IMA STATE OLYMPIC COMPETITION CONTEST REGISTRATION/INFORMATION

contest info pdf

A) Membership in the IMA is not necessary to enter the competition.

B) Any one may enter upon acceptance by the IMA Contest Committee.

C) There is no age limit. Contestant’s age is official as of the first day of the contest.

D) All competitors should enter through their teacher or school.

A)  The entry deadline is March 6, 2023.

B)  Registration forms may be submitted in 2 ways:

  1. Online; paid using a credit card or PayPal

  2. Printed and submitted using standard US mail, accompanied by the Contest Worksheet(s), Day Preference Sheet, and one check for the total amount of entry fees. Registration forms submitted through the mail should be address to:

    Illinois Music Association 5004 N. Canfield Norridge, IL. 60706

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Piano: Cadet through Intermediate levels

SATURDAY ONLY
Piano: Adult classes
Piano Duets: Cadet thru Intermediate levels Piano Trios
All Vocals
All Accordion
All Drums
All Guitar

SUNDAY ONLY
Piano Solo: Senior Required, Senior Open, & Virtuoso levels Piano Duets: Senior & Virtuoso levels
All Strings
All Mixed Duets

A)  Entry Fees: All competitors shall pay the required entry fee. In addition, all piano students who submit a day preference will pay an additional $1.00. (See “Piano Solo Day Preference Fee” below for additional information.

B)  Soloist Entry Fee: (for each entry)

    1. Student of Member School: $32.00 (& optional piano day preference fee) 

                  2. Student of Non Member School: $37.00 (& optional piano day preference fee)

C)  Duets:

    1. Students of Member School: $34.00 for each duet.

    2. Student of Non Member School: $40.00 for each duet.

D) Non – Directed Ensembles

  1.   Each Student of Member School: $14.00 each member of group.

  2. Each Student of Non-Member School: $19.00 each member of group.

E) Directed Bands and Other Groups:

  1. Each Student of Member School: $7.00 each contestant in group.
  2. Each Student of Non Member School:  $12.00 each contestant in group
  3. Band Director, Member School:  No Fee
  4.  Band Director, Non Member school: $6.00 (per each group directed.) 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PIANO CONTESTANTS: Before submitting applications, check with parents regarding Graduations, Weddings, etc. If the piano student is competing in more than one category, or has brothers or sisters in the contest, the family may request a PIANO day preference to have all contest activities scheduled for the same day (subject to the day preference fee).

A) To help accommodate requests for piano solo contestants to perform on a specific day (Saturday or Sunday), there will be a $1.00 per entry handling fee. Indicate on the registration form, the day when the piano solo contestant would like to perform.

B)  If we cannot accommodate the requested scheduling, the handling fee will be refunded. Further, if we cannot accommodate the request and the contestant is unable to play, the entry fee will be refunded.

C)  We cannot accommodate requests for specific days for piano solos after the entries have been submitted.

D)  Requests for specific performance times will not be honored.

A contestant may not enter more than once in any particular category (Solo, Duet, Group) using the same instrument or instrumental family. This restriction does not apply to Vocal Solos, Drum Solos, or the Senior category in Piano Solos where a student may enter both Senior Open and the Senior Required classes. (Refer to the particular instrument for details.)

A) An adult contestant is any contestant, 19 years of age or older and who is not a professional musician or music teacher. Adult contestants may indicate age by number or “A” for adult.

B)  Adult contestants performing in the Piano or String categories, must choose music from the required or suggested music lists. Adult contestants performing in the Drums or Guitar categories, may choose from the suggested lists or submit a copy of their music with their registration form for approval and to be placed in the correct level.

C)  Instrumental adult classes consist of the levels approximately equal to the following music list levels:

Level 1 – Cadet and Elementary
Level 2 – Junior
Level 3 – Intermediate and Senior
A)  Piano duets must play from the Required List.

B)  Instrumental and mixed duets must submit a copy of the music with the registration.

C)  A contestant’s duet class level must be the same as their solo class level, unless the contestants are in different solo class levels (then they must enter a duet class level that is a median of their class levels).

D)  Duets need not be memorized.

A)  Cadet level through Senior Required Piano solos must play from their Required List.

B)  SENIOR “O” (Open)

  1. Contestants must play music of a Senior level, which is NOT on the current Senior Required List, and the music must be submitted with the registration. [Senior”O” (Open) and Senior “R” (Required) are not considered the same category.]

C) VIRTUOSO

  1. Piano solos may be chosen from the Virtuoso Suggested List.
  2. If a contestant elects to perform a selection NOT on the Suggested List, a copy of the music must be submitted with the registration.
 

A)  The Rudimental, Complete Drum Set, and Open Ad Lib are considered to be different instruments, and a contestant may enter in any one or all three (3) drum sections.

B)  All Drum contestants must submit a copy of the music with the application.

C)  The IMA will furnish a complete standard 5 piece drum set. Contestants may also

bring their own foot pedal and hi-hat. Virtuoso contestants only, may bring equipment to add to the existing 5 piece set provided by the IMA (i.e. more cymbals, rototoms, cowbells, double bass pedal, etc.).

D)  Open Ad Lib will be judged on technique and rhythmic effect. Contestants must bring an outline of the Open Ad Lib Solo to submit to the judge at the contest.

E)  Open Ad Lib percussion contestants will be classified according to age:

  • Cadet – 7 years and younger 
  • Elementary – 8 and 9 years
  • Junior – 10, 11 and 12 years
  • Intermediate – 13, 14, and 15 years
  • Senior – 16, 17 and 18 years 
  • Virtuoso – 19 years and older 

NOTE: Younger percussion contestants may enter a higher class, but NOT a lower one.

 

A)  Accompaniment is allowed but not required. Recorded accompaniment only is allowed for Guitar. Students will NOT be judged on their use of accompaniment. (See Rule “Q” on the Rules and Penalties page.)

B)  A suggested list is available for guitar. Music not on the suggested list must be submitted with the registration.

A)  All Violin, Viola, and Cello solos must play from their Required List.

B)  Accompaniment is allowed but not required. Students will NOT be judged on theiruse of accompaniment. (See Rule “Q”.)

C)  All string duets must submit a copy of the music with the registration.

D)  The IMA reserves the right to combine instruments in the same class.

A)  Accompaniment is allowed but not required. Students will NOT be judged on their use of accompaniment. If accompaniment is used, contestants must provide their own. Pre-recorded accompaniment is allowed. A piano will be provided. (See Rule “Q”.)

B)  There are 3 Vocal categories. Contestants may enter any or all of the categories:

  1. Art Songs: Folk songs, operatic, and foreign language repertoire. Art songs should be performed in their complete form. A microphone is not allowed in this category.

  2. Broadway and Movie Musical: Songs written for Broadway productions or for Movie Musicals. This category also includes music from Animated movies. (Music from this category which has been performed professionally as a Pop song, a contestant may perform in the Pop/Jazz category.)

  3. Pop/Jazz: Popular melodies outside the categories of Art Songs & Broadway Musicals. These include, but are not limited to: jazz, rhythm and blues, country & western, and popular melodies from motion pictures.

All prizes will be awarded at the end of each class. Every student will receive either a trophy or a ribbon award.

A)  Solos

  1. 1st Place Trophy will be awarded in each class.
  2. 2nd Place Trophy will be awarded in each class
  3. 3rd Place Trophy will be awarded in each class.
  4. The remainder of the class will receive a ribbon, the level of which will be based on their performance, either “Superior” “Excellent” “Very Good” or “Good”.

B)  Duets

  1. (Two)-1st Place Trophies will be awarded per duet.
  2. (Two)-2nd Place Trophies will be awarded per duet.
  3. (Two)-3rd Place Trophies will be awarded per duet
  4. The remainder of the class will receive a ribbon based on their performance, either “Superior” “Excellent” “Very Good” or “Good”.

C) Non-Directed Groups (trio, quartet, quintet)

  1. (One)-1st Place Trophy will be awarded to each member of the group.
  2. (One)-2nd Place Trophy will be awarded to each member of the group.
  3. (One)-3rd Place Trophy will be awarded to each member of the group.
  4. The remainder of the class will receive a ribbon based on their performance either “Superior” “Excellent” “Very Good” or “Good”.

NOTE: In classes of 3 or less, (dependent on the performance) the awarding of trophies will be at the judge’s discretion.

D) Directed Groups (Ensembles)

  1. (One) -1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place Engraved Medal will be awarded to each member of the group.
  2. Each participant will receive a Participation award.

A) Solos

  1. 1st Place Engraved Medal will be awarded in each class.

  2. 2nd Place Engraved Medal will be awarded in each class.

  1. 3rd Place Engraved Medal will be awarded in each class.

  2. The remainder of the class will receive a Participation Medal.

B) Duets

  1. (Two)-1st Place Engraved Medals will be awarded per duet.

  2. (Two)-2nd Place Engraved Medals will be awarded per duet.

  3. (Two)-3rd Place Engraved Medals will be awarded per duet.

  4. The remainder of the class will receive 2 Participation Medals per duet.

No Directed or Non-Directed Groups will be accepted virtually. Their entry fee will be refunded.

Any person wishing to file a complaint and/or protest must do so in writing. These complaints and/or protests must be accompanied by a fee of ten dollars ($10.00). If a contestant’s age has been challenged, the contestant must produce proof of age. Category adjustments (because of age) will be at the discretion of The Contest Supervisory Committee. Failure to comply will result in dis-allowance of the protest.

A)  The Illinois Music Association is not responsible for bodily injury, illness, property damage, or loss, sustained by any competitor or visitor during the time they are on the premises on which the contest is being held. Any eventuality not specifically covered by the Contest Supervisory Committee rules herein shall be left to the discretion of the Illinois Music Association.

B)  If the IMA Competition is unable to be held in person, the contest will be switched to a virtual format. NO REFUNDS will be given.