Category

Junior Performance: Instrumental & Vocal

Summary

The Mary Smart Scholarship Competition is held yearly in conjunction with the Federation Festival.  Students who meet the eligibility requirements may enter the Preliminary Auditions.  Applicants are required to perform their current year required festival pieces before judges.  Preliminary auditions are held in each of the 3 districts and nine winners chosen from each district will automatically advance to the Final Auditions held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, during the Annual VFMC Convention.

Eligibility

Entrant must have earned 3 Superior ratings in the SOLO EVENT Category on the same instrument as described in the Junior Festival Bulletin – Piano, Voice, Lynn Freeman Olson Piano Solo, String, Harp, Guitar, Accordion, Woodwind, Brass.  The three superiors are not required to be consecutive, however one Superior rating must have been earned in the current Festival year.  The Solo class (e.g. Elementary I) entered at the Mary Smart Competition must be the same Solo class (e.g. Elementary I) entered in the current Festival.  (Hymns, Concerto, Duet, Sonata and Ensemble Events do not qualify for the Mary Smart Competition.)

First place winners at the state level may not compete again in the same division level.  Teachers may not submit entrants if they do not personally teach them.

Entry fee

By Districts for Preliminaries
None at state level

VFMC Awards

DIVISION I: Elementary I through Medium Class
First Place  $150.00
Second Place  $125.00
Third Place  $100.00

DIVISION II: Moderately Difficult I through Difficult I Class
First Place  $175.00
Second Place  $150.00
Third Place  $125.00

DIVISION III: Difficult II through Musically Advanced II Class
First Place  $200.00
Second Place  $175.00
Third Place  $150.00

ADDITIONAL AWARDS:
Sandra B. Anderson  $100.00
(Awarded to a graduating Senior who receives First Place in Division III)

Jan Schiffner Incentive Award  $50.00
(Awarded to one student in each division who does not place but who, the judges feel, shows outstanding ability, great potential, and is worthy of the encouragement which a special award brings.)

VFMC Mary Smart Preliminary Auditions

District I:
Date: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Contact District I Mary Smart Preliminaries Co-Chairs Debbie Harvey (434-444-0778), or Rosie Troxel (434-847-6347) for application and complete information.

District II:
Date:  Saturday, April 11, 2026
Application and Video Recording Deadline:  April 3, 2026
Contact District II Mary Smart Preliminaries Chair, Marcia Chaplin (703-298-0748) for application and complete information.

District III:
Date: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Contact District III Mary Smart Preliminaries Chair, (TBA), for application and complete information.

VFMC Mary Smart Final Auditions

• Date:  Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Location:  VFMC Annual Convention, Holiday Inn-Tanglewood, 4468 Starkey Rd., Roanoke, VA 24018

• Times:
  -Registration, 12:00 pm
  -Final Auditions, 12:30 pm
  -Competition Program, 2:30 pm

• Contact VFMC Mary Smart Competition Chair, Mimi Kim, for complete information.

VFMC Mary Smart Competition Chair

Mimi Kim
1807 Batten Hollow Road
Vienna, VA 22182
703-298-0748
Marciachaplin2@gmail.com

Click to download PDF of Mary Smart Competition Rules & Requirements

Each district has its own application form: