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keyboard festival
OBU
2021 Handbook
okbu.edu/keyboardfestival
Table of Contents
Welcome from the Dean ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
OBU Keyboard Faculty ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
General Procedures and Updates ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Festival Dates and Locations …….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Category Information ……..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Repertoire Guide …………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Q & A ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
State Keyboard Festival Information …………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………… 14
Resources, Important Dates, and Contact Information ………………………………………………………………………………… 15
1
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy!
Psalm 33:2-3 (Italics added)
Greetings from Bison Hill! As David prepared the people of Israel for the construction of the
Temple, he and his leaders set apart some who were to be responsible for the music that
would be offered there as a continual act of worship. 1 Chronicles 25:7 indicates that those
selected were “trained and skilled in music for the Lord.” The musical acts of worship were
not haphazard renderings, but were instead the result of the intentional, guided, and
persistent development of the musical abilities of those who had been called to lead.
Our churches and our communities have the same need today: gifted musicians who have
submitted themselves to years of lessons and practice from a desire to worship God and to
lead others to do the same. The College of Fine Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University is
committed to offering the support and training which fosters not only musical development,
but also spiritual growth that yields service to Christ and to His Church.
To this end, we are pleased to offer again our annual Keyboard Festival. Through this event, we hope to provide
students a tool to motivate and to measure their own musical growth. We hope also to undergird the work of music
teachers and the efforts of parents to encourage their students’ determination and commitment to the development of
their abilities. We want to celebrate achievements and promote excellence with the desire to see more men and
women equipped with knowledge and skills to competently perform at the piano and organ and to uplift, inspire, teach,
and challenge those who listen.
We are also pleased this year to introduce an additional opportunity for those students interested in composition and
hope this will add to our repertoire as we “sing (play) to him a new song!”
I am deeply grateful for the work of the faculty of the Division of Music at Oklahoma Baptist University. I especially
appreciate the tireless efforts of Dr. Abigail Mace, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of OBU’s Preparatory
Department, in her service as Director of the Keyboard Festival, as well as the work of Dr. Lee Hinson, Professor of
Church Music, in assisting Dr. Mace. “Thank you” also goes to Dr. Michael Dean, Chair of the Division of Music and
Coordinator of Keyboard Studies and also Dr. Patty Nelson, Dr. James Vernon, and Dr. Peter Purin. We also appreciate
very much those who serve as site hosts, secretaries, hymn directors and adjudicators as well as the churches who
provide locations for the Regional Festival.
And, thank you. Thank you for participating in this Keyboard Festival, for your constant efforts to teach your students,
and for your careful attention to their progress and accomplishments. We are honored to serve with you.
I wish you all the best at the Regional Festivals and look forward to seeing you at the State Festival in February.
For the Beauty of the Earth,
Christopher W. Mathews, Dean
Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts
2
OBU Keyboard Faculty
Dr. Michael Dean is Professor of Music, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, and Chair of the
Division of Music in the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts.
He teaches applied piano, class piano, and courses for piano performance and pedagogy majors.
In 2011, OBU presented him with a teaching award in recognition of his instructional excellence.
In addition to his international performances as a member of the Manno- Dean Piano Duo, he is
in demand as a soloist and collaborative artist, performing in numerous locations throughout the
United States and Europe. His performances have been described as expressive, poetic, and
engaging, inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
An educational and artistic leader in the state of Oklahoma, Dr. Dean serves as President of the Oklahoma Music
Teachers Association. He also maintains an active schedule as a workshop clinician, adjudicator, and faculty member at
summer institutes throughout North America. His international presentations include those for the 2013 World Piano
Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia, the 2014 Classical Music Festival in Eisenstaedt, Austria, the International Society of
Music Education 2016 World Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’
Associations 2019 National Conference.
Following studies at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, he earned undergraduate degrees in Piano
Performance and Mathematics from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts
degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Abigail Mace is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Music Preparatory
Department at Oklahoma Baptist University where she teaches applied piano and related
courses.
As director of the OBU Music Preparatory Department, Mace oversees a program of over 100
students, providing high quality private lessons, group piano classes, and choral opportunities to
the community.
In addition to piano, Dr. Mace is an expert in historically informed performance on harpsichord
and fortepiano. Her research informs her teaching and performance on the modern piano to
create convincing and communicative interpretations. Dr. Mace is an active collaborator at the harpsichord, performing
from a figured bass according to historical principles.
Mace has performed in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, across the United States, and live on Wisconsin Public Radio.
She has given masterclasses and guest lectures at universities across the United States, is an active member of the Music
Teachers National Association, and serves on the board of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association.
Mace is a 2010-2011 Netherland-America Foundation Fulbright fellow (harpsichord, the Royal Conservatory of the
Hague) and holds the M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in Piano Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Mace
earned the B. Mus. in Piano Performance, summa cum laude with honors, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville,
Tennessee.
3
Dr. Patty K. Nelson is a lifelong music educator in the public schools, churches, and in her private
studio.
She taught piano and organ lessons for 27 years before joining higher education. She served the
Mid-Cities Music Teachers Association as Festival Chair for 5 years. She was a church pianist or
organist in churches in Spain, Pennsylvania, and Texas. She also served as Fine
Arts Director for the Academy at FBC, Keller, TX.
Patty received a B.A. in Piano from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, an M.M. in Church Music
from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and
Instruction from Baylor University, Waco, TX.
She studied piano from Dr. Michael Ard and organ from Dr. Joyce Jones and Dr. Al Travis. Patty is a frequent writer for
Chorister’s Guild’s journal the Chorister and has presented at Baptist General Convention of Texas Conferences, Winter
Organ Conference at Baylor University, Texas Music Teacher Educators, Georgia Music Educators Association, Alabama
Music Teacher Association, International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education, and Symposium for Music
Teacher Educators.
Patty has done several clinics for churches working with children’s choir workers in Louisiana and Texas and has
performed a number of children’s organ recitals in Texas and Oklahoma.
Dr. Gloria Tham-Haines is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and a member of the Music
Teachers National Association. She has taught privately for 20 years and loves working with
students of all ages and abilities. She is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner and
has presented nationally on trauma- informed strategies for the piano studio. She is also a part of
the ergonomically-sized smaller piano keyboard international initiative and a private owner of a
DS 5.5 Steinbuhler keyboard.
Born in Kampar, Malaysia, Dr. Tham-Haines started piano lessons at age five and has a doctorate
in piano performance from the University of Alabama. While in Malaysia, she completed the
ABRSM piano examinations syllabus up to Grade 8 and earned the Performer’s Certificate of
Trinity College, London. She also holds piano performance degrees from Southwestern College, Winfield, KS and Wichita
State University, KS.
Since the fall of 2017, Dr. Tham-Haines has been adjunct piano professor of class piano at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Previously, she has taught at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, KS; Southwestern Christian University,
Bethany, OK; Oklahoma City Community College; and the University of Central Oklahoma. She has twice been the guest
clinician and conductor for the Walnut Valley Piano Teachers Association’s piano ensemble festival, in 2012 and 2016.
Besides teaching, she is also involved in music ministry, accompanying, performing, and adjudicating.
In addition to music, she is an active contra and ballroom dancer, enjoys photography, reading, and traveling. Dr. Tham-
Haines is married to Patrick and has two children and a Siamese cat.
4
General Procedures and Updates
Registration
To register for the Regional and State Keyboard Festivals, submit the registration form located on our website:
okbu.edu/keyboardfestival. Registration fees may be paid by credit card immediately after submitting the form or by
check postmarked by the deadline. Please check the registration deadline carefully; late registrations will not be
accepted.
Fee
The fee for participation at the Regional Keyboard Festivals and the State Keyboard Festival is $20. The entry fee for
the Piano Duet Category is $20 total ($10 per performer). Entry fees are non-refundable.
NEW Composition Category
We are pleased to introduce a Composition Category this year!
Students will enter via the online registration/entry form at okbu.edu/keyboardfestival by December 19, 2020.
There is a one-time entry fee of $20 (no extra fee if advancing to State). Results will be announced mid-January. For
more information, please view the Composition Category rules on p. 9.
State Eligibility
ALL students competing in the Regional Keyboard Festivals are eligible for the State Keyboard Festival, provided they
earn an overall superior rating and meet other requirements listed under each category at the regional level.
Duet Division
Entrants in the duet division are eligible to advance to the state festival, provided that both players are students.
Teachers may perform with their students in the duet division in the Regional Keyboard Festivals for comments only.
Repertoire Selection
If you need help finding the appropriate level of repertoire for hymn arrangements or classical/standard repertoire,
please see the “Keyboard Festival Repertoire Guide” for suggestions. Although there is no specific approval process
for repertoire, we are happy to assist you if you have additional questions. Please call the OBU Music Office at 405-
585-4301 or email us at keyfest@okbu.edu for assistance.
State Festival
The State Keyboard Festival is similar to the Regional Keyboard Festivals, in that each entrant plays all of their
repertoire in a single room. The judges will select first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category, and the
top player will be invited to perform in the performance and awards ceremony. First-place compositions in both age
groups of the new Composition Category will be premiered at the State Festival Awards ceremony.
Time Limit
Although it is the judges’ intention to hear all of a student’s offered repertoire, for the sake of time, some pieces
may not be heard in their entirety. Please note the 7 or 15-minute time limit for the various categories as you make
repertoire selections.
Forms
Sample critique sheets, downloadable handbooks, staff and volunteer forms, online registration, and other
resources are located on our website: okbu.edu/keyboardfestival.
5
Festival Dates and Locations
2021 Regional Keyboard Festivals 2021 State Keyboard Festival
January 23, 2021 February 27, 2021
Village Baptist Church Oklahoma Baptist University OBU Box 61276
10600 North May Avenue 500 W. University St. Shawnee, OK 74804
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-585-4301
405-751-1951 okbu.edu/keyboardfestival
vbcokc.org keyfest@okbu.edu
Contact: Kim Ice Contact: Dr. Abigail Mace
First Baptist Church Ponca City
218 S. 6th St.
Ponca City, OK 74601
580-765-4427
fbcponca.org
Contact: Aaron Robertson
First Baptist Church McAlester
100 E. Washington Ave.
McAlester, OK 74501
918-423-0990
fbcmcalester.org
Contact: Naaman Renard
Chisholm Heights Baptist Church
2243 W. State Hwy 152
Mustang, OK 73064
405-376-4531
chbcmustang.org
Contact: David Baker
January 30, 2021
South Tulsa Baptist Church
10310 South Sheridan Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74133
918-299-0904
southtulsabaptist.org
Contact: Philip Stevens
Sunset Lane Baptist Church, Guymon
15th and Sunset Lane
Guymon, OK 73942
580-338-5336
kristinarobertspiano@yahoo.com
Contact: Kristina Roberts
6
Category Information
Solo Piano Categories
If you need help finding repertoire, please see page 16 for a list of repertoire resources. Please use only published
arrangements for your students. For all categories, competitors must earn an overall superior rating to advance to the
state festival. Simplified arrangements are permitted in categories I and II only.
Category I
1. Play a hymn written in simplified style. Memory not required.
2. Play a selection from the standard teaching repertoire/method books by memory. Minimum length 16
measures.
3. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category II
1. Play a hymn from a standard hymnal, with introduction, in the key of C, G, D, F, B-flat major, or related minor
keys. Memory not required.
2. Play a selection from standard teaching repertoire/method books by memory. Minimum length 16 measures.
3. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category III
1. Play a hymn from a standard hymnal in the key of D, A, B-flat, E-flat major, or related minor keys, as written,
using pedal, with an introduction and following a director. Memory not required. The director will be singing
while the student plays.
2. Play an easy to early intermediate hymn arrangement. Memory not required.
3. Play an easy to early intermediate classical piece, by memory. Minimum length 16 measures.
4. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered, as well as a second copy of the hymnal for the director
to use.
Category IV
1. Play two stanzas of a hymn from a standard hymnal in the key of A, E, A-flat, D-flat, B major, or related minor
keys, following a director. The director will be singing while the student plays. Memory not required.
Stanza 1: Play an introduction. Play the hymn as written.
Stanza 2: Expand to support congregational singing while maintaining the original harmony.
2. Play an intermediate to early advanced hymn arrangement. Memory not required.
3. Play an intermediate to early advanced classical piece, by memory.
4. Provide music for judges, with measures numbered, as well as a second copy of the hymnal for the director to
use.
5. Sight-read a hymn of the judges’ choosing. Students will have one minute to look over the hymn silently before
playing. The student will play without a director.
Category V
1. Play three stanzas of a hymn from a standard hymnal in the key of A, E, A-flat, D-flat, B major, or related minor
keys, following a director. Memory not required. The director will be singing while the student plays.
Stanza 1: Play an introduction. Play the hymn as written.
Stanza 2: Expand to support congregational singing while maintaining the original harmony. Repeat the last
phrase of the hymn altering the hymn to include an upward modulation of one half-step.
Stanza 3: Play the hymn in the new key. The student can expand the hymn or play it as written. The
modulation and transposition should not be notated.
72. Play an advanced hymn arrangement. Memory not required.
3. Play an advanced classical piece, by memory.
4. Provide music for judges, with measures numbered, as well as a second copy of the hymnal for the director to
use.
5. Sight-read a hymn of the judges’ choosing. Students will have one minute to look over the hymn silently before
playing. The student will play without a director.
Solo Organ Categories
For all categories, competitors must earn an overall superior rating to advance to the state festival.
Category I
1. Play a hymn as written one time through with introduction and pedal.
2. Play an additional piece at a level appropriate to the student’s training suitable for use in church.
3. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category II
1. Play a hymn as written one time through with introduction and pedal. The student will follow the director. The
director will sing while the student plays.
2. Play an additional piece at a level appropriate to the student’s training suitable for use in church as a prelude.
3. Provide music for judges, with measures numbered, as well as a second copy of the hymnal for the director to
use.
4. Sight-read a hymn of the judges’ choosing. Students will have one minute to look over the hymn silently before
playing. The director will not sing or direct.
Piano Duet Categories
For all categories, competitors must earn an overall superior rating to advance to the state festival. In addition, in the
Piano Duet category, both participants must be students in order to be eligible for the State Festival. Teachers may play
with their students in the regional festivals for comments. Simplified arrangements are permitted in categories I and II
only.
Category I
1. Play an easy hymn arrangement or duet from the standard classical repertoire. Minimum length 16 measures.
Memory not required.
2. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category II
1. Play an easy to early intermediate hymn arrangement or duet from the standard classical repertoire. Minimum
length 16 measures. Memory not required.
2. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category III
1. Play an intermediate to early advanced hymn arrangement or duet from the standard classical repertoire.
Memory not required.
2. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
Category IV
1. Play an advanced hymn arrangement or duet from the standard classical repertoire. Memory not required.
2. Provide music for the judges, with measures numbered.
8Composition Category
New for 2021, the Composition Category of the Keyboard Festival provides music lovers and future worship leaders,
ages 10-18, with the opportunity to develop their creativity in arranging and composing. All entrants will receive
feedback on their compositions. First-, second-, and third-place winners will receive a certificate and first-place
compositions will be premiered at the State Festival.
Age Groups
You will enter by age group, with a first-, second-, and third-place winner chosen in each age group:
1. Group I: Ages 10-14
2. Group II: Ages 15-18
Composition Types
You will submit ONE composition per entry fee. Please choose from the two options below for your composition:
1. Hymn Arrangement for Keyboard OR
2. Original Composition for Voice and Piano on a Sacred Text
Composition Category Rules
1. There is no minimum or maximum length for your composition.
2. Any compositional style is permitted (pop, classical, jazz, etc.)
3. No recording of your composition is required but it is preferred.
4. Your composition may be written legibly by hand or with computer notation software.
5. Composition must be fully notated; no chord charts/lead sheets permitted.
6. Do not put your name on your score or announce name in recording. Judges will be given contestant numbers
only.
7. The Composition Category requires a one-time fee of $20 (no State fee). If submitting multiple compositions,
entrant must register and pay a separate fee for each submission.
8. The entry deadline is the same as the registration deadline for the Regional Festivals (December 15, 2020)
9. Registration must be completed online at okbu.edu/keyboardfestival. Score/recording may be attached to the
online form digitally or mailed postmarked by the Regional Registration deadline. If mailing, send to:
Oklahoma Baptist University
Attn: OBU Keyboard Festival Composition Entry
OBU Box 61276
500 University
501 Shawnee, OK 74804
10. Results will be announced mid-January with the first-place winner invited to perform or have their work
performed at the State Festival Awards Ceremony at OBU on February 27, 2021.
9Repertoire Guide
If you need help finding the appropriate level of repertoire, please use the following list as a guide. This list is not
comprehensive but provides a few suggestions for each level. If you have questions, please feel free to contact OBU
Music Office at 405-585-4301. Please use only published arrangements for your students.
Hymn Arrangements
SIMPLIFIED
Repertoire from Supplemental Hymn Books published for Alfred’s Basic Piano Library
Faber Piano Adventures
Bastien Piano Basics
EASY TO EARLY INTERMEDIATE
The Easy Piano Hymn Collection (Hal Leonard)
Easy Hymn Solos – Level 2: 10 Stylish Arrangements by Wendy Stevens
Simply Hymns: 10 Hymn Arrangements for the Early Intermediate Pianist by Jerry Ray
Simply Sacred Duets: 9 Elementary Piano Duet Arrangements of Hymns and Spirituals by Margaret Goldston
INTERMEDIATE TO EARLY ADVANCED
Hymns for Meditation: 6 Hymn Arrangements for the Late Intermediate Pianist by Martha Mier
Comfort in the Time of Need by Mary K. Sallee
What Can I Play on Sunday? collection by Cindy Berry
Two by Two: Sacred Duets for One Piano, Four Hands by Dallas Weekly
ADVANCED
Come Unto Me: 10 Comforting Solo Piano Arrangements for Worship by Marilynn Ham
Give Him Praise: Arrangements for the Advanced Pianist by Myra Schubert
Hymns of Refuge and Strength: Artistic Settings for the Advanced Pianist by Marilyn Thompson
Piano Praise for 2, Gerald Anderson
Classical/Standard Repertoire*
EASY TO EARLY INTERMEDIATE
J. S. Bach, Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook
Cornelius Gurlitt, Album for the Young, Op. 140
Béla Bartók, Mikrokosmos Vol. 1
Repertoire from Supplemental Duet Books published for Alfred’s Basic Piano Library
INTERMEDIATE TO EARLY ADVANCED
J. S. Bach, Inventions and easier Preludes from the Well Tempered Clavier
Muzio Clementi, Sonatinas
Robert Schumann, Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15
Essential Keyboard Duets, Vol. 3, Gayle Kowalchyk and E. L. Lancaster
ADVANCED
Domenico Scarlatti, Sonatas
Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonatas, Op. 49 or Op. 79
Robert Muczynski, Preludes Op. 6
Essential Keyboard Duets, Vol. 6, Gayle Kowalchyk and E. L. Lancaster
*Simplified arrangements are permitted in categories I and II of the solo piano and piano duet categories only.
10Q & A Regional Keyboard Festival
Q & A | PARTICIPATION
Who is eligible to participate in the Regional Keyboard Festival?
Any piano, organ or composition student who wishes to further his or her ability to lead music in a church setting.
Is there an age limit for registrants?
Yes. Only students who are in high school and younger grades may participate. Composition entrants must be ages
10-18 at time of entry.
Do you have to belong to a Southern Baptist Church in order to participate?
No. Anyone is welcome to participate.
Q & A | DUETS
Which pieces can be used for the Duet Division?
The duet division is for hymn arrangements or standard classical repertoire. Please reference the repertoire guide
for suggestions.
Is it permissible for a student to play in both the Solo and Duet Divisions?
Yes. Please fill out a separate form for each division with the pertinent information regarding titles, arrangers, duet
partner, etc. There is a separate entry fee for each division.
Does the duet partner have to be another student or can it be the teacher?
To be eligible to advance to state, both players in the duet division must be students. Teachers may continue to
perform with their students in the duet division in the regional festivals for comments only.
Q & A | ADJUDICATION
Will there be adjudication for organ students at each regional location?
This will be determined by the number of registrations turned in for the Organ Category. It is possible that it will not
be available at all locations.
What is the length of time for each student to play for adjudication?
Students in the Regional Festival are allotted seven minutes in Category I and II. For Category III, IV, and V, the
allotted playing time for each student is fifteen minutes. Please choose repertoire accordingly. If selections exceed
the time limit, some pieces may not be heard in their entirety.
How will we get our critique sheets and music after finishing?
A monitor will take the completed adjudication sheets and judges’ music to the registration desk after every two or
three students have finished playing. You may pick up your sheets and music at the registration desk. We are not
responsible for lost music if there is no identifying name on the music.
Does the selection I am playing need to be marked in any certain way for the judges?
Yes. The student needs to paper-clip or bookmark the book so it will open to the correct page. Measures should be
numbered at the top left of each system.
Is it possible for specific students to be assigned adjudication times close together?
Every effort will be made to accommodate schedules, however, this is not always possible due to judging schedules.
If you have scheduling requests, this must be indicated on each pertinent registration form.
11Are parents, siblings, friends, etc. allowed to listen while the student plays for adjudication?
This may be allowed, however, the decision is ultimately left to the preference of the judge and the performer. We
ask that the room be kept as quiet and distraction-free as possible in order for the student to give their best
performance. No one else will be asked to sing with the director in Categories III, IV, or V. If another student is
scheduled and would prefer to have the room clear, you may be asked by the monitor to exit the room until your
student is ready to play. Please be considerate of the other students and their wishes.
Do we have to memorize music?
Some categories require memorization. Carefully read the category information beginning on page 7 of this
handbook. Memorization is an important part of the adjudication process. If students use their music for a piece
which requires memorization, they will not be able to advance to state even if otherwise eligible.
Q & A | LITERATURE
Are we allowed to use copied music?
No. If the music is not in the public domain, copying music without permission from the publisher is a violation of
the federal copyright laws of the United States. If you have sought and received permission from the publisher, you
may use a copy of the published music for the adjudicator only. This copy must have the copyright
acknowledgement as it appears on the music and the added phrase “Used by Permission”. The judges will destroy
the copies following the festival. It is the responsibility of each teacher to ensure that they do not allow or
encourage, by example, their students to use or keep copied music. There are no exceptions for this guideline.
Students who bring copied music without appropriate permission will not be allowed to advance to state if
otherwise eligible.
Are students allowed to share books between adjudications?
Yes. If students need to use the same books for the judges, please indicate on the registration form that you would
like to schedule them as close together as possible. If they are in the same category, we may be able to schedule
them in the same room. We will make every effort to arrange the schedules to allow books and music to be shared
between students and adjudicators, however, please keep in mind that this is not always possible.
Do we observe repeat signs within the repertoire selections?
Repeat signs are at the discretion of the teacher and performer as long as the performance remains within the time
allotted.
Q & A | HYMN-PLAYING
For Categories III, IV, and V, will there be a choir singing with me when I play and follow the conductor?
No. The conductor will be singing while he or she conducts the hymn.
Will I have the opportunity to talk to the conductor?
Yes. It is necessary for the conductor to confirm with the student regarding which stanzas will be sung before the
hymn is begun, as well as the length of the introduction.
In Categories III, IV, and V, what should I play for an introduction to the hymns?
Introductions are marked in most hymnals. Everything contained within the brackets [ ] is the suggested
introduction. If introductions are not marked in the hymnal you are using, the introduction may include the
beginning and/or the last phrase of the hymn. An introduction is not necessary for the sight-read hymn.
Q&A | Dress Code
Will I be judged on the way I am dressed?
No. However, we ask that you dress modestly and appropriately.
12Q&A | Composition Category
Can students of any age enter a composition?
No. The age range is 10-18. You will enter according to your age at the time of entry, ages 10-14 or 15-18.
Can I compose for any instrument combination?
No. The two options are Hymn Arrangement for Keyboard (a solo piano setting of a traditional hymn) or Original
Composition for Voice and Piano on a sacred text (piano plus any voice type).
Does the composition need to be in a certain style?
No. You may compose in your style of preference (classical, jazz, pop, etc.)
Can I submit more than one composition?
Yes, but you must submit a registration form and an additional $20 fee for each composition submitted.
How will the Composition Category be adjudicated?
Entries will be collected online by the Regional deadline or may be mailed (please see category information). Each
entrant will be assigned a number and judged anonymously by OBU faculty. A first-, second-, and third-place winner
will be chosen from each of two age groups (10-14, 15-18). Results will be announced mid-January. The first-place
winners will be invited to perform their work at the State Festival or have it performed by OBU faculty.
Is there a Regional and State round for the Composition Category?
No. You will enter once by the Regional deadline, and pay a single $20 entry fee. Winners will be invited to premier
their works at the State Festival for no additional charge.
13State Keyboard Festival
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Oklahoma Baptist University
Raley Chapel
Shawnee, OK
All students competing in regional festivals are now eligible for the State Keyboard Festival, provided they earn an
overall superior rating at the regional festival and have met other requirements listed for each category. At the
conclusion of the regional festival, eligible students will register for the state festival online at
okbu.edu/keyboardfestival. Students will perform the same repertoire selections from the regional festivals at the state
festival.
Schedule/Format: Unless otherwise communicated, The State Keyboard Festival will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end around
4:30 p.m. The State Keyboard Festival is similar to the Regional Festival; each entrant will play all of their repertoire in a
single room. The judges will select a winner, 2nd, and 3rd place from each category. Winners in each category will
perform in the performance and awards ceremony at the conclusion of the festival. First-place compositions from the
Composition Category will also be premiered during the performance and awards ceremony.
Intro to Organ: This 30-minute session will be offered at the State Festival during the lunch hour. All competitors and
their families are welcome, free of charge. During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to hear and play the
magnificent organ in OBU’s Potter Auditorium.
Q & A | State Keyboard Festival
Who can go to the State Keyboard Festival?
Any student who earns an overall superior rating at the Regional Keyboard Festival and meets any other
requirements listed in each category is eligible for the State Keyboard Festival. Eligible entrants must register online
following their performance at the regional festival by the deadline listed under “Important Dates” in this handbook.
The registration fee for the State Keyboard Festival is $20 and may be paid online via credit card or mailed via check.
If we qualify for the State Keyboard Festival, when and where will it be held?
The State Keyboard Festival will be held at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The date will be
February 27, 2021. The State Keyboard Festival usually runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
What is required at the State Keyboard Festival?
The categories remain the same at the State Festival. You must play the same pieces performed at the Regional
Festival. Entrants in solo piano categories IV and V and organ category II will be required to sight-read at the State
Keyboard Festival; however, the piece will be different.
Do entrants to the Composition Category advance to State?
No, there is no State round for the Composition Category. Composition entrants will submit their composition by the
Regional deadline and learn of the results by mid-January. The first-place winners will be invited to perform their
works during the State Festival’s Awards Ceremony or may opt to have our faculty perform the works at State if they
are unable to attend.
How will we receive our State critique sheets/comments?
At State the judges need to keep critique sheets until they have selected a first-, second-, and third-place winner.
Therefore the comment sheets will not be available until after the performance and awards ceremony. You are
welcome to stay for the performance then pick up your sheets. If you are unable to stay, any uncollected critique
sheets will be mailed to your teacher.
14Resources
Please visit the OBU Keyboard Festival website, okbu.edu/keyboardfestival, for the following resources:
• Registration for the Regional Keyboard Festival, State Keyboard Festival, and Composition Entries
• Sample Critique Sheet
• Downloadable Festival Handbook
• Downloadable Host Church Handbook
• Festival Staff Forms
Important Dates
December 15, 2020
Regional Keyboard Festival Registration Deadline
Composition Category Entry Deadline
January 9, 2021
Regional Keyboard Festival Registration Correction Deadline (Change of date, time, and location not permitted)
January 23 & 30, 2021
Regional Keyboard Festivals
February 13, 2021
State Keyboard Festival Registration Deadline
February 27, 2021
State Keyboard Festival, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee
Contact Information
Address:
Oklahoma Baptist University
Division of Music
Attn: OBU Keyboard Festival
OBU Box 61276
500 W. University St.
Shawnee, OK 74804
Phone: 405-585-4301 | Email: keyfest@okbu.edu | Web: okbu.edu/keyboardfestival
Festival Administration:
Dr. Abigail Mace, director
Dr. Michael Dean, coordinator
Dr. Lee Hinson, coordinator
Dr. Patty Nelson, coordinator
15OBU Division of Music
Keyboard Studies
2021 Audition Dates: Degrees:
• February 15, 2021 • Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
• March 5, 2021 • Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with
Emphasis in Pedagogy
Additional dates available upon request. • Bachelor of Music in Composition*
• Bachelor of Music Education*
For audition requirements and to apply to the • Bachelor of Musical Arts*
Division of Music, please visit okbu.edu/music. • Bachelor of Music in Worship Studies*
*You may select piano as your primary instrument for
any of these degrees.
Faculty:
• Dr. Michael Dean, piano
• Dr. Abigail Mace, piano & harpsichord
• Dr. Patricia Nelson, organ
• Dr. Gloria Tham-Haines, pianoYou can also read
