Get Ready For MusicFest 2023!
The 2023 MusicFest Northwest will be held at Gonzaga University, on May 14-19, 2023.
The festival will be following all COVID-19 protocols set by Gonzaga University.
MusicFest is committed to cultivating a creative environment that fosters growth and advancement in individual development at every level. The festival is open to musicians and dancers from ages 6-adult. Over $300,000 has been awarded across numerous divisions throughout the festival history. 2023 festival divisions will include: Ballet, Brass, Flute, Piano, Reed, String, and Voice!
Welcome to MusicFest Northwest!
Select your division below for more information
Festival Rules & Regulations
- MusicFest Northwest is open to participants of all ages. Please see respective class details in the festival page, for eligibility.
- Classes are open to any person whose principal means of livelihood is obtained from non-musical work, even though he/she/they accepts stipend or honorarium from time to time from musical services rendered.
- No one piece of music may be performed by the same person in two different classes.
- Where indicated for a class, entries are limited to students of the specified age, school grade, or level.
- In those sections that require more than one performer (duos, trios, etc.) a student may be a member of more than one group in the same class.
- MusicFest does not provide pianist accompanist for participants. Participants will be responsible for securing their own accompanists and arranging any fees/rehearsals. If you need helping acquiring an accompanist, please see our local accompanist list under additional resources in your division page.
- Young Artist winners are not eligible to compete as a Young Artist in the same division in any subsequent festival; however, winners may enter the same division Young Artist Section for adjudication only and will be adjudicated after the winner is chosen.
- Young Artist participants may not participate in multiple Young Artist divisions in the same festival year. Young Artist participants may participate in Adjudicator Choice classes, however they will not be eligible for an Adjudicator Choice Award if they have been selected as winner in their Young Artist class. Individuals participating in both Young Artist and Adjudicator Choice classes may not perform the required repertoire from their Young Artist section in their Adjudicator Choice class.
- Except for the Ballet Division, no recorded music will be allowed for accompaniment.
- Participants are responsible for hiring their own accompanists. Accompanists are not classified as participants, except in Chamber Music where the piano is an integral component rather than an accompanying participant so all members will be adjudicated.
- No late entries will be accepted.
- MusicFest Northwest has a No Refund Policy
- Any exceptions must be addressed by sending a letter to the administrative team for MusicFest Northwest. Any approved refund will not include peripheral fees.
- By entering the MusicFest Northwest festival you understand that your image, video or audio may be used in the media or in marketing material. You are giving MusicFest Northwest and their agents the right to use those images and likenesses. If you wish to not have your image used, please contact our office at 509-327-3455.
- MusicFest Northwest requires legally obtained music scores. It is the responsibility of teachers and students to be sure their music is in compliance with copyright laws. If you have questions about using scores downloaded from sources such as IMSLP, please refer to the ASCAP Licensing web page:https://www.ascap.com/help/ascap-licensing.
- Participants must report to their Check-in desk 15 minutes before the time specified in their schedule. For various reasons a participant’s order of performance as assigned by the Chair might change without notice.
- Participants must give a copy of their music to the check-in Assistant when they report, opened at the proper page with measures numbered.
- Once the class has all started, all participants must stay for the entirety of the class.
- When called for adjudication, instrumentalists and voice participants will take the stage and wait for the Adjudicator’s signal to begin performing.
- Time limits are maximum; less time may be used but not more. If a selection exceeds the time limit, the adjudicator may stop the performance.
- In all adjudication rooms, cell phones and pagers must be in “do not disturb” mode or “airplane” mode. Flash photography is not permitted. For protection of minors, videography is prohibited.
- In Divisions and Classes where memorization is required, participants choosing to use their music may be heard for adjudication only.
- Grading:
- Superior, 97-100
- Excellent, 94-96
- Very Good, 90-93
- Good, 80-89
- Fair 75-79
- Ballet and Voice Divisions use equivalent ratings but no numerical grades.
- A Certificate of Merit is given to all participants for a “Superior” performance.
Questions or concerns regarding adjudication, grading or awards should not be discussed with the Adjudicator and must be in writing to the Festival Director.
- To be eligible for an award in any class, the entrant must be adjudicated during that class. All Young Artist participants must be adjudicated in all three classes (1A, 1B, and 1C) at the time scheduled by the Division Chair.
- In order to be considered for an award involving public performance and/or monetary compensation, a participant must be available for rehearsals and performances as scheduled. If the winner of the class cannot take advantage of an award, it may be offered to a qualified alternate, as determined by the adjudicator.
- Participants may receive only one monetary award given by MusicFest Northwest in the same year.
- A participant may perform in only one Festival concert in the same year. This rule does not pertain to radio performances.
- The adjudicator is the sole judge, and that decision is final. If, in the opinion of the Adjudicator, no entrant in an award class meets the standard of performance, the award shall not be given.
- Grading System: Superior (97 – 100), Excellent (94 – 96), Very Good (90 – 93), Good (80 – 89), Fair (75 – 79), Incomplete (>75)
- In all Award Classes:
- One (1) Gold Medal may be given with a grade of 97 or above (Superior)
- One (1) Silver Medal may be given with a grade of 94 or above (Excellent)
- In Classes where a Cash Award is given, ties are not allowed
Any first place performance receiving a grade of 94-96 (Excellent) can only receive a Silver Medal and is not eligible for any Cash Award or festival highlights
MusicFest Festival Highlights Concert will take place on Friday, May 19th, 2023 at 7:30 PM
- There are no additional fees for individuals participating in these classes.
- The Gold Medal winner(s) with the highest score in EACH Adjudicator’s Choice Class will be invited to perform at the Festival Highlights concert. If no Gold Medal is awarded, at the adjudicator’s discretion, the class will not be represented at the Festival Highlights Concert.
- Participants in Adjudicator’s Choice classes may enter the Young Artist section within the same festival year, however if they are selected as a Young Artist winner, they will no longer be eligible for the Adjudicator Choice Award.
- For Brass, Flute, Reed, String and Voice Divisions, winners in “Adjudicators Choice” Classes are selected to perform in the Festival Highlights concert. All classes designated as an Adjudicator’s Choice Class will be held on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday of festival week.
- For the Piano Division the winner of each playoff group will perform at the Festival Highlights Concert on Friday, May 19, 2023. Adjudicators may select one winner from each group of the following classes: Baroque Classes (PB08, PB09, PB10, PB11, PJS14 and PJS15), Classical Classes (PHM17, PHM18, PHM19, PBE21, PBE22, PBE23, PC30 and PC31), Romantic/Chopin Classes (PR38, PR39, PR40, PR41, PCH45, PCH46, PCH47 and PCH48), Impressionist/Contemporary Classes (PI51, PI52, PCT60, PCT61, PCT62 and PCT63). Playoffs for the piano division Adjudicator Choice Awards will take place on Thursday afternoon, May 18th, 2023, schedule TBD.
- In order to be eligible for the Adjudicator Choice Award, participants must be available to perform at the Festival Highlights Concert, on Friday, May 19th, 2023.
- Each division will have specific division specific rules/regulations. Please see each division for more information.
Young Artist Division (Medals/Cash prize/performance with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday night)
Adjudicator’s Choice Awards (Medals/performance at the Festival Highlights Concert on Friday night)
Medals Classes (Medals/performance opportunity on KPBX Public Radio)
Adjudication Classes (feedback opportunity outside of private studio)
