Instrumental

NPACS Instrumental Competitions will not be held in 2024.

Syllabus

Strings: violin, viola, cello, bass

Under 10 years

47  Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

Under 12 years

44  Music by a Classical Composer
Music by a composer from the Classical period of musical history.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

45  Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

46  Reading at Sight  
Specify instrument and grade on entry form.

50 Duet or Trio - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

12 & under 15 years

41  Music by a Romantic Composer
Time limit: 4 minutes.

42  Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

43  Reading at Sight
Specify instrument and grade on entry form.

Under 15 years

49  Duet or Trio for Strings - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

90  Junior Recital Class  
Two contrasting pieces - one accompanied, one memorised.
Time limit: 10 minutes.

15 years & over

38  Music by a Baroque Composer
Time limit: 6 minutes.

39  Own Selection
Time limit: 6 minutes.

40  Reading at Sight
Specify instrument and grade on entry form.

16 years & under

100  Instrumental Solo  
Any instrument, own selection.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

15 & under 21 years

89  Senior Recital
The programme is to consist of three contrasting pieces from different periods of musical history, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century or Contemporary.
Time limit: up to 20 minutes.

Open to any age

86  Novice Solo 
Any instrument. Up to 2 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

37  Novice  Solo
Up to 4 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

48 Duet or Trio for Strings - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

51 Solo for Classical Guitar or Harp  
Two contrasting pieces.
Time limit: 8 minutes.

See Open classes for any instrument for more solo, duet, trio and ensemble classes.

Recorder

54  Recorder Solo under 12 years.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

53  Recorder Solo 12 years & over
Time limit: 4 minutes.

55  Recorder Duet or Trio Open to any age.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

56  Recorder Ensemble Open to any age.
Must consist of mainly recorder players but may include guitar, mallet and other percussion.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

See Open classes for any instrument below for more solo, duet, trio and ensemble classes.

Woodwind

Under 12 years

61 Flute of Piccolo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

66 Clarinet Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

71 Saxophone Solo
Time limit: 4 minutes.

74 Woodwind Solo
Time limit: 4 minutes.

12 & under 15 years

60 Flute or Piccolo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

65 Clarinet Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

70 Saxophone Solo
Time limit: 4 minutes.

73 Woodwind Solo
Time limit: 4 minutes.

Under 15 years

90 Junior Recital  
Two contrasting pieces - one accompanied, one memorised
Time limit: 10 minutes.

15 years & over

58 Flute or Piccolo Music by a Baroque Composer
Time limit: 4 minutes.

59 Flute or Piccolo Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

63 Clarinet Solo Music by a Classical Composer
Time limit: 4 minutes.

64 Clarinet Solo Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

69 Saxophone Solo Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.4

72 Woodwind Solo
Time limit: 6 minutes.

16 years & under

77 Woodwind Duet or Trio
Time limit: 4 minutes.

100 Instrumental Solo 
Any instrument, own selection.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

15 & under 21 years

89  Senior Recital
The programme is to consist of three contrasting pieces from different periods of musical history, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century or Contemporary.
Time limit: up to 20 minutes.

Open to any age

86 Novice Solo  
Any Instrument. Up to 2 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

57 Flute or Piccolo Solo
Time limit: 4 minutes.

62 Clarinet Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

67 Saxophone Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

68 Saxophone Solo - Popular, Jazz, or Blues
Time limit: 4 minutes.

75 Woodwind Solo - Novice 
Up to 4 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

76 Woodwind Duet or Trio
Time limit: 4 minutes.

See Open classes for any instrument below for more solo, duet, trio and ensemble classes.

Brass

Under 12 years

81 Brass Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

Under 15 years

90 Junior Recital
Two contrasting pieces - one accompanied, one memorised.
Time limit: 10 minutes.

Under 16 years

80 Brass Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

84 Brass Duet
Time limit: 4 minutes.

16 years & under

100 Instrumental Solo
Any instrument, own selection.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

Open to any age

78 Brass Solo - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

79 Brass Solo
Air & Variations.
Time limit: 6 minutes.

82 Brass Solo - Novice
Up to 4 years tuition
Time limit: 4 minutes.

83 Brass Duet
Time limit: 4 minutes.

85 Brass Ensemble
Time limit: 4 minutes.

86 Novice Solo
Any instrument. Up to 2 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes 

See Open classes for any instrument below for more solo, duet, trio and ensemble classes.

Percussion

Under 15 years

90  Junior Recital Class  
Two contrasting pieces - one accompanied, one memorised.
Time limit: 10 minutes.

15 & under 21 years

89  Senior Recital
The programme is to consist of three contrasting pieces from different periods of musical history, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century or Contemporary.
Time limit: up to 20 minutes.

Open to any age

86 Novice Solo 
Any instrument. Up to 2 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

87 Percussion Solo  
May be accompanied by piano or other acoustic instrument
Time limit: 4 minutes. 

96 Percussion Ensemble 
Piano may be included.
Time limit: 4 minutes. 

See Open classes for any instrument below for more solo, duet, trio and ensembles classes.

Open classes for any instrument

Open to any age

33 Composition Class
Original composition of music. This is not limited to strings.
The music must be performed, but not necessarily by the Composer.
Two copies of the full manuscript must be submitted for critical appraisal by the Adjudicator.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

88 Improvisation - Own Selection  
Performance in Jazz/Blues style.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

48  Duet or Trio - Own Selection
Time limit: 4 minutes.

91 Novice Duet or Trio  
Up to 2 years tuition.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

92 Family Duet, Trio, or Group 
Child and parent or grandparent
Time limit: 4 minutes.

93 Instrumental Duet, Trio, or Group 
Any instrument, piano may be used as accompaniment only.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

94 Instrumental Solo and Accompanist
Both are adjudicated as a team.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

95 Chamber Music Group - Open to any age
Quartet or quintet. May include strings, wind and keyboard instruments.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

97 Group Entertainment 
3 or more performers. Any combination of instruments including voice.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

98  Instrumental Ensemble
5 or more players with at least 4 independent parts.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

99  Instrumental Solo 
Any instrument, own selection.
Time limit: 4 minutes.

Instrumental trophies & awards

Laurie Cup  
Aggregate marks in Strings classes: 38, 39, 40.

Farrell Trophy
Northland residents. 
Aggregate marks in Strings classes 38, 39, 40.

Denis Parkes Trophy under 16 years.
Highest individual mark, Violin solos.

Moira Nicholson Trophy and Voucher under 12 years.
Highest mark gained in classes 45 & 47.

Little Maestro Trophy 12 & under 14 years
String solo, aggregate marks.

Bravura Trophy  14 & under 16 years.
String solo, aggregate marks.

Harkness Cup 
Class 51: Solo for Classical Guitar or Harp.

Davidson Cup  
Highest mark gained by a Recorder soloist.

Jo Walker Trophy Open age.
Class 72: Woodwind.

Clare Penny Trophy 
Class 90 Junior Recital.

Patricia Briggs Trophy 
Class 94: Solo & Accompanist 

Jock Hosking Memorial Award 
Best performance of a Fugue.