ELIGIBILITY & INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY & GENERAL INFORMATION

The goal of the Berkley Pendell Piano Competition and Festival is to celebrate the achievements of young performers and to offer participants a challenging opportunity to experience artistic growth. 

Participating students must be in grades three (3) through twelve (12) and must have studied for at least six months with the current teacher. Students may enter the same level of the Competition/Festival Division as in previous years, provided they did not win first place in the preceding year and are not over the age allowed in that Division.

All currently active ISMTA teachers are eligible to enter students. Teachers entering students are expected to assist at the competition, and essential duties will be assigned. 

Teachers must register each student using the Berkley-Pendell Enrollment Form

All applications and fees must be received by February 23, 2025. 

Student Entry Fees: Competition - $45 per student; Festival - $30 per student

Each teacher should submit one payment for all student participation fees.  Payments may be made by using Zelle or by check.  Entry fees are not refundable. Checks should be made out to “ISMTA West Suburban Joint Account” and sent to the Joint Chapters Treasurer, Linda Krueger, 1N086 Fanchon St., Carol Stream, IL 60188. Send Zelle payments to jointchapterstreasurer@gmail.com 

Auditions are open; teachers, family members, and friends of performers are welcome to attend. Upon the completion of each division, all audience members will be escorted out of the room. The Berkley-Pendell Piano Competition and Festival does not allow anyone in the room besides the judges during deliberations. 

All performers will receive Certificates of Participation and Medals in addition to professional adjudication with suggestions for continuing progress. 

Judges may choose to award first, second, and third place winners in the Competition Division, and those winners receive cash prizes. Honorable Mentions and Festival winners get special recognition, but no cash prizes are awarded.

Competition winners are invited to participate in the Celebratory Concert. Judges may also recommend outstanding Festival performers to participate. 

The Competition and Festival reserves the right to use videos or photographs of students engaged in the Event including the website, YouTube and Facebook. Enrollment in the Event constitutes consent to this policy. Berkley-Pendell follows online safety rules in this matter.