The Big SqueezeContest
2014 official rules
Calendar
- Deadline for registrations: by location
or received by e-mail or postal service by April 7, 2014 – arrive by date (not postmark date)
- Semi-Finalists Announced: April11, 2014
- Finals: April 26in Austin at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Showcase: Saturday, June 7 in Houston during the Accordion Kings & Queens Concert at the Miller Outdoor Theater
Criteria for entry
- Open to applicants21years old or younger. Entrants that turn 22 on or before June 7, 2014 are not eligible.
- Must currently reside in Texas.
How to Enter
- Participants may reserve an entry slot in any city by e-mailing () or calling-in (512-441-9255) the information detailed in the entry form (available at Contestants may also register by arriving 1 hour prior to the scheduled showcase time at each site.
Talent showcases will be held in the following cities and locations:
Houston: Saturday, February 1stHouston Creole Festival at Discovery Green
La Joya: Saturday, February 8thLa Joya High School
Corpus Christi, Sunday, February 9thMcDonald Public Library sponsored by Hacienda Records
Schulenburg: Saturday, February 22 TexasPolka Festival & Symposiumat Sengelmann Hall
Houston: Sunday, February 23 Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA)
Dallas: Sunday,March 23rdLatino Cultural Centersponsored by City of Dallas
Los Fresnos:Saturday, March 29thLos Fresnos High School Auditorium
San Antonio: Friday, April 4: Gallista Gallery sponsored by Conjunto Heritage Taller
- Three Final Grand Prize Winners will be devoted to the three main accordion genres—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre will include German, Czech, and Polish traditions. Zydeco will include Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto will include norteño and Tejano. Please contact Texas Folklife if you are unsure under which category your music falls.The showcases will be free, open to the public, and feature performances by local musicians.
- There will be three finalists in each category which will be announced on April 11th. There will be one finalist in each category selectedon April 26th in Austin to be showcased at the Accordion Kings and Queens concert in Houston on June 7th.
There will be acoustic accompaniment provided by Texas Folklife at each live audition. Participant may choose to bring one musician to accompany him/her instead. Eachshowcase is open to the public and followed by a music program.
PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON AUDITION SITES AND TIMES:
- Interested contestants who cannot attend a talent showcasemay mail in an entry. Entry forms can be downloaded from Please submit audio recordings of two songs. Each song, including medleys, should be no more than 4 minutes in length. Acceptable formats are: audio or video CD, MP3 or WAV file, cassette, or VHS with audio.
- Entry forms and music MUST be submitted together, via e-mail, regular mail or delivery to the Texas Folklife office in Austin. Entries must be received byApril 7, 2014(not a postmark deadline.)
Conditions for entry
- If selected to perform at the finals, contestants must travel to Austinonor by Saturday,April 26, 2014;finalistswill travel to Houston for the finals on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
- If selected to compete as a finalist, you must play the same two songs submitted for judging.
- Participants of the contest grant Texas Folklife or its representatives the right to record and reproduce their performances, and allow the use of their names and likenesses in promotion. (Texas Folklife upholds all copyright laws, the contestants will not be held liable for any rights infringement.)
Judging
- A panel of esteemed musicians and music industry judges will use a numerical ranking system to select up to three finalists in each musical category. Judging criteria will include: song interpretation, technical skill, originality, execution and stage presence.
- Finals - Saturday April 26, 20142-6pm @ the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (hotel provided April 25-27 and dinner provided April 25 at Welcome Party): Finalists will perform their two songs accompanied by a house band of professional players provided by Texas Folklife (you may bring one accompanist, if you prefer.) The band will receive copies of each finalist’s songs and rehearse in advance. Contestants will be given 10 minutes to go over the selection with the band.
- Saturday June7, 2014Evening @ Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston (hotel and dinner provided): The three (3) grand prize winners will perform their same two songs live at the Accordion Kings & Queens festival June 7thtat Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre, accompanied by thehouse band.*
* You may bringone accompanist of your own, if desired; however, Texas Folklife will not cover that person’s hotel room.
Prizes
- Finalists win:
- Hotel accommodations and meals in Austin for two nights
- Promotional support and performance opportunities from Texas Folklife
- $150 cash and other special gifts
- The Grand Prize Winnersreceives:
- A new Hohner accordion
- Promotional supportand performance opportunities from Texas Folklife
- Additional Cash award
- 2015 performance opportunities in Austin and Houston
All prizes are awarded at the discretion of Texas Folklife and the judges. This contest may be canceled at any time.