Advanced Contemporary Music Festival is our largest branch program. This program is the first part of a two-part event, and at times, it is also called the preliminary event. During this preliminary competition, applicants of all disciplines play in front of a panel of adjudicators for a performance spot on the Gold Medal Honors Recitals (second part) at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center. Repertoire is chosen from the contemporary period, and a 4-minute time limit is applied during the preliminary event.

Contemporary Music Festival was created around the year, 2000. Goals and objectives of the festival are as follows:

- Provide local performance opportunities for advanced students.

- Promote the performance of contemporary-style works by composers of the last 100 years that showcase 20th – 21st century compositional techniques, including: serialism, modes and contrived scales, polyrhythm, polytonality, etc.

- Encourage students to perform contemporary music, especially those works written in the last 100 years, (1924 or after).

Teachers entering compositions that may be doubtful at meeting either level or stylistic requirements are encouraged to submit the repertoire to the Contemporary Music Festival committee well in advance of registration for verification of eligibility.

The Advanced Contemporary Music Festival encourages the performance of Contemporary style works of the last 100 years. The composer must have been alive during the last 100 years and must exhibit 20th-21st century compositional techniques, including, serialism, modes and contrived scales, polyrhythm, polytonality, etc.

Each year the preliminary festival is judged by a panel of three stellar adjudicators. Two to three weeks following the preliminary festival, those students scoring high enough are invited to play at the Gold Medal Festival held at the Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $34 per entry/$38 with a day or time preference/$42 with a day and time preference.

Location: Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center.