An opportunity for girls in Kent and East Sussex schools
The Inter-Schools Piano Competition on 30 April 2026 offers an exciting opportunity for young talented girls to perform as part of the wider showcasing of music and art within the Mayfield Festival.
The competition is open to all girls in primary and secondary education within the East Sussex and Kent areas. Winners of the two classes being offered will be invited to take part in a masterclass with the 2024 winner of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition on Monday 11 May.
The judges will be renowned concert pianists Kathryn Stott (from the judges panel for the main Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition) and Mary Methuen (Director of the Kent International Piano Course).
Further prizes for the two winners will include a £50 voucher and two free tickets to the Finals of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition on Bank Holiday Monday 4 May. All those invited to perform in the Inter-Schools Competition will receive free tickets to the Quarter and Semi Finals of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition.
Entry Requirements
The requirements for entry for this competition are as follows.
1. Applicants are asked to select the most suitable competition to enter for. We have two categories, intermediate and advanced.
- Intermediate is between grades 5-6
- Advanced grades 7-8.
Applicants are not required to have taken the relevant grades with any exam board but should be playing pieces at the standard of the grades chosen. You can find suggested repertoire within these grade boundaries from the ABRSM piano syllabus on their website.
2. Applicants need to send a video performance of a piece, ideally no longer than 5 minutes.
- If performing a piece with repeats or over 5 minutes, you are welcome to play a section of the piece for the recording.
3. The video quality does not need to be studio quality, and a smartphone video camera will be more than suitable.
4. In the video applicants need to say the following at the start of the recording:
- Name
- Category entering
- Name of piece
5. Once recorded, please send your recording, as an attached, or shared file/link to music@mayfieldgirls.org and complete the online application form here.
Deadline for submissions: 18:00 on Monday 13 April. Those successful and through to the competition will be notified before Monday 20 April for the competition on Thursday 30 April. All entries will be notified if they have been successful or not.
If you have any questions please do also contact music@mayfieldgirls.org
FAQ’s
Where will the competition be held?
The competition will be held in the Mayfield School Concert Hall.
When is the competition happening?
The competition will take place on Thursday 30 April. The Intermediate Class performances (grades 5-6) will run from 9.30am to 12.15pm, with a break for light refreshments. Intermediate Class competitors should arrive at or slightly before 9.00am and will be free to leave at about 12.45pm after judging and awards. The Advanced Class performances (grades 7-8) will run from 2.00pm to 4.45pm, with a break for light refreshments. Advanced Class competitors should arrive at or slightly before 1.30pm and will be free to leave at around 5.15pm after judging and awards.
Will I have time to prepare and warm up before the competition starts?
The music department will reserve practice rooms for competitors to practise and warm up on. However, once the competition starts, all those involved in that class are expected to be in the concert hall.
What will the order be in the competition?
The order will be chosen at random.
What should I play for the competition?
You should play music that you are able to play comfortably and within your abilities. The temptation to play a more advanced piece for the competition increases the risk of making mistakes in the pressure of the event. You are welcome to play music that you chose to submit your application with.
Can parents and guests come and watch?
We warmly invite parents and teachers of the competitors to attend and enjoy the event. As school is in session during this time, we do ask that all visitors are correctly signed in and supervised. You should check in at School Reception on arrival at Mayfield School.
When will I find out if I won the class?
The winner is announced at the end of the class; it is therefore important that all competitors stay till the end of the class.
Will I get feedback on my performance?
Judges will make comments and notes about each piece performed and general feedback can be given after the competition. We are unable to provide feedback at the application stage.
