SENIOR DIVISION RULES
*Senior contestants should also read all of the Regular Division Rules, as many apply to both divisions! Senior contestants may NOT enter both the Regular Division and Senior Contest.
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These are the Official Rules for the 2025 edition of the World Championship Old-time Piano Playing Contest and Festival. * Note: Senior contestants should also read all of the Regular Division rules, as many apply to both divisions!
Note: On Saturday, May 24, 2025 Senior & Regular Division contestants must draw for playing order at 8:00 a.m. in Rm. #153 of the Music Building.
ELIGIBILITY: Senior contestants are defined as those 60-years-of-age or older on the day of competition. Any contestant winning the Senior Division a total of three (3) times (not necessarily in consecutive years) may no longer be declared champion in the Senior Division. However, the contestant may continue to perform in any other eligible contest.
FORMAT: A total of eight (8) Senior Division contestants may play two selections each on Saturday. At the discretion of the judges, up to four (4) contestants may be chosen to advance to perform two selections each on Sunday’s Semi-finals, after which the champion will be selected. Senior contestants are NOT required to play the “theme selection” as dictated in the Regular Division rules.
REPERTOIRE: Contestants need to prepare four (4) different selections written no later than 1939 (no medleys allowed), one of which must be a ballad or standard popular song, and not considered “ragtime”. The music must be memorized. Two selections are played in the PE’s, and each player who advances into the Semi-Finals on Sunday afternoon will play two more selections that meet contest requirements. Contestants are not required to reveal repertoire for specific rounds, rather, each contestant may choose their repertoire from their “pool” list provided. Contestants may play their selections in any order from their list within each round. Repertoire may not be repeated at any time.
PRIZES: The Senior Champion will be awarded a prize of $350 and a permanent trophy. A second-place prize of $200 and third-place prize of $100 will also be awarded.
TIME LIMIT: A total of eight (8) minutes playing time is allowed for each contestant’s performance of both their tunes (not including time for audience applause, interview time with the emcee, etc.). The penalty for playing in excess of the time limit prescribed is five (5) points for each 30 seconds, or fraction thereof, of overtime.
ENTRY FEE: The entry fee for the Senior Division is $35 with a penalty fee for late entry past the May 1 deadline of $25. This entry fee is not refundable unless the contest is canceled.
Questions about the rules or repertoire selections? Contact the Senior Division Contest Coordinator William McNally.