News and Updates
Special Rules and Procedures for the 2021 Remote Contest
Houstonfest Scholarships
Scholarships at State
Teacher-to-Teacher Tips
Tips for Pair Discussion
Photo Gallery
2014
Arrival at Heights High School
Lunch options
Plays will be performed at Houstonfest
Daily log of changes to
state-qualifier list
Important Dates
Sat., Jan. 16, 2021: Regular deadline to submit registration
spreadsheet in order to pay regular price of $10/student (payment does not have
to be mailed until 1/25).
Mon., Jan. 25, 2021: Final deadline to submit registration spreadsheet
for late price of $12/student and deadline to postmark payment.
Mon., Feb. 1, 2021: Proof sheet of entries sent to teachers for final
verification and changes.
Wed., Feb. 3, 2021,
8:00 p.m.: Deadline to submit changes (adds,
drops, substitutions). After this point, no more additions or
substitutions will be allowed.
Sat., Feb. 6, 2021:
Houstonfest (100% remote): some events conducted
"live" (online) that day, all others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 13, 2021:
Houstonfest online awards ceremony, time TBA.
Wed., Feb. 17, 2021:
State online registration due by 11:59 p.m.
for "early bird" price of
$10/student (payment does not have to be mailed yet). Also, deadline to apply for the
Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship
and to submit entries for
promotional video contest
to State director Jennifer Christianson.
Mon., Feb. 22, 2021: State online registration due by 11:59 p.m. at
regular price of
$12/student.
Sat., Feb. 27, 2021: Texas State German
Contest (100% remote): some events conducted "live" (online) that day, all
others submitted digitally by 9:00 a.m.
Sat., Mar. 6, 2021:
State online awards ceremony, time TBA. Also,
Houstonfest Scholarship
applications due.
Fri., Mar. 12, 2021:
Gail Cope
Scholarship applications due.
Fri., April 30, 2021:
Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications due.
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Rules:
Declamation Events
Below are the "normal" rules
for Houstonfest in a non-pandemic year. To preserve a record of the normal
rules, alterations to the rules for the 2021 remote contest will not be
reflected here but rather documented at this link: Special
Rules and Procedures for the 2021 Remote Contest. In a nutshell,
however: Poetry Memory and Poetry Reading will be combined into
"Poetry" and adapted for the online environment for 2021 (likewise with Prose).
General
rules for all declamation events:
-
A student may not perform the
same poem or prose selection in both the Memory and Reading competitions the
same year.
-
A
student may not perform the same poem or prose selection that he/she has
performed in any previous year.
-
Failure to provide at least 2 copies of the piece to the judges will result in a
10-point deduction from the cumulative score.
Poetry
Memory:
Entry
Limit: 3
contestants per level, per school (except for the Advantaged level, where
the limit is 2 contestants) (Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, & Advantaged).
Length
and Time Limits:
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.
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. Poems may be edited to fit time or line limits (see above). Poetry
Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props. The
contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation. 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 2 copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest.
Poetry Memory selections may not be used as Poetry Reading selections or vice
versa by the same person.
Download critique sheet.
Poetry
Reading:
Entry
Limit: 3
contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, & 4).
Length
and Time Limits:
Level
1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes.
Level
2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes.
Levels 3
& 4: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes.
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. Poems may be edited to fit time or line limits (see above). 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
expressions, and some use of hands. No props or costumes may be used. The
contestant may not walk around. 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 2 copies of the selection
must be presented to the judges at the contest. Poetry Reading selections
may not be used as Poetry Memory selections or vice versa by the same person.
Download
critique sheet.
Prose Memory:
Entry
Limit: 3
contestants per level, per school (except for the Advantaged level, where
the limit is 2 contestants) (Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, & Advantaged).
Length
and Time Limits:
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.
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. Piece may be edited to fit time or line limits (see above). Prose
Memory is dramatic interpretation, but without costumes and props. The
contestant may use one chair and may move during the presentation. 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 2 copies of the selection must be presented to the judges at the contest.
Prose Memory selections may not be used as Prose Reading selections or vice
versa by the same person.
Download
critique sheet.
Prose
Reading:
Entry
Limit: 3
contestants per level, per school (Levels 1, 2, 3, & 4).
Length
and Time Limits:
Level
1: 16-24 lines OR 1-2 minutes.
Level
2: 20-32 lines OR 1.5-2.5 minutes.
Levels 3
& 4: 24-46 lines OR 2-3 minutes.
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. Piece may be edited to fit time or line limits (see above). 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
expressions, and some use of hands. No props or costumes may be used. The
contestant may not walk around. 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 2 copies of the selection
must be presented to the judges at the contest. Prose Reading selections may
not be used as Prose Memory selections or vice versa by the same person.
Download
critique sheet.
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When is the next Houstonfest?
Saturday,
February 6, 2021 Where
is Houstonfest?
Due to COVID-19, the 2021 contest will be conducted entirely REMOTELY.
Link to Texas
State German Contest
Texas
State German Contest on Facebook |