STUDIO AWARDS
Theory Awards: Students must participate in the VMTA Theory Test to be eligible for these awards. There are three categories: Elementary (covering preparatory level and levels 1, 2, and 3), Intermediate (levels 4, 5, 6, and 7), and Advanced (level 8 and higher). The students who score the highest Superior in each of the three categories will receive a trophy. All others who receive Superior ratings on the exams will receive a gold medal.
Sight Reading Awards: As with the Theory Awards, there are three categories for Sight Reading Awards: Elementary (Levels 1, 2, and 3); Intermediate (Levels 4, 5, and 6) and Advanced (Levels 7 and higher). There will be a sight reading quiz at each lesson and students must participate in the VMTA Skills Day Sight Reading Exams. All grades will be averaged together, and the student who receives Superior and the highest grade in each category will receive a trophy. Honorable mention medals will be given at the teacher’s discretion.
Concerto Performance Awards: These awards are for those students who offer outstanding performances at the annual Concerto Concert. The performance will be recorded; the video recording will be given to a professional pianist who will in turn be given a list that groups the performers into three levels: Elementary (up to grade 5), Intermediate (grades 6-8) and Advanced (grades 9-12). The three groupings may also be determined by the difficulty of the concerto. The judge will determine a prize winner for each level and a trophy will be awarded for each student achieving this distinction. Honorable mention medals may also be awarded. If an elementary student receives a trophy in a given year, s/he will be grouped with intermediate the following year. If an intermediate student receives a trophy in a given year, s/he will be grouped with advanced the following year. Once a student is grouped into the advanced level, s/he will continue in that group in all subsequent years the student is a member of the Studio.
Notable Progress Award: This trophy is given to the student who has exhibited remarkable progress in all aspects of performance. Mr. Solero will determine the requirements and these will be applied as points toward the award. Students who are very close in total number of points will receive medals.
Superior Achievement Award: This trophy is awarded to the student who has achieved the highest accumulation of points in terms of public performances, festivals and competitions. Each public performance is worth one point (as long as the Studio approves it), each first place in a competition is worth three points, each second place is two points, and each honorable mention is one point.
Student of the Year: This award is based on the vote of all the students in the Studio. Each student will vote for the classmate that s/he feels has exhibited the most consistently outstanding performances throughout the year and has shown the best collegiality and sportsmanship at all Studio-approved events, including recitals and competitions. A student who wins the Student of the Year award must wait one year before becoming eligible again for the award. In the case of a 2-way tie, Mr. Solero will cast the deciding vote and will only cast a vote should this happen. There is no winner for a 3-way tie or greater.
Theory Awards: Students must participate in the VMTA Theory Test to be eligible for these awards. There are three categories: Elementary (covering preparatory level and levels 1, 2, and 3), Intermediate (levels 4, 5, 6, and 7), and Advanced (level 8 and higher). The students who score the highest Superior in each of the three categories will receive a trophy. All others who receive Superior ratings on the exams will receive a gold medal.
Sight Reading Awards: As with the Theory Awards, there are three categories for Sight Reading Awards: Elementary (Levels 1, 2, and 3); Intermediate (Levels 4, 5, and 6) and Advanced (Levels 7 and higher). There will be a sight reading quiz at each lesson and students must participate in the VMTA Skills Day Sight Reading Exams. All grades will be averaged together, and the student who receives Superior and the highest grade in each category will receive a trophy. Honorable mention medals will be given at the teacher’s discretion.
Concerto Performance Awards: These awards are for those students who offer outstanding performances at the annual Concerto Concert. The performance will be recorded; the video recording will be given to a professional pianist who will in turn be given a list that groups the performers into three levels: Elementary (up to grade 5), Intermediate (grades 6-8) and Advanced (grades 9-12). The three groupings may also be determined by the difficulty of the concerto. The judge will determine a prize winner for each level and a trophy will be awarded for each student achieving this distinction. Honorable mention medals may also be awarded. If an elementary student receives a trophy in a given year, s/he will be grouped with intermediate the following year. If an intermediate student receives a trophy in a given year, s/he will be grouped with advanced the following year. Once a student is grouped into the advanced level, s/he will continue in that group in all subsequent years the student is a member of the Studio.
Notable Progress Award: This trophy is given to the student who has exhibited remarkable progress in all aspects of performance. Mr. Solero will determine the requirements and these will be applied as points toward the award. Students who are very close in total number of points will receive medals.
Superior Achievement Award: This trophy is awarded to the student who has achieved the highest accumulation of points in terms of public performances, festivals and competitions. Each public performance is worth one point (as long as the Studio approves it), each first place in a competition is worth three points, each second place is two points, and each honorable mention is one point.
Student of the Year: This award is based on the vote of all the students in the Studio. Each student will vote for the classmate that s/he feels has exhibited the most consistently outstanding performances throughout the year and has shown the best collegiality and sportsmanship at all Studio-approved events, including recitals and competitions. A student who wins the Student of the Year award must wait one year before becoming eligible again for the award. In the case of a 2-way tie, Mr. Solero will cast the deciding vote and will only cast a vote should this happen. There is no winner for a 3-way tie or greater.