Piano and Organ Syllabus

Entries open 01/01/2026 and close 25/02/2026

6th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 12th May – all in Redhill United Reformed Church.
8th May in St Mark’s Church in Reigate (includes all of the organ classes).

Adjudicator: Antony Gray

Antony Gray is an Australian pianist. He has recorded Bach, Goossens,
Williamson, Carmichael, Brahms and Poulenc for ABC Classics and lots of Saint-Saens for Divine Art. He has recently recorded a couple of discs of music written for teacher and student, with his students. He also teaches the violin, and hopes
one day to be able to play it himself, makes delicious beetroot wine and has been trying for years, and without success, to grow artichokes. He has homes in London and Marrakech.

David Pipe

David Pipe read Music at Cambridge University as Organ Scholar of Downing College, later studying organ at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed at major international festivals, and his solo recordings have attracted critical acclaim in the international music press, with performances described as ‘electrifying’. He has featured recently as the organist with a symphonic metal band, appearing on BBC One’s The One Show and performing a sell-out concert in York Minster.
David was Director of the Keyboard Studies Programme and Cathedral Organist in the Diocese of Leeds until Easter 2024, having previously been Assistant Director of Music at York Minster. Now working as a freelance organist, pianist and conductor, he is Organist at Huddersfield Town Hall, Musical Director of York Musical Society, and Director of Music at Cartmel Priory, as well as examining for the Royal College of Organists. In 2018, David was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, awarded to past students who have distinguished themselves in the music profession within their particular field.

Enquiries

Any enquiries about this section should be emailed to: piano@rrfestival.org

Rules

For a full list of the Festival’s rules and regulations see here.

Please take note of Rule 3a: it is a condition of our Surrey County Council performance licence that all performers in school years 11 and below must be accompanied by an appropriate adult at all times while at Festival venues.

In addition, the following section rules apply;

Please see Regulations 11, 18 and 19 regarding photocopies for all classes except own compositions. Please provide a copy for the adjudicator;
Competitors who choose set pieces by examining Boards (e.g. ABRSM) may not choose those pieces marked ‘Reprinted by permission – for use only in connection with examinations of the Royal Schools of Music’ unless they obtain written permission from the publisher. The Board does not hold the copyright for these pieces;
The Jazz Syllabus for ABRSM exams may not be used for Classes 200 – 206;
Set pieces in Classes 218 – 219 may not be played in Own Choice classes;
Class 228: A grade 8 class may not be entered if more than a year has elapsed since achieving Grade 8.

Junior and Intermediate Piano Classes

200 7 years and under
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤5.00
7 and younger
Up to 2 mins

201 8 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤5.00
Age 8
Up to 2 mins

202 9 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤5.50
Age 9
Up to 3 mins

203 10 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤5.50
Age 10
Up to 3 mins

204 11 – 12 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤6.00
Age 11 and 12
Up to 4 mins

205 13 – 14 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤6.50
Age 13 and 14
Up to 5 mins

206 15 years
Own choice of piece.
Fee ₤7.00
Age 15
Up to 6 mins

207 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (11 years and under)
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz Syllabus (or similar) OR own choice of music from films, musicals or popular music. See reg.19.
Fee ₤6.00
11 and younger
Up to 4 mins

208 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (15 years and under)
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz Syllabus (or similar) OR own choice of music from films, musicals or popular music.
Fee ₤6.00
15 and younger
Up to 4 mins

209 NEW CLASS: Dinosaurs, Monsters and Scary Creatures (Beginners to Initial/Prep)
Play a piece of your choice with a scary theme for beginners to Initial/Prep level
Fee ₤5.00
Up to 2 mins

210 Come and Play (Non Competitive) (10 years and under)
Own choice of one piece.
Fee ₤5.50
10 and younger
Up to 3 mins

211 Come and Play (Non Competitive) (15 years and under)
Own choice of one piece.
Fee ₤6.50
15 and younger
Up to 5 mins

212 Baroque (11 years and under)
Own choice.
Fee ₤5.50
11 and younger
Up to 3 mins

213 Baroque (12 – 15 years)
Own choice.
Fee ₤6.50
Age between 12 and 15
Up to 5 mins

214 Piano Composition (11 years and under)
To be played by the composer.
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April.
Fee ₤5.50
11 and younger
Up to 3 mins

215 Piano Composition (15 years and under)
To be played by the composer
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April
Fee ₤6.50
15 and younger
Up to 5 mins

216 Recital (12 years and under)
Own choice of two contrasting pieces by different composers. One piece to be played from memory. Minimum Grade 3 standard.
Please contact Section Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee ₤6.50
12 and younger
Up to 5 mins

217 Recital (13 – 15 years)
Own choice of two contrasting pieces by different composers. One piece to be played from memory. Minimum Grade 5 standard.
Please contact Section Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee ₤8.00
Age between 13 and 15
Up to 8 mins

218 7 years and under beginners
Set piece: Choose one piece from Hal Leonard Piano Lessons Book 1 pages 54-63 or similar
See reg.12
Fee ₤5.00
7 and younger
Up to 2 mins

219 8 years and over, beginners
Set piece: Choose one piece from Hal Leonard Piano Lessons book 2 pages 10-19 or similar
See reg. 12
Fee ₤5.00
8 and older
Up to 2 mins

220 Preliminary
Any Initial Exam or Prep Test piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤5.00
Up to 2 mins

221 Grade 1
Any Grade 1 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤5.00
Up to 2 mins

222 Grade 2
Any Grade 2 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤5.00
Up to 2 mins

223 Grade 3
Any Grade 3 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤5.50
Up to 3 mins

224 Grade 4
Any Grade 4 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤5.50
Up to 3 mins

225 Grade 5
Any Grade 5 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤6.00
Up to 4 mins

226 Grade 6
Any Grade 6 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
Fee ₤6.00
Up to 4 mins

227 Grade 7
Any Grade 7 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board.
See reg. 13
Fee ₤6.50
Up to 5 mins

Senior Piano Classes

If you need more than the allocated time please contact the Piano Secretary before sending in your entry. Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.

228 Grade 8
Any Grade 8 examination piece set in the last 5 years by ABRSM or similar exam board. Entrants who passed Grade 8 before May 25 are not eligible for this class.
Fee ₤6.50
Up to 5 mins

229 Come and Play Beginners (Non Competitive)
Own Choice. Up to and including Grade 3.
Fee ₤5.50
16 and older
Up to 3 mins

230 Come and Play (Non Competitive)
Own Choice. Minimum standard Grade 4. Please contact Piano Secretary if you need more time.
Fee ₤7.50
16 and older
Up to 7 mins

231 Piano Composition (16 years and over)
To be played by the composer.
Please supply the Piano Secretary with a written copy by 12th April.
Fee ₤6.50
16 and older
Up to 5 mins

232 Baroque (16 years and over)
Own Choice of one piece by a Baroque composer.
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

233 Classical (16 years and over)
Own choice of any piece by any Classical composer.
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

234 Romantic (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece by any Romantic composer.
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

235 20th and 21st Century (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece by any 20th or 21st Century composer
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

236 Jazz, Films, Musicals or Popular Music (16 years and over)
Own choice from the ABRSM Jazz syllabus or similar OR own choice of music from films, musicals or popular music.
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

237 English Music. Classical and Folk Music (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece of English Classical or Folk Music excluding any piece suitable for Class 234.
Fee ₤7.00
16 and older
Up to 6 mins

238 Own Choice (16 years and over)
Own choice of one piece.
Up to 7 mins. Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee ₤7.50
16 and older
Up to 7 mins

239 Recital (16-18 years)
Own choice of two pieces by different composers, one to be played from memory.
Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee ₤9.00
16 and older
Up to 10 mins

240 Recital (19 years and over)
Own choice of two pieces by different composers, one to be played from memory.
Please contact the Piano Secretary if you need extra time.
Fee ₤9.00
Up to 10 mins

Piano Duets & Trios Classes

241 – 251 Competitors may enter more than one class provided age limits are observed.
Please provide a copy for the adjudicator.

241 Duet for Adult and Child (15 years and under) (Non Competitive)
The adult must not be a piano teacher.
Own choice of two duets. Partners to change places.
Fee ₤7.50 per duo
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
Up to 5 mins

242 Duet for Adult and Child (10 years and under)
The adult must not be a piano teacher.
Own choice of two duets. Partners to change places.
Fee ₤7.50 per duo
Group of 2 people
10 and younger
Up to 5 mins

243 Duet for Adult and Child (11-15 years)
The adult must not be a piano teacher.
Own choice of two duets. Partners to change places.
Fee ₤7.50 per duo
Group of 2 people
Age between 11 and 15
Up to 5 mins

244 Duet (16 years and over)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee ₤7.50 per duo
Group of 2 people
16 and older
Up to 5 mins

245 Duet (15 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee ₤7.50 per duo
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
Up to 5 mins

246 Duet (12 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee ₤7.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
12 and younger
Up to 3 mins

247 Duet (10 years and under)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee ₤7.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
10 and younger
Up to 3 mins

248 Family Duet (15 years and under)
Brothers, sisters and cousins only.
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee ₤7.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
15 and younger
Up to 3 mins

249 Family Duet (11 years and under)
Brothers, sisters and cousins only.
Own choice of piece(s)
Fee ₤7.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
11 and younger
Up to 3 mins

250 Trio – Three players at one piano (any age)
Own choice of piece(s).
Fee ₤8.00 per trio
Group of 3 people
Up to 5 mins

251 Teacher / Pupil Duet (any age)
Own choice. Pupil must play Primo part.
Only the pupil will be adjudicated.
This class may be divided by age if numbers permit.
Fee ₤8.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins

252 Piano Accompaniment
Piano accompanying solo instrument or voice.
Fee ₤6.50
Up to 5 mins

Organ

253 Organ (Junior)
Grade 0-3
Fee ₤5.50
Up to 3 mins

254 Organ (Intermediate)
Grade 4-7
Fee ₤6.00
Up to 4 mins

255 Organ (Senior)
Grade 8+
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 8 mins

Concerto Competition
For Concerto entries, please see our Concerto Competition section.