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2026 BOISE BACH FESTIVAL
Date & Location
Keyboard: February 28, 2026 @ First Presbyterian Church, 950 W State St, Boise, ID
Woodwinds: February 27, 2026 @ Immanuel Lutheran Church, 707 W Fort St, Boise, ID 83702
Strings: TBA
Registration
January 1 - 24, 2026 Register >> (link not active until January 1).
Eligibility
Junior Division open to all music students residing in Idaho, eighteen years of age or younger on the day of the competition.
College Division open to all currently enrolled undergraduates in an Idaho college or university.
Baroque Fans non-competitive concert is open to all ages, all instruments and ensembles.
Competition Rules
Entrance fee is calculated per student per category. See Category List for the fee schedule.
Students must perform music from one of the listed categories.
Arrangements, simplifications, and transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
Multiple entries are allowed as long as they span different instruments. For example, keyboard and violin are allowed, but not two categories within keyboard.
Performances are in recital format and open to the public.
Memorization is required unless otherwise noted.
Repeats are not required. Further, repeats are encouraged only if the performer makes a significant interpretive contribution on the repeat. For example, adding ornamentation or changing articulation, voicing, etc.
Concerti accompanists are highly encouraged except for keyboard selections as there is only one piano available. All accompanists must be provided by the performers.
Calculating Winners
Judges will score performers between 80 - 100, 100 being the best possible score. Students scoring 90 or above will be announced as winners and given a medallion.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be announced for each category of each instrument and awarded a trophy instead of a medallion. In order for students to be considered for a category trophy they must also score a 90 or above (explained above).
The judges’ score will take into consideration a variety of musical elements, including stage presence, repertoire choice, interpretation, pedaling, dynamics, intonation, breathing, articulation, tempo, memory, technique, etc.
Students who choose the “no compete” option will play in a special recital and will not receive judges’ comments; they will not be scored or considered for prizes.
Students who wish to perform pieces by a Baroque composer besides J.S. Bach may enter Category Z.
PIANO
Memorization is required
CATEGORY A | Anna Magdalena Notebook ($35)
Any selection from the Anna Magdalena Notebook.
CATEGORY B | Short Preludes ($35)
Preludes, BWV 846, 924-943, and 999
CATEGORY C | Inventions & Sinfonias ($35 one movement, $40 both movements)
A single Invention or Sinfonia is allowed. Students may also perform a set (eg. Invention No. 8 and Sinfonia No. 8). BWV 772-801
CATEGORY D | Partial Suites & Partitas ($45)
French Suites, English Suites, or Partitas. Choose any two movements of a Suite or Partita. BWV 806-811, 813-817, 825-831
CATEGORY E | Complete Suites & Partitas ($60)
French Suites, English Suites, or Partitas. Play any entire Suite or Partita. BWV 806-811, 813-817, 826-831
CATEGORY F | Preludes & Fugues WTC BK 1 or BK 2 ($40 )
Both the prelude and the fugue must be performed. BWV 846-869, 871-892
CATEGORY G | Short Various Works ($35)
Suite in G Minor, BWV 822 (choose two movements)
Four Duets (choose one duet), BWV 802-805
Prelude & Fugue in F Major, BWV 901
Fantasy in C Minor, BWV 906
Fantasy in G Minor, BWV 917
Fantasy in C Minor, BWV 919
Fantasy in C Major, BWV 946
Fugue in A Minor, BWV 947
Prelude & Fugue on B-A-C-H BWV 898
CATEGORY H | Italian Concerto ($40 single movement, $60 multiple movements)
Italian Concerto (one movement minimum, entire concerto is allowed), BWV 971
CATEGORY I | Keyboard Concerti ($40 one movement, $60 multiple movements)
Any keyboard concerto for one piano (double concertos are not allowed). One movement minimum, entire concerto allowed. It is preferred that the student perform with an accompanist, except for keyboard concertos as a second piano is not available. BWV 1052, 1053, 1055, 1056, 1058.
CATEGORY J | Longer Works ($50)
All movements are required except for Goldberg Variations.
Any toccata, BWV 910-916
Any sonata, BWV 963, 965, 966
Goldberg Variations (minimum ten variations), BWV 988
Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903
Capriccio on the Departure of a Dearly Beloved Brother BWV 992
Capriccio in E Major, 993
Prelude & Fugue in A Minor, BWV 894
Fantasy & Fugue in A minor, BWV 904
Fantasy & Fugue in A Minor, BWV 944
Aria variata alla maniera Italiana, BWV 989
CATEGORY Z | Other Baroque Composers ($35)
Any piece by a Baroque Era composer besides J.S. Bach is allowed. If you are not sure if a composer qualifies as Baroque, please reach out to the Bach committee before signing up. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
ORGAN
memorization not required
CATEGORY A | Any organ work by J.S. Bach ($35)
CATEGORY Z | Other Baroque Composers ($35)
Any piece by a Baroque Era composer besides J.S. Bach is allowed. If you are not sure if a composer qualifies as Baroque, please reach out to the Bach committee before signing up. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
STRINGS
violin, memorization required
CATEGORY A | Partial Sonatas & Partitas for Violin ($45)
Choose any two movements of a suite or sonata. For students wishing to play solely the Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 or Fugue from Sonata No. 5 in C Major, BWV 1005, please use Category C below.
CATEGORY B | Complete Sonatas & Partitas ($60)
Play any complete sonata or partita from BWV 1001-1006
CATEGORY C | Exceptional Violin Movements ($50)
Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004
Fugue from Sonata No. 5 in C Major, BWV 1005
CATEGORY D | Violin Concerti ($40 single movement, $60 multiple movements)
Any violin concerto. One movement minimum, entire concerto allowed. It is preferred that the student perform with an accompanist. BWV 1041-1043, 1064
CATEGORY Z | Other Baroque Composers ($35)
Any piece by a Baroque Era composer besides J.S. Bach is allowed. If you are not sure if a composer qualifies as Baroque, please reach out to the Bach committee before signing up. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
cello & viola, memorization required
CATEGORY E | Partial Suites for Cello ($45)
Choose any two movements of a suite from BWV 1007-1012
CATEGORY F | Complete Suites for Cello ($60)
Play any complete suite, BWV 1007-1012
CATEGORY Z | Other Baroque Composers ($35)
Any piece by a Baroque Era composer besides J.S. Bach is allowed. If you are not sure if a composer qualifies as Baroque, please reach out to the Bach committee before signing up. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
WINDS
flute & oboe, memorization not required
Flute works (below) and violin works (listed under “strings”) may be used for oboe. Oboe students should enter either the flute or strings categories and designate their actual instrument in the notes section of the application.
CATEGORY A | Partial Orchestral Suite in B Minor ($35)
Choose one movement from the Orchestral Suite in B Minor, BWV 1067
CATEGORY B | Complete Orchestral Suite in B Minor ($60)
Play the entire Orchestral Suite in B Minor, BWV 1067
CATEGORY C | Partial Sonatas ($40)
Any single movement from a Flute Sonata, BWV 1013, 1020, 1030-1035, 1038, 1039, 1079, and Sonata Sopr'il Reale
CATEGORY D | Complete Sonatas ($60)
Any Complete Sonata, BWV 1013, 1020, 1030-1035, 1038, 1039
CATEGORY Z | Other Baroque Composers ($35)
Any piece by a Baroque Era composer besides J.S. Bach is allowed. If you are not sure if a composer qualifies as Baroque, please reach out the Bach committee before signing up. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions of J.S. Bach or any other composer are not allowed.
ENSEMBLES
memorization not required
Ensembles may consist of two or more performers playing original works by J.S. Bach in which the players have equal parts. Other Baroque composers besides J.S. Bach are allowed. Arrangements, simplifications, or transcriptions are not allowed.
CATEGORY A | up to four minutes ($40)
CATEGORY B | four to eight minutes ($60)
CATEGORY C | eight to 15 minutes ($80)
CATEGORY D | above 15 minutes (contact the Bach committee for pricing)
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