Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition

This is the Festival’s top piano competition and is one of the most prestigious competitions within the festival movement. It was founded in 1985 by Emanuel Cedar (1916-2000). “Manny” entered North London Music Festival piano competitions as a young pianist, became a Festival Council Member in 1960 and Festival Chairman in 1975.

The 2021 competition is open to the winner of the top senior piano award at any Music Festival held between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020. (In 2021 we have extended the time period because winners from 2019 were unable to compete in 2020.) Entries will only be accepted if submitted through the Secretary, or Section Secretary, of the Festival represented. If the top prize-winner has already been entered to represent another Festival then the Secretary should, if possible, enter the next best pianist.

First Prize – £500 and a Challenge Trophy *

A Second Prize of £100 will be awarded, sponsored by Janice Twiselton *

* If there are four or more entrants, the Trophy will be awarded to the winner to be retained for one year. If there are six or more entrants, the winner will receive, in addition, a prize of £500 and the runner up £100.

The Emanuel Trophy Prize Competition will be online, but you cannot enter online. Please contact the Piano Section Secretary, Janice Twiselton, piano@northlondonfestival.org.uk to ask for an entry form and return your entry to her. All entries must be received by Sunday 21st March.

If an entrant has been a pupil of the Adjudicator in the six-months prior to the Festival, they should contact the Section Head before entering.

The 2021 competition will be online, with entrants submitting a video of their performance rather than performing live. Every entrant will receive a written adjudication sheet and a certificate of participation. All entrants will be invited to a Zoom meeting on Saturday 24th April to hear a general adjudication and selected performances.

The closing date for the Emanuel Trophy Competition will be Friday 16th April.

The prize will be awarded not only for the performance of a balanced and well-designed programme, but also on the pianist’s presentation. A verbal introduction to the musical programme is an integral part of the performance.

Adjudicator – Ronan O’Hora

Entry Fee £35

General Rules for 2021 Competition Entries

  • The 2021 competition is open to the winner of the top senior piano award at any Music Festival held in the UK between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020. If the top prize-winner has already been entered to represent another Festival then the Festival Secretary should, if possible, enter the next best pianist. If a Festival competition was held in both 2019 and 2020, two candidates may be entered, that is, the top prize winners from each year.
  • The contestant must have received a mark of 88 or more or be in the Outstanding Category if the “Category System” is used. They can be of any age but are expected to be of at least Grade 8 standard.
  • Two contrasting pieces are to be played and the performance must not last more than 15 minutes and not less than 10 minutes. Entrants not conforming to these limits will be disqualified.
  • Playing from memory is not
  • Entrants must provide the Adjudicator with a clean copy of the music for each work to be performed.
  • The Adjudicator’s decision will be final.
  • Entries must be received by Friday 16th April 2021.
  • Entries will only be accepted if submitted through the Secretary, or Section Secretary, of the Festival represented.
  • Entries should be sent to the Piano Section Secretary, Janice Twiselton, piano@northlondonfestival.org.uk.
  • Only one contestant for each year from each Festival will be eligible.
  • All television, radio and recording rights are reserved by the organisers of this competition — the organisers being the Executive Committee of the North London Festival of Music, Speech and Drama.

Entries should be sent to the Piano Section Secretary, Janice Twiselton, piano@northlondonfestival.org.uk and must be received by Friday 16th April.

The video above shows performances from the 2019 Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition.

Sign-up to our newsletter to receive the latest news about the festival

Section
Class
First Competitor's Name
(as it will appear in programme)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Second Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Third Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Fourth Competitor's Name
(where applicable)
Date of birth (if under 18)
(please use DD/MM/YYYY format) *

I am over 18.

Instrument / voice
(not required for speech and drama entries)
Add more competitors
Remove Competitor
Group/Choir Size (if applicable)
Title and Composer of piece to be performed
(if applicable)
Time to perform (if applicable)
Teacher's name
Teacher's Contact phone number
Teacher's Email
Conservatoires/universities attended
Entry date
Graduation date
If you studied at more than one conservatoire/university, please enter details for the last one at which you studied.

Class fee