Saturday, May 2, 2026Conway Boatman ChapelUnion Commonwealth University310 College Street, Barbourville, KY 40906
Union Commonwealth University proudly announces the 2nd Annual Southeastern Kentucky Piano Festival! The Judged Recital offers young pianists meaningful performance experience, written feedback from distinguished adjudicators, and the chance to earn recognition for excellence.
New for 2026: Through partnership with the newly formed Virtual Kentucky Music Teachers Association (VKMTA)—a local chapter of KMTA—top‑scoring students may be considered for recommendation to the KMTA State Honors Recital.
Participants are encouraged to attend the full weekend.
6:00 PM – UCU Piano Student Recital(Featuring current UCU piano students; open to the public)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Judged Recitals1:00 – 2:00 PM – Master Class (open to participants and observers)2:00 – 3:30 PM – Awards Ceremony & Guest Artist Performance
Times are approximate and may vary depending on the number of entries.
Eligibility
The festival is open to all young pianists, from preschoolers through college, of all skill levels.
The entrant’s program must meet the requirements in the “repertoire” section below.
All applications and fees must be entered online or postmarked by April 1, 2026.
Repertoire Requirements
Each student must perform two contrasting pieces.“Contrasting” may refer to:
Tempo
Key
Style period
Character
Teachers may determine the most appropriate contrast for their students.
Memorization
Adjudication
Each participant will be evaluated by two judges.
Entrants must bring musical scores for the judge’s use (legally purchased, licensed, or public domain)
Scores will be returned after adjudication.
Written comment sheet will be distributed at the Awards Ceremony.
Judges decisions are final.
Each participant will receive a certificate for participating in the Festival. Medals are awarded for the following scores:
Gold: 95–100
Silver: 90–94
Bronze: 85–89
Certificate: below 85
Comment sheets
Medals (if earned)
Certificates
KMTA State Honors Recital Consideration
In collaboration with KMTA:
Adjudicators will review the top 25% of festival performances for potential recommendation.
Date and location: TBA (typically September; check KMTA website for updates).
Additional registration and fees are required for participation; KMTA will contact teachers directly if a student is recommended.
Students must opt in during registration to be considered.
Application Fees
$30 for each student (non-refundable).
*A limited number of scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those unable to pay the application fee. To request a scholarship, email Dr. Fujimura at [email protected]. Recipients will need to pay the fee upfront but will be refunded at the conclusion of the program.
To register, please complete the application and submit the fee below. If you have any questions or need to send your application and payment by mail, please contact Dr. Yukiko Fujimura at [email protected].
All fees are non-refundable, unless the participant qualifies for a scholarship.
List repertoire in the order you wish to perform.
Repertoire Choice 1:
Repertoire Choice 2:
By submitting this form, the undersigned confirm that they have read and agree to all festival guidelines. Teachers, participants, and parents/guardians are responsible for adhering to all requirements.Applicants grant Union Commonwealth University and event organizers permission to use the student’s name, likeness, and performance recordings for promotional, archival, and educational purposes.
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