Monday 2nd March to Friday 6th March

Syllabus 2026

Note on Instrumental Classes : Stringed Instruments on Monday, Other Instruments on Tuesday.
*Please note 2 copies of all “Own Choice” pieces must be handed in to the clerk on the day of the competition. 
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INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC – STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
Date Monday 2nd March 2026
Time 9.15am
Speyside Centre, Skye of Curr Road, PH26 3PA (just off A95 between Aviemore and Grantown)
Adjudicator Norman Bolton  
Accompanist (if required) Robin Versteeg
Trophies may be awarded for many of these classes but not all.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Acoustic Guitar
Class 1                Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)                                                 Own Choice*
Class 2                Solo Primary                                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 3                Solo Secondary                                                                                                Own Choice*
Class 4                Duet Primary                                                                                                     Own Choice*    
Class 5                Duet Secondary                                                                                                Own Choice
Class 6                Group                                                                                                                 Own Choice*
Violin, viola, cello, double bass
For classes 9 - 12 the one piece* entered must be drawn from the current or past lists of an appropriate grade syllabus from either Trinity College London or Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).  For Class 8 any early beginner repertoire is permitted.  There are no age restrictions.
 
Class 7                Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)                                                            Own Choice*
Class 8                Pre-grade 1                                                                                                         Own Choice*
Class 9                Grades 1 and 2                                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 10              Grades 3 and 4                                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 11             Grades 5 and 6                                                                                                    Own Choice*
Class 12             Grades 7 and 8                                                                                                    Own Choice*
Class 13              Duet Primary                                                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 14              Duet Secondary                                                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 15              Group                                                                                                                   Own Choice*
NB : The Fiddler of Strathspey, age 15 – 18, will at the discretion of the adjudicator, be selected from Class 12 entries.
Also, a Junior Fiddler of Strathspey, age under 15, may be selected.
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TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS (except Piping)
Date Monday 2nd March 2026
Time 1.15pm
Speyside Centre, Skye of Curr Road, PH26 3PA (just off A95 between Aviemore and Grantown)
Adjudicator Marie-Louise Napier
Trophies may be awarded for many of these classes but not all.
Please note that entries on more than one traditional instrument will be accepted but different
music must be submitted and performed for each instrument.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Fiddle
Class 16 Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 17 Beginners Primary                                                                                                      Own Choice*
Class 18 Intermediate Primary                                                                                                 Own Choice*
Class 19 Advanced Primary                                                                                                      Own Choice*
Class 20 Slow Air Primmary                                                                                                      Own Choice*
Class 21 Slow Air Secondary                                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 22 March, Strathspey, Reel Primary                                                                                Own Choice*
Class 23 March, Strathspey, Reel Secondary                                                                           Own Choice*
Clarsach
Class 24 Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 25 Primary                                                                                                                          Own Choice*
Class 26 Secondary                                                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 27 Duet                                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 28 Group                                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Accordion
Class 29 Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)                                                                           Own Choice*
Class 30 Primary                                                                                                                              Own Choice*
Class 31 Secondary                                                                                                                         Own Choice*
Class 32 Duet                                                                                                                                   Own Choice*   
Class 33 Group                                                                                                                                 Own Choice*
Traditional Group Music Making – any combination of instruments, any number of players
Class 34 Non-competitive                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Class 35 Primary                                                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 36 Secondary                                                                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 37 Mixed Primary / Secondary                                                                                           Own Choice*
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PIANO
Date 3rd March 2026
Time 9.15am (higher grades may take place in the afternoon, depending on number of entries)
Kingussie Parish Church
Adjudicator Norman Bolton
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
For classes 40 - 43 the one piece entered must be drawn from the current or past lists of an appropriate grade syllabus from either Trinity College London or Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).  For Class 39 any early beginner repertoire is permitted.  There are no age restrictions.
Class 38 Non-competitive (can be solo or duet)                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 39 Pre-grade 1                                                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 40 Grades 1 and 2                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 41 Grades 3 and 4                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 42 Grades 5 and 6                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 43 Grades 7 and 8                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 44 Advanced Recital                                                                                                           Own Choice*
These classes may include any single piece of duet repertoire for four hands at one piano.  Both performers must be of school-age.
Class 45 Duet Primary                                                                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 46 Duet Secondary                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Class 47 Duet Primary / Secondary                                                                                            Own Choice*
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INSTRUMENTAL (OTHER THAN STRINGS)
Date Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Time 1.15pm
Kingussie Parish Church
Adjudicator Norman Bolton
Trophies may be awarded for many of these classes but not all.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Percussion
Entries may include performances on non-tuned percussion with or without a backing track; or on tuned percussion without a backing track but with or without piano accompaniment.
Class 48 non-competitive (can be solo, duet or group)                                                             Own Choice*
Class 49 Primary                                                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 50 Secondary                                                                                                                        Own Choice*
Class 51 Duet Primary                                                                                                                    Own Choice*
Class 52 Duet Secondary                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 53 Group                                                                                                                                Own Choice*   
Recorder (any size) Piano accompaniment if requested
Class 54 Non-competitive (can be solo, duet or group)                                                            Own Choice*
Class 55 Primary                                                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 56 Secondary                                                                                                                        Own Choice*
Class 57 Duet Primary                                                                                                                    Own Choice*
Class 58 Duet Secondary                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 59 Group                                                                                                                                Own Choice*
Woodwind Piano accompaniment if requested
For classes 62 - 65 the one piece* entered must be drawn from the current or past lists of an appropriate grade syllabus from either Trinity College London or Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).  For Class 61 any early beginner repertoire is permitted.  There are no age restrictions.
Class 60 Non-competitive (can be solo, duet or group)                                                            Own Choice*
Class 61 Pre-grade 1                                                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 62 Grades 1 and 2                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 63 Grades 3 and 4                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 64 Grades 5 and 6                                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 65 Grades 7and 8                                                                                                                Own Choice*
Class 66 Duet                                                                                                                                 Own Choice*
Class 67 Group
Brass Piano accompaniment if requested
For classes 70 - 73 the one piece* entered must be drawn from the current or past lists of an appropriate grade syllabus from either Trinity College London or Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).  For Class 69 any early beginner repertoire is permitted.  There are no age restrictions.
Class 68 Non-competitive (can be solo, duet or group)                                                         Own Choice*
Class 69 Pre-grade 1                                                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 70 Grades 1 and 2                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Class 71 Grades 3 and 4                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Class 72 Grades 5 and 6                                                                                                             Own Choice*
Class 73 Grades 7and 8                                                                                                              Own Choice*
Class 74 Duet                                                                                                                                Own Choice*
Class 75 Group                                                                                                                              Own Choice*
Group Music-making – any combination of instruments, any number of players
Class 76 Non-competitive                                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 77 Primary                                                                                                                           Own Choice*
Class 78 Secondary                                                                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 79 Mixed Primary / Secondary                                                                                           Own Choice*
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SINGING AND RECITATION
Date Wednesday 4th March
Time 9.15am
St Andrew’s Church, Aviemore
Adjudicator Singing Ann Masters
Adjudicator Recitation Mary-Ann Connelly
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Singing Piano accompaniment if requested
Class 80 Non-competitive                                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 81 Solo Primary                                                                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 82 Solo Secondary                                                                                                              Own Choice*
Class 83 Duet Primary                                                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 84 Duet Secondary                                                                                                              Own Choice*
Class 85 Choir Primary                                                                           Two pieces of own choice*
Class 86 Choir Secondary                                                                      Two pieces of own choice*
Class 87 Choir Mixed Primary / Secondary                                         Two pieces of own choice*
Recitation / Verse
Class 88 Choral Verse – non-competitive                                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 89 Choral verse – Nurseery                                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 90 Choral verse – Primary                                                                                                 Own Choice*
Class 91 Choral verse – Secondary                                                                                            Own Choice*
Class 92 Solo verse speaking – P1-P3                                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 93 Solo Verse speaking -  P4-P7                                                                                       Own Choice*   
Class 94 Solo Verse speaking – Secondary                                                                               Own Choice*
Class 95 Solo Prose Reading – P1 – P3                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 96 Solo Prose Reading – P4 – P7                                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 97 Solo Prose Reading - Secondary                                                                                  Own Choice*                                                                   
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GAELIC  
Date Wednesday 4th March 2026
Time 1.30pm
St Bride’s Church, Newtonmore
Adjudicator Marie-Louise Napier
Please Note:These classes are open to Non-Gaelic speakers, but all content must be in Gaelic. 
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Class 98 Non-competitive (song or verse-speaking,  solo, duet or group)          Own Choice*
Class 99 Gaelic Action Song Nursery                                                                                      Own Choice*
Class 100 Gaelic Action Song Primary                                                                                    Own Choice*
Class 101 Gaelic song solo Primary                                                                                        Own Choice*
Class 102 Gaelic song solo Secondary                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 103 Waulking the Cloth                                                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 104 Group singing (duet, small group, choir)                                                              Own Choice*
Class 105 Solo Gaelic verse-speaking Primary                                                                     Own Choice*
Class 106 Solo Gaelic verse-speaking Secondary                                                                Own Choice*   
Class 107 Choral / Group Gaelic verse speaking                                                                  Own Choice*
Class 108 Gaelic Folk / Traditional Group with voice - (any instruments with singing)
 Own Choice*  
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PIPING
Date Thursday 5th March 2026
Time 9.15am
YMCA Community Centre, High Street, Grantown-on-Spey                    
Adjudicator Fiona Cauldwell
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Class 109 Non-competitive (solo, duet or group)
Class 110 Chanter Primary                                                                                                       Own Choice*
Class 111 Chanter Secondary                                                                                                   Own Choice*
Class 112 Novice Pipes                                                                      Two parted march of own choice*
Class 113 Pipes 15 years & under                                                     2 x two-parted marches of own choice*
                                                                                                               or 1 four-parted march of own choice*                                                                                                                   
Class 114 Pipes 16 -18                                                                March, Strathspey and Reel of own choice*
Class 115 Duet or group                                                                                                              Own Choice*
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DANCE
Date Thursday 5th March 2026 (may continue Friday 6th March, morning, if necessary)
Time 1.15pm
Cromdale Village Hall
Adjudicator Mary-Ann Connelly
Trophies may be awarded for many of these classes but not all.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Each class no longer than 5 minutes. Please bring your own recorded music.
Class 116 Non-competitive (any type, any age)
Class 117 Ballet – Beginners
Class 118 Ballet – Intermediate
Class 119 – Advanced
Class 120 Tap – Beginners
Class 121 Tap – Intermediate
Class 122 Tap – Advanced
Class 123 Modern / Contemporary/ Jazz – Beginners
Class 124 Modern / Contemporary / Jazz – Intermediate
Class 125 Modern / Contemporary / Jazz – Advanced
Class 126 Highland Dance – Beginners
Class 127 Highland Dance – Intermediate
Class 128 Highland Dance – Premier
Class 129 Scottish Country Dance Group – Primary
Class 130 Scottish Country Dance Group – Secondary
Class 131 Hip Hop / K pop – Primary
Class 132 Hip Hop / K pop – Secondary
Class 133 Open – solo
Class 134 Open - duet
Class 135 Open -  group
 
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Showcase Concert 6.30pm Friday 13th March 2026 at Boat Hall. All welcome to come and support selected performers from Strathfest 2026.

Copies of “Own Choice” works for the Adjudicator and Accompanist:
 It is illegal to copy works which are copyright without the permission of the copyright holder. The Music Publishers’ Association Code of Practice on Photocopying only makes some allowances where volume of works are concerned. The relevant paragraph of the code is given below. The Music Publishers Association Code of Practice on Photocopying copyright works makes the following concessions for copying own choice pieces from volumes only for the use of the adjudicator at the Festival provided that the entrant or participant has already purchased his/her own copy, and that the copy made is retained and destroyed by the Administrator of the Festival immediately after the event.
Copyright laws state that songs from shows in current productions may only be sung as a concert item ie. without costume or movement, without the need for copyright permission. Permission to re-record from the commercially produced CD and tape requires permission from the publisher.
The attention of competitors and group leaders is drawn to the booklet ‘Copying Music - A Code of Fair Practice’ which is obtainable free on application to the Music Publishers Association Ltd. Official Accompanist: In some classes the services of the official accompanist is available to performers on the day of the competition free of charge. When submitting entry forms, performers should indicate clearly in the relevant column if they want to use this service. Arrangements may be made for school performers to have a single short rehearsal prior to the competition. Alternatively, performers may bring their own accompanist.

Grades and Certificates:

 90+ OUTSTANDING An exceptional performance both technically and artistically
 87-89 DISTINCTION An excellent performance both technically and artistically
 84-86 COMMENDED A convincing performance technically and artistically
 81-83 MERIT A capable performance showing some artistic appreciation and/or technical ability
Trophies: Entrants awarded trophies will be asked to sign a letter undertaking to keep the trophy safe and return it when requested.        
​
Photography, audio, video recording and mobile phones
 Members of the audience are NOT PERMITTED to take any form of photograph nor to use a mobile phone/camera to make any type of video or audio recording at any festival event.  Only an appointed official photographer will be permitted in the designated area.
 
All competitors remain the responsibility for the schoolteacher, parent or guardian bringing them along to the competition.
 

Entries:  

Entries £5 for each class entered, solo, duet or group of up to 5.
Groups 6 – 15 members £10.
Choirs of more than 15 members £25.

To enter visit our entry form page