About the Competition
Entry Deadline: January 31
The Gordon C. Wallis competition is held in conjunction with the Florence Bowes Memorial Competition (in odd-numbered years), and the Lyell Gustin Memorial Piano Competition.
The scholarship will be awarded as tuition to the music school or teacher of the student’s choice upon proof of their continuation of study in piano.
The competitor will be notified of the day, time, place, and hour of his/her performance/interview. He/she must be ready at least ten minutes before the time set for his/her performance/interview.
The program will be posted on the SRMTA website.
Rules & Regulations
- Failure to comply with the regulations will result in disqualification.
- The Competition is open to advanced piano students of at least Level 10 level.
- The time limits indicated are for the total performance and therefore include the time between selections.
- Competitors must perform from memory.
- Competitors must bring original copies of music for the adjudicator. Photocopied music will not be accepted.
- Competitors are responsible for their own expenses.
- The adjudicator’s decision is final. A high level of performance is essential; otherwise, no award will be given.
- The candidate may enter category (a) PIANO PERFORMER, or (b) PIANO TEACHER, but not (a) and (b) in the same calendar year.
- Competitors must play the program as submitted.
- Winners in one category are not eligible to enter again in the same category.
- Students wishing to enter the Gustin Competition and/or the Bowes Competition in the same year as the Wallis must play an entirely different program for each Competition.
- All entries will be examined to ascertain if all requirements, including choice of repertoire, have been met.
- The use of recording equipment or the taking of photographs during performances or interviews is strictly prohibited.
CANDIDATES IN CATEGORY (a) PIANO PERFORMER
The candidate must be at least 15 years of age and not yet 21 as of January 1 of the year of the competition. He/she must submit, for public performance, a program not exceeding 50 minutes in length. The program must present a variety of styles including a sonata (classical or romantic) and a work composed after 1920. Concertos are excluded. All works must be complete (i.e. individual movements not accepted) and at least Level 10. Memory is required.
CANDIDATE IN CATEGORY (b) PIANO TEACHER
The candidate must be at least 17 years of age and not yet 25 as of January 1 of the year of the Competition. He/she must submit, for public performance, a program not exceeding 40 minutes in length. The program must present a variety of styles including one work by J.S. Bach and one work composed after 1920. Concertos are excluded. All works must be complete (i.e. individual movements not accepted) and at least Level 10. Memory is required.
A viva voce interview of approximately 20 minutes will be conducted, in private by the adjudicator, after the candidate’s performance. The competitor will be asked to evaluate music from Levels 3 to 8 for common pedagogical problems. The candidate must satisfy the adjudicator in his/her knowledge of piano pedagogy and in his/her interest in teaching piano, otherwise, no award will be given. The winner must sign a declaration that he/she will teach in Saskatchewan for a minimum of TWO years after winning the Scholarship.
CANDIDATES IN BOTH (a) PIANO PERFORMER AND (b) PIANO TEACHER
The candidate must provide the adjudicator with copies of the edition of the works he/she is performing. Competitors are not permitted to change their repertoire. Please indicate on your program the performance time of each piece/movement. In ascertaining the playing time of your submitted repertoire, please omit long repeats (over 16 measures), but observe Da capo and Dal Segno indications.
Apply Online
Past Winners
- 2023
Chelsea Zhou (Performer, 2nd place) - 2022
Jerry Hu (Performer, 1st place)
Jonathan Guan (Performer, 2nd place)
Connor Elias (Pedagogy, 1st place) - 2021
Daniel Wu (Performer, 2nd place) - 2020
Bronte Rawlings (Performer, 1st place)
Xiaotong Wang (Performer, 2nd place)
(Both students study with Bonnie Nicholson) - 2019
Jienan Chen, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place) - 2018
Alice Li, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place)
Yolanda Smith-Hanson, Saskatoon (Performer, 2nd place)
Jordan Wollf, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 1st place) - 2017
Christianne Bentler, Saskatoon (Performer, 1st place) - 2016
Godwin Friesen, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place)
Jhena Dela Cruz, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 1st place) - 2015
Gloria Yu, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place) - 2014
Shaelynne Sawatsky, Saskatoon (Performance, 1st place)
Eric Bews, Saskatoon (Performance, 2nd place) - 2013
Natasha Francis, Nipawin (Performance, 1st place) - 2012
Jaclyn Goetz, Dalmeny (Performance, 1st place)
Armand Konecsni-Luzny, Regina, SK (Performance, 2nd place)
Kristofer Hosaluk, Saskatoon (Pedagogy, 2nd place*)
*Pedagogy, 1st place – not awarded - 2011
Bradley Little, Saskatoon (Performance) - 2010
Karen King, Saskatoon (Pedagogy) - 2009
Meagan Milatz, Weyburn (Performance)
David Woloschuk, Saskatoon (Performance, 2nd place) - 2008
Maria Fuller, Earl Grey (Performance)
Karen Mak, Saskatoon (Pedagogy) - 2007
Nicole Mak, Saskatoon (Performance)
Neal Cabigon, Regina (Performance, 2nd place) - 2006
Samuel Deason, Saskatoon (Performance)
Jacki Giggs, Saskatoon (Pedagogy) - 2005
Alex Dyck, Regina (Performance)
Chantelle Letourneau, D’arcy (Pedagogy) - 2004
James Coughlin, Assiniboia (Performance) - 2003
Naomi Piggott, Saskatoon (Performance)
Mark Turner, Lacadena (Pedagogy) - 2002
No competition this year - 2001
Jacqueline Woods (Performance)