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Music Competition

Are you a musician?

HEAV Convention Music Competition

Share the talent you’ve worked so hard to develop! HEAV is excited to once again hold our music competition for convention participants.

HEAV Homeschool Convention
Annual Music Competition!

Homeschool musicians come to compete in three categories: piano, vocal, and instrumental. The winner in each category will be recognized at one of the three keynote sessions. We hope you will make time in your busy convention schedule to drop in and enjoy the music. Congratulations to the students who are participating! The Home Educators Association of Virginia and its generous sponsors celebrate and support their talent and dedication to musical excellence.

AWARDS CEREMONY

Thursday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m

Music Competition & Awards Ceremony

Thursday, June 6

Ages:

5-19

Cost:

$39/member
$49/non-member

Hours:

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Awards Ceremony 5:30 p.m.

Location:

TBD

Eligibility Requirements

  • Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The competition is open to any currently homeschooled student.
  • Applicants must be registered for the convention.
  • Application fee: $39 Member/$49 Non-member
  • The categories are:
    • Solo vocalist (with or without accompaniment)
    • Solo instrumentalist (with or without accompaniment)
    • Solo Pianist

Questions? E-mail Ann Miranda at music@heav.org.

How to Add This Event

Add your choice of events when you register for the convention.

Already registered for the convention?  Easily add an event for yourself or your family in your account. Click here and choose “login” at the top of the page.

Questions? Call the HEAV office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 804-278-9200.

Prizes!

Awards ceremony is Thursday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m.

First-place winners in each of three categories will each receive:

  • $100 cash
  • a beautifully inscribed plaque
  • a monetary scholarship to attend Liberty University School of Music

In addition, the first-place winners will perform at one of the keynote sessions.

Second-place winners in each of the three categories will receive:

  • $50 cash
  • a beautifully inscribed plaque
  • a monetary scholarship to attend Liberty University School of Music

Third-place winners in each of the three categories will receive:

  • a beautifully inscribed plaque
  • additional prizes

Check back! Additional prizes may be added soon.

A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsor

Thank you, Liberty University School of Music, for making this competition possible!

Competition Rules:

  • The competition will be held at the 41st Annual Virginia Homeschool Convention in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday afternoon (June 6, 2024), from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • The competition is open to any currently homeschooled student, high school senior and under.
  • Accompanists may be any age. 
  • First-place winners are not eligible to win more than twice in the same category.
  • Music should be classical, sacred, or traditional.
  • Contestants may choose from three categories: piano, vocal, or instrumental. (No drums, please.)
  • Each competitor shall render only one musical selection to be performed in five minutes or less. In order to keep within the five-minute time limit, the competitor may eliminate part of his musical selection. The part to be removed must be marked on the score for the judges.
  • Competitors shall provide at least one (1) original score for the judges. Due to copyright laws, no photocopies are allowed without the publisher’s permission.
  • Memorization of the music is recommended but not required.
  • Evaluation sheets with judges’ comments will be given to the competitor at the end of his competition.
  • Dressing up is recommended as your appearance will reflect on your stage presence.
  • Participants will be judged on mastery of instrument in the following areas:
    • faithfulness to score
    • technique interpretation
    • stage presence
    • complexity of composition
    • memorization (recommended)
  • First-, second-, and third-place winners will be determined in each of the categories.
  • First-place winners will be presented at a keynote session to perform their winning piece for the attendees. Therefore, first-place winners must agree to be present at their designated keynote sessions on either Friday or Saturday. The piano and vocal category winners will play at one of the keynote sessions on Friday, and the instrumental winner will play on Saturday.
  • Since there will be a limited number of competitors, applications will be accepted until the performance time-allotment is filled.
  • HEAV reserves the right to decline an applicant based on the rules of the competition and the appropriateness of the musical selection.
  • Judges’ decisions are final.

Music Competition FAQs

No, CD accompaniment is not permitted.

Don’t feel that you must buy anything special to wear for the competition. Recommended attire is a suit or tux for the young men and a nice dress or gown for the young women. Modest attire is appropriate—no tight clothing, plunging necklines, or bare shoulders are permitted.

Yes, the time limit will be strictly enforced.

The winner of the piano category and the vocal category will be playing at the keynote sessions on Friday. The winner of the instrumental category will play at the keynote session on Saturday.

First place in each category: $100, and the winners will perform their musical selections at a keynote session and receive a monetary scholarship from Liberty University School of Music.

Second place in each category: $50 and a monetary scholarship from Liberty University School of Music.

Each winner will also receive a beautifully inscribed plaque, as well as additional prizes.

The competition will be from 1:30 p.m. until approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2024. The awards ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m.

No, there will not be separate age categories. Everyone will be judged individually, based on faithfulness to score; technique; interpretation; stage presence; complexity of composition; and memorization. Everyone will then receive a copy of the judge’s score sheet—including any comments from the judges.

Convention Sponsors

Many, many thanks to our convention sponsors!

They have invested heavily in homeschool families—in YOU—to help keep our convention prices as low as possible and support homeschooling in Virginia. Please join us in thanking them for their generosity!