two (2) songs in English. (Works must be from six (6) different composers.)
• Singers must be prepared to perform all of their selections from memory; pianists are permitted to use music.
• The judges will choose selections they wish to hear. The judges are required to hear no less than two selections per team lasting no more than 10 minutes.
• The first-prize winners are free to compete the following year in a different division, if they are eligible. Second- and third-prize winners may compete again the following year in the same or different divisions. Pianists may enter three times, i.e. with three different singers.
• Performers will be judged on the following criteria: technical, interpretive, musical and language skills as well as collaborative ability.