News and Updates

Daily log of changes to state-qualifier list

Houstonfest Scholarships

Gail Cope Scholarships at State

Scholarships for winning research papers at State

Changes taking effect in 2012

New venue for 2012 - Clements HS

      Directions  /  Map

      Lunch options

Concession stand at Houstonfest

Plays will be performed at Houstonfest

Important Dates

Feb. 10, 2012:  State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. in order to qualify for regular price of $10 per student.  Online registrations submitted after this point incur the late registration fee of $12 per student.

Feb. 16, 2012:  State payment check must be postmarked

Feb. 25, 2012:  Texas State German Contest, University of Texas at Austin

Mar. 2, 2012:  Houstonfest Scholarship applications due

Mar. 9, 2012:  Gail Cope Scholarship applications due

Jan. 14, 2013:  Houstonfest e-mail registration due by 11:59 p.m. in order to qualify for regular price of $10 per student

Jan. 21, 2013:  Last day to submit late registration ($12 per student) and last day to postmark payment check

Jan. 29, 2013:  Proof sheet of entrants sent to teachers for final verification and changes

Jan. 31, 2013, 8:00 p.m.:  Deadline to submit changes (adds, drops, substitutions).  After this point, no more additions or substitutions will be allowed in individual events.  Substitution of students in group events may continue in emergency situations.

Feb. 2, 2013:  Houstonfest

Rules:  Declamation Events

General rule for all declamation events:

A student may not perform the same poem or prose selection in both the Memory and Reading competitions, and a student may not perform the same poem or prose selection that he/she has performed in any previous year.

Poetry Memory:

Length and time requirements:

Level 1:  16-24 lines or 1-2 minutes

Level 2:  20-32 lines or 1.5-2.5 minutes
Levels 3, 4, and Advantaged:  24-46 lines or 2-3 minutes

Three entries per level per school (except for the Advantaged level, where the limit is two entries per school).  The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German.  It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon.  The title of the selection and the author must be listed along with the name of the student performing it on the alphabetical student list at the time of registration.  At least two copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest; failure to provide two copies of the selection will result in a 10-point penalty on the critique sheet.  Poems may be edited to fit time or line limits.  Poetry Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props.  The contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation.  Download critique sheet.

Poetry Reading:

Length and time requirements:

Level 1:  16-24 lines or 1-2 minutes

Level 2:  20-32 lines or 1.5-2.5 minutes
Levels 3 and 4:  24-46 lines or 2-3 minutes

Three entries per level per school.  The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German.  It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon.  The title of the selection and the author must be listed along with the name of the student performing it on the alphabetical student list at the time of registration.  At least two copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest; failure to provide two copies of the selection will result in a 10-point penalty on the critique sheet.  Poems may be edited to fit time or line limits.  Poetry Reading is judged on the basis of reading and not on any interpretation by the contestant, other than the use of voice changes, eye contact, facial gestures, and some use of hands.  No props or costumes may be used.  The contestant may not walk around.  Download critique sheet.

Prose Memory:

Length and time requirements:

Level 1:  16-24 lines or 1-2 minutes

Level 2:  20-32 lines or 1.5-2.5 minutes
Levels 3, 4, and Advantaged:  24-46 lines or 2-3 minutes

Three entries per level per school (except for the Advantaged level, where the limit is two entries per school).  The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German.  It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon.  The title of the selection and the author must be listed along with the name of the student performing it on the alphabetical student list at the time of registration.  At least two copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest; failure to provide two copies of the selection will result in a 10-point penalty on the critique sheet.  Prose Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props.  The contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation.  Download critique sheet.

Prose Reading:

Length and time requirements:

Level 1:  16-24 lines or 1-2 minutes

Level 2:  20-32 lines or 1.5-2.5 minutes
Levels 3 and 4:  24-46 lines or 2-3 minutes

Three entries per level per school.  The selection must be by a German-speaking author, i.e., originally published in German.  It may not be a translation from a non-German speaking author, even if it has been published, but it may be by a non-German who writes in German, e.g., Kishon.  The title of the selection and the author must be listed along with the name of the student performing it on the alphabetical student list at the time of registration.  At least two copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest; failure to provide two copies of the selection will result in a 10-point penalty on the critique sheet.  Prose Reading is judged on the basis of reading and not on any interpretation by the contestant, other than the use of voice changes, eye contact, facial gestures, and some use of hands.  No props or costumes may be used.  The contestant may not walk around.  Download critique sheet.