THE GORDON C. WALLIS PIANO COMPETITION
First Prize $1000 • Second Prize $500
​Deadline, January 31, 2021
​REGISTRATION CLOSED

Competition May 29, 2021
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This competition is held in conjunction with the Florence Bowes Memorial (in odd-numbered years) and the Lyell Gustin Memorial Piano competitions. Should the number of entries require it, competition may begin Friday evening. The award will be paid as tuition to the music school or teacher of the student’s choice upon proof of their continuation of study in classical piano.
Competitor will be notified of the day, time, place and hour of his/her performance/interview. He/she must be ready at least ten minutes before the time set for his/her performance/interview. The programme will be posted on the SRMTA website.
 
GENERAL REGULATIONS

• Failure to comply with the regulations will result in disqualification.
• The Competition is open to advanced piano students of at least Grade X level as performer and/or teachers.
• Time limits indicated below are for the total performance and therefore include time between selections.
• Competitors must perform from memory.
• Competitors must bring original copies of music for the adjudicator.  Photocopied music will not be accepted.
• Competitors are responsible for their own expenses.
• The adjudicator’s decision is final. A high level of performance is essential; otherwise no award will be given.
• The candidate may enter category (a) PIANO PERFORMER or (b) PIANO TEACHER, but not (a) and (b) in the same calendar year.
• Competitors must play the program as submitted.
• Winners in one category are not eligible to enter again in the same category.
• Students wishing to enter the Gustin Competition and/or the Bowes Competition in the same year as the Wallis are required to play an entirely different program for each Competition.
• All entries will be examined to ascertain if all requirements, including choice of repertoire, have been met.
• The use of recording equipment or the taking of photographs during performances or interviews is strictly prohibited.

CANDIDATES IN CATEGORY (a) PIANO PERFORMER
The candidate must be at least 15 years of age and not yet 21 as of January 1 of the year of the competition. He/she must submit, for public performance, a programme not exceeding 50 minutes in length. The programme must present a variety of styles including a sonata (classical or romantic) and a work composed after 1920. Concertos are excluded. All works must be at least Grade X level and must be played complete. Memory work is compulsory. A high level of performance is essential; otherwise no award will be given.
 
CANDIDATE IN CATEGORY (b) PIANO TEACHER
The candidate must be at least 17 years of age and not yet 25 as of January 1 of the year of the Competition. He/she must submit, for public performance, a programme not exceeding 40 minutes in length. The programme must present a variety of styles including a work by J.S. Bach and one composed after 1920. Concertos are excluded. All works must be at least Grade X level and must be played complete. Memory work is compulsory. A high level of performance is essential; otherwise no award will be given.

A viva voce interview of approximately 20 minutes will be conducted, in private by the judge, after the candidate's performance. The judge will provide teaching pieces approximately Grades 3-8 from which common pedagogical problems will be presented. The candidate must satisfy the judge in his/her knowledge of piano pedagogy and in his/her interest in teaching piano, otherwise no award will be given. The winner must sign a declaration that he/she will teach in Saskatchewan for a minimum of TWO years after winning the Scholarship.
 
CANDIDATES IN BOTH (a) PIANO PERFORMER AND (b) PIANO TEACHER
The candidate must provide the judge with copies of the edition of the works he/she is performing.  It is not permitted to change the choice of pieces on the submitted programme. Please indicate on your programme the performance time of each piece/movement. In ascertaining the playing time of your submitted repertoire, please omit long repeats (over 16 measures), but observe Da capo and Dal Segno indications.

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GORDON WALLIS PIANO COMPETITION WINNERS

2019
Jienan Chen, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place)

2018
Alice Li, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place)
Yolanda Smith-Hanson, Saskatoon (Performer, 2nd place)
Jordan Wollf, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 1st place)
 
2017
Christianne Bentler, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place)

2016 
Godwin Friesen, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place)
Jhena Dela Cruz, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 1st place)

2015 
Gloria Yu, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place)

2014 
Shaelynne Sawatsky, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place)
Eric Bews, Saskatoon (Performance, 2nd place)

2013 
Natasha Francis, Nipawin (Performance, 1st place)

2012  
Jaclyn Goetz, Dalmeny (Performance, 1st place)
Armand Konecsni-Luzny, Regina, SK (Performance, 2nd place)
Kristofer Hosaluk, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 2nd place*)
*Pedagogy, 1st place - not awarded

2011 
Bradley Little, Saskatoon (Performance)

2010 
Karen King, Saskatoon (Pedagogy)

2009 
Meagan Milatz, Weyburn (Performance)
David Woloschuk, Saskatoon (Performance, 2nd place)

2008 
Maria Fuller, Earl Grey (Performance)
Karen Mak, Saskatoon (Pedagogy)

2007 
Nicole Mak, Saskatoon (Performance)
Neal Cabigon, Regina (Performance, 2nd place)

2006 
Samuel Deason, Saskatoon (Performance)
Jacki Giggs, Saskatoon (Pedagogy)

2005 
Alex Dyck, Regina (Performance)
Chantelle Letourneau, D’arcy (Pedagogy)

2004 
James Coughlin, Assiniboia (Performance)

2003 
Naomi Piggott, Saskatoon (Performance)
Mark Turner, Lacadena (Pedagogy)

2002 
No competition this year

2001 
​Jacqueline Woods, (Performance)

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Updated last:  November 14, 2019