The Phyllis Triolo High School Music Competition

The Junior Division (grades 7-9) begins at 7:45 a.m. and the Senior Division (grades 10-12) begins at 1:45 p.m. Each division includes a 1st prize of $200 and a 2nd prize of $100. An awards ceremony follows each Division.

Rules of the Competition

1. Open to students grades 7-9, Junior Division; grades 10-12, Senior Division.
2. Open to piano, voice and orchestral instruments.
3. Students will perform two contrasting pieces from different musical eras: i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary. Music must be of the caliber of music listed on the reverse side.
4. Pianists will perform both pieces by memory. Non -pianists will perform one piece by memory.
5. For pianists, only original solo compositions are permitted. Non-pianists may present solo unaccompanied works if so composed. However, accompanied pieces for non-pianists must be accompanied by a pianist (not teacher). No recorded accompaniments are permitted.
6. Professional, but not formal, dress is required.
7. Performance time will be held to an absolute maximum of twelve minutes.
8. A copy of each piece of music will be brought for each judge (one original; 2 copies)
9. No student winning first prize in a division may compete again in the same division.
10. No teacher will judge his/her own students. As much as possible, outside judges will be brought in.
11. No student will be allowed practice time on the competition piano.
12. The judge’s decision is based on musicianship. Point totals are used as reference only.

Examples of Previously Performed Repertoire

Violin Sonata #1, Siciliano Bach
Feldeinsamkeit (voice) Brahms
Dream Valley (voice) Roger Quilter
Scherzo in Bb minor Chopin
Prelude in Bb Major (WTC, Bk.1) Bach
Clair de Lune Debussy
Allemande, from Partita #2 (violin) Bach
Elite Syncopations (violin) Joplin
Hungarian Dance (flute) Popp
Suite Hebraic (viola) Block
Fantasi-stucke, 3rd (cello) Schumann

Phyllis Triolo, a Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers’ Association member for many years, concert pianist-lecturer and teacher, passed away on July 13, 1984. In her memory, The Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers’ Association under the leadership of Patricia Lloyd and Dora Diamant, organized and established a fund for a high school music competition. With the help of the State College Music Guild, the Nittany Valley Symphony and the Penn State Music Department, the CPMTA accrued enough money to hold the first competition May 18, 1985. Since then donations, play-a-thons, and benefit recitals have enabled the CPMTA to hold the competitiona annually. Winners have come from communities as far away as Williamsport and Harrisburg as well as from local communities like Howard, Huntingdon and State College. The winners have represented several disciplines including Classical Guitar, Cello, Violin, Flute, Piano and Voice.

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