Feature Article
Competition
Insights from theHorse’s Mouth

COMpetitions
A Musical America Guide to Top Competitions

February 2018

Editor’s Note
Competitions: Necessary evil? Heart-breaking? Star-making? Life changing? Political football?
Yes.
And, controversial though they may be, competitions are increasing not only in number,but in scope. Among the many issues discussed in our interview with Benjamin Woodroffe,
secretary general of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC),
some of the bigger competitions are not only choosing the best and the brightest, but also
booking them, training them, and managing them. Woodroffe describes, for instance, the International Franz Liszt
Competition in Utrecht, Netherlands, which offers its winners professional mentorship over a three-year period,
covering everything from agent representation to media training to stagecraft to website production to contractual
business training.

A Musical America Guide to Top

WFIMC, which is based in Switzerland, boasts a membership, mostly European, of 125 music competitions in 40
countries. Piano competitions prevail, at 33 percent of the total; up next are the multiple or alternating discipline
events, followed by violin competitions. The fastest growing category is conducting. The primary requirement formembership in WFIMC is that your competition be international in scope—that applicants from all over the world
are eligible to apply.

COMpetitions

The 2018 Guide to Music Competitions is our biggest to date, with 80 entries culled from the hundreds listed
in our data base. (That’s up from the 53 with which we started this Guide, in 2015.) For each one, we listed
everything from their Twitter handles to the names of the jury members, entry fees, prizes (including management,
performances, and recordings, where applicable), deadlines, frequency, disciplines, semi-final and final dates,and eligibility. So, whether you are (or your student is) a singer, composer, wind player, organist, pianist, chamber
ensemble, string player, or conductor, you’re bound to find the right competition in the right time and the rightplace for you.
Regards,
Susan Elliott
Editor, Special Reports

Cover photo credit: Rolston String Quartet, First Prize, 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition (Luri Lee , violin; Jeff Dryda,
violin; Hezekiah Leung, viola; Jonathan Lo, cello). PHOTO: Tianxiao Zhang.

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

Competition
Insights from the Horse’s Mouth
An
interview
withBenjaminWoodroffe
secretary general of the World Federationof International Music Competitions (WFIMC)Musical America: What are the top three competition
disciplines among WFIMC members?
Benjamin Woodroffe: Looking at the membership
today, 33 percent are piano competitions, 11 percent are
violin competitions, and 23 percent are multidiscipline,
meaning, for instance, Germany’s ARD Competition andBelgium’s Queen Elisabeth, which change disciplines
either each year or have several at the same time.

As secretary general of the Geneva-based World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC), Benjamin Woodroffe coordinates the operations of 125 music competitions in 40 countries. In
2017 alone, WFIMC’s members held about 60 competitions averaging
225 applicants each, many of them fresh out of conservatory.
By John Fleming

John Fleming, a regularcontributor to MusicalAmerica, is president of theMusic Critics Association of
North America. He writes
for Classical Voice North
America, Opera, and others. For 22 years, hecovered the Florida music scene as performing arts
critic with the Tampa Bay Times.
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

A native of Australia, Woodroffe, 47, studied
architecture, French literature, and art history
at the University of Adelaide. Before coming
to the Federation, he served as general manager of the Melbourne International ChamberMusic Competition from 2005 to 2015.
WFIMC celebrated its 60th anniversary in December, also the month that Musical America caught up with Woodroffe to discuss thechanging landscape of international musiccompetitions.



Frequency of competitions among WFIMC members. Source: World Federation of International Music
Competitions.

Benjamin Woodroffe, secretary
general of the World Federation ofInternational Music Competitions.
PHOTO: Raphaelle Mueller.

MA: Are there trends in competition disciplines?
BW: In the last five years, there has been a trend toward conducting competitions.
And that’s coming from orchestras themselves. Trondheim in Norway is the mostrecent, and we also have them in Armenia, France, and Italy. We don’t have one
yet in North America, but watch this space.
musicalamerica.com • February 2018

Competition
Insights from the Horse’s Mouth
An interview with Benjamin Woodroffesecretary general of the World Federationof International Music Competitions (WFIMC)

MA: Geographically, are there growth areas for competitions?
BW: We’ve seen it recently in China. The city of Harbin, for instance, has madea major push to become a center for music. They’ve
built incredible concert and opera houses, andestablished competitions such as the Schoenfeld
International String Competition.

The Harbin Grand Theater, site of the Schoenfeld International String Competition.

MA: Are you at a competition every week?
BW: I can’t get to every one; in 2017 there were almost 60 and the bulk werein May and September. Many of our competitions are connected with academic
institutions, so venue access and support often drive the timetable. The otherfactor that drives competition scheduling is orchestra availability. [All members’
final rounds must be with orchestra.]

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

MA: What are competitions looking for in musicians these days?
BW: More than virtuosic talent, competitions reflect what is required of aperforming musician today. They are looking for artists—true, rounded, wholemusicians.
MA: Why join the WFIMC?
BW: First of all, it’s a stamp of artistic and operational credibility [see membership guidelines]. You’re joining a like-minded group of competitions. You haveto prove that you’re sustainable and on-going, and that you have a clear focus
and operate fairly. And you join because we represent you and advocate on yourbehalf. We work with festivals, we work with agents, we have a large network
available to members.
I often say the Federation has 125 different children. Each competition
has a very different niche, a different sense of purpose, a different sense ofplace, a different business model, and they are different ages. There is no
cookie-cutter model.
MA: What’s the biggest cash prize in international music competitions?
BW: The Honens Piano Competition has the top
prize, of $100,000 Canadian, plus three years ofengagements. The Cliburn is close behind, with
$50,000 for the gold medalist and a similar commitment to engagements for three years.
But competitions are about so much more than the
cash prize. These days, they’re all-encompassing, withoutreach events that send candidates into schools. The
ultimate value for the laureates is the engagements andthe mentoring and the introductions that come fromparticipating.



MA: Performance opportunities for young musicians are hard to come by, withor without competition wins.
BW: That’s one reason why competitions are organizing more engagements,
actively working with festivals and venues and concert programmers to secure
laureate opportunities in advance, so that when the final rounds are over, there’s
a guaranteed calendar for the winners. Our members are brokering more of theseappearances themselves, rather than agents, although some have agreementswith particular agents.
MA: What about mentoring and management?
BW: Obviously, the larger competitions can afford a greater degree of that.
For example, the International Franz Liszt Competition in
Utrecht [Netherlands] offers laureates a three-year coordinated professional mentorship program, which covers
everything from agent representation to media training tostagecraft to website production to contractual businesstraining.
MA: In choosing laureates, does the Federation have specific voting rules?
BW: Every competition has its own rules and its own voting system. For us,
the crucial requirement is that the system is understood by everyone—jury,
candidates, audience.
MA: What are your feelings about teachers as jurors and judging their own
students or students of colleagues?
BW: Okay, I’m going to be really honest. If there’s one topic we spend the mosttime on, it would be this.
Certain members say they will never have a teacher on the jury; others
say there are some very good teachers who know how to behave and it would
musicalamerica.com • February 2018

Competition
Insights from the Horse’s Mouth
An interview with Benjamin Woodroffesecretary general of the World Federationof International Music Competitions (WFIMC)

be a pity to say no them automatically. The Federation recommends thatteachers not be allowed to vote for their students, and we ask all jurors to
declare their interest before the event begins. But every member manages
its implementation of [these guidelines]. The Federation is not a police
organization.
By the way, the trend is shifting more toward a performing-artist jury thanteacher juries. Also, remember that every competition is operating in a different
place, in a different culture, in a different way of thinking. Some evaluate
candidates with scores from, say, 1 to 10; others use a yes or no voting system.

MA: Do you receive formal complaints about competitions?
BW: Not many. Since I arrived, I’ve received two questions from candidates who
have taken part in Federation competitions, and both were about operational
matters, not artistic.
MA: How important is the screening jury, the pre-competition jury? It might bemore important than the regular jury.

MA: Numerical scoring can seem pretty complicated. Is a yes-no system
simpler?
BW: Personally, I prefer it. Do you want this candidate to advance to thenext round—yes or no? Federation members use both. But it’s up to every
competition. The most important thing is that voting is anonymous, and only
the results are then shared with the jury.

MA: Streaming competitions seems to have become more prevalent.
BW: It’s a reflection of two things. Competitions are an amazing human-interest
story; young artists are throwing themselves into repertoire that we all know.
And it’s live, so the unexpected can happen—the brilliant performance thatsurprises.

MA: How do you prevent certain jurors from overly influencing the process?
BW: It is a clear policy of the federation that discussion between jurors isforbidden.
MA: What about bias in favor of musicians in competitions in their homecountries?
BW: They have a huge hometown advantage with the audience, all the cheeringand so forth, but I think that in terms of performance they’re under more pressure to play even better than normal, to win for the home team. Sometimes being the local candidate for finalist gets you more interest, and if you’re preparedto say what you need to say musically at the right time in the right place, you
can take off.
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

MA: How can a competition avoid a cutthroat atmosphere?
BW: It is up to us to build a platform and put the right framework in place sothat these candidates are treated with respect in the same way you would treat
a concert artist. They’re given adequate rehearsal time. They’re given access to
instruments. They’re given host families to stay with. They’re given transportation.
They’re treated as an artist, not as Competitor No. 24.
Most of our competitions, even the preliminary rounds, are performed
before a very healthy audience, not just a row of austere jurors in the back ofa hall, and many performances are streamed.

Winners of the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, June 10, 2017. Leftto right: silver medalist Kenneth Broberg, of the U.S.; gold medalist Yekwon Sunwoo ofSouth Korea; and bronze medalist Daniel Hsu, of the U.S. after receiving their awards at theFifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held at Bass Performance Hall in Fort
Worth, Texas. PHOTO: Ralph Lauer.

BW: You’re absolutely right. The trend now is to have a very significant screening
jury. Ideally, they are traveling to listen to the candidates in different cities aroundthe world—the same set of ears is hearing candidates in different places.



MA: Are there leading examples of competitions and streaming?
BW: I’m careful not to favor one competition over
the other, but take the 2017 Cliburn. I was there
in Fort Worth, and they partnered with Medici.
tv and invested heavily in streaming. In 2018, theLeeds Piano Competition is partnering with Medici,and not only streaming the competition but also
parts of the auditions. The Rubenstein in Tel Aviv
streamed their competition. The Queen Elisabeth
has a longstanding streaming partnership, and thecompetition in Montreal also streams. A lot of ourcompetitions are doing this, but they’re doing it indifferent ways.
musicalamerica.com • February 2018

Competition
Insights from the Horse’s Mouth
An interview with Benjamin Woodroffesecretary general of the World Federationof International Music Competitions (WFIMC)

MA: It can be heartbreaking when candidates travel halfway around the world
and then are eliminated after the first round. Maybe they’re terrific musicians
who had a bad day. Is there any way around that, or is it just a fact of competition life?
BW: There has been a shift in the last 10 years to let candidates perform morethan once, for this very reason. The first voting may take place after the first tworounds, to give the artists a chance to settle in, to acclimatize, to iron themselves
out. The federation is also pushing for the candidate to have more choice ofprogram and repertoire.
I know in Melbourne, if we were flying a string quartet from Germany toAustralia we were not going to let them play just once and then put them on aplane and send them home. They all played two rounds and candidates wereinvited to stay until the end of the competition so they were able to listen andtake their measure against other quartets. Yeah, competitions are about thejury and so forth, but they are also about the personal discovery of finding
yourself as a musician.

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Membership requirements
for World Federation ofInternational Music Competitions
WFIMC members must:ß Be an international music competition of musicalperformance or composition on a professional level;ß Be of enduring nature and schedule regularly recurring
competitions;ß Pursue solely artistic and cultural objectives, none
designed to produce commercial gain;ß Be open to participants of all nationalities, ethnic origins,religions, and of both genders;ß Offer all participants optimum and equal practice,rehearsal, and performance conditions during each stageof the competition;
ß Excuse no participant from an early round of acompetition;
ß Present a final round with orchestra, unless thecompetition’s discipline makes this requirement
unsuitable;ß	Support the mission and objectives of the Federation.

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

The following listings were drawn from the 2018 Musical America Worldwide database.
Note that the majority have first-prize monies of $10,000 and over.

AGO/ECS Publishing Award in Choral Composition.......................... 7
The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in
the Performing Arts................................................................... 7
The Azrieli Music Prizes................................................................... 8
Gina Bachauer International Artist Piano Competition.................... 9
Barlow Endowment for Music Composition—Prize Competition....... 10
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World..................................................... 10International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn.................... 11International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition . .......... 12
William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition..................................... 12
The 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments.................................................................. 13
National Chopin Piano Competition of the USA............................. 14
Cleveland International Piano Competition................................... 14
Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival......... 15
Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition................ 16
Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition.......................... 16
Concours Musical International de Montréal—CMIM................... 17
Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition.................... 18
Discover National Chamber Music Competition............................. 18
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.............................. 19
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition............................. 20
Forte International Music Competition.......................................... 20
Geneva International Music Competition...................................... 21
The 16th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition . ............. 21
International Music Competition Harbin ...................................... 22
The Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition.................... 23
Michael Hill International Violin Competition................................ 232019 Hilton Head International Piano Competition....................... 24
Honens International Piano Competition...................................... 25
International Violin Competition of Indianapolis........................... 26
52nd International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch.............. 27
Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition........................................... 27
Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition Hannover......... 28
Kerikeri International Piano Competition (New Zealand).............. 28
IX Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition................................................ 29
The Kuleshov International Piano Festival and Competition.......... 29
The Lotte Lenya Competition........................................................ 30
The Gerda Lissner Foundation in Association
with the Liederkranz Foundation............................................. 31
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

International Franz Liszt Piano Competition.................................. 31
International FRANZ LISZT Piano Competition
Weimar-Bayreuth.................................................................... 32
Long Thibaud Crespin International Competition.......................... 32
Lyon International Chamber Music Competition........................... 33
M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition............................................... 34
The Mahler Competition............................................................... 34
Eleanor Mccollum Competition..................................................... 35
Monte Carlo Piano Masters............................................................ 35
National Association of Teachers of Singing Competitions............. 36
The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation............................................ 37
Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition.................. 37
NEP Call for Scores......................................................................... 38
The New York International Piano Competition............................. 38
The 12th International Oboe Competition of Japan 2018
in Tokyo.................................................................................... 39
The 10th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition........... 40
PianoArts...................................................................................... 40
Queen Elisabeth Competition—Belgium – Brussels.................... 41
The Queen Sonja International Music Competition....................... 42
Rapido!® A 14-Day Composition Contest....................................... 42
The 16th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition................................................................. 43
Schoenfeld International String Competition (or SISC).................. 44
Franz Schubert and Modern Music................................................ 45
Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition................. 45
The Solti Foundation U.S............................................................... 46
Sphinx Competition...................................................................... 46
Stulberg International String Competition.................................... 47
Toru Takemitsu Composition Award 2018...................................... 47
Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition............................ 48
34th Valsesia Musica International Competition 2018................... 48
VSA International Young Soloists.................................................. 49
Wideman International Piano Competition................................... 49
16th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition............ 50
Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition............... 50
Wigmore Hall/Independent Opera International Song Competition............................................... 51
Young Concert Artists International Auditions.............................. 51

BRAVO TO OUR VIOLIN 2016 PRIZEWINNERS
BOMSORI KIM
2ND PRIZE

AYANA TSUJI
1ST PRIZE

MINAMI YOSHIDA
3RD PRIZE

TAM LAN TRUONG PHOTOGRAPHY

Competitions

ELIGIBILITY
Born 1990 or later

FROM MAY 26 TO JUNE 6

TRANSPORTATION
AND ACCOMMODATION
provided by the CMIM

CONCOURSMONTREAL.CA

FINALS & GALAwith the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE AMERICAN PRIZE NATIONAL NONPROFITCOMPETITIONS IN THE PERFORMING ARTSAGO/ECS PUBLISHING AWARD IN
CHORAL COMPOSITION
The competition seeks outstanding compositionsfor SATB chorus and organ in which the organ plays
a distinctive and significant role; requirements varyfor each competition. There is a $2000 cash prize
and publication by ECS Publishing.
MAIN OFFICE
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260
New York, NY 10115
UNITED STATES
212-870-2310
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to all composers except
AGO/ECS past winners. Membership in the AGO is
not required.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Organ • SATB chorus

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

No
Biennial
Less than $10,000
Not provided
1 to 5
July 1, 2018

The American Prize provides evaluation, recognition,and reward to America’s finest performing artist
ensembles and composers based on recorded
performances. No age limits. The American Prize hasawarded over $50,000 in cash prizes since 2010.
25 Hamilton Drive, Suite 100
The Opera Cottage
Danbury, CT 06811
UNITED STATES
203-746-2694
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to all U.S. citizens, regardless of age ordomicile. Separate categories for professional,
college/university, community, and high school age
solo musicians and ensembles.

Application notes
Deadline subject to change.
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the public

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Conducting • Piano • Strings • Voice • Orchestra• Chorus • Band • Opera or Music Theater Company

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
AnnualLess than $10,000
Less than $5,000
PerformancesDavid Katz
1 to 5$45
June 30, 2018

Application notes
Final deadline for composers, chamber musicians,
instrumental soloists, classical vocalists and pianists
is April 30, 2018; for conductors, ensembles, stage
directors, arts administrators, and American music
performance is June 30, 2018.
SEMIFINALS & FINALS (live rounds)
The American Prize judges recorded performances
only, submitted via online links or on disc.
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the publicSocial links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE AZRIELI MUSIC PRIZESThe biennial Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) offer
opportunities for the creation, performance,
recording, and celebration of new orchestral
Jewish music by awarding two $50,000 prizes: theinternational Azrieli Prize for recent existing works
and the Azrieli Commission for the creation of a
new work of Jewish music.
MAIN OFFICE
22 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 202
Toronto, ON M4T 2S3
CANADA
416-322-5928
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
The Azrieli Prize is open to the international music
community. Works on a Jewish theme can be
nominated by individuals and institutions of allnationalities, faiths, backgrounds, and affiliations,and submitted to the AMP Jury through the open
call for scores. Work may have been premiered
within 10 years of the award date, but must nothave a significant performance history, and must
not have been commercially recorded.
The Azrieli Commission is open to Canadian composers with the aim of encouraging creative andcritical engagement with the question, “What is
Jewish Music?” It is awarded to a Canadian composer who proposes a response that displays theutmost creativity, artistry and musical excellence.
The winning score and proposal are chosen by aninternational panel of experts.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Additional prizes

Composition
Yes
Biennial$10,000 to $50,000
Performances,
Recording

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Azrieli
Music Prizes

Jury chair
Aaron Jay Kernis, Composition Faculty, Yale University
Additional jurors
Boris Brott, Music Director, Brott Music Festival
and McGill Chamber Orchestra; Neil Levin, Artistic
Director, Milken Archive of Jewish Music; Steven
Mercurio, Conductor, past Music Director, Spoleto
Festival; Ana Sokolovic, Composition Faculty,
University of Montreal
Jury size
1 to 5
Application deadline
November 5, 2017

Creating, performing and celebrating
excellence in new Jewish music

Application notes
Submission deadlines for the 2020 AMP award cycle
will be announced in February 2019.
FINALS (live rounds)
Winner’s Gala Concert held biennially in midOctober on even years in Montreal, CA. The 2018
AMP Gala Concert will take place October 15,
2018 at Maison Symphonique de Montréal with
the McGill Chamber Orchestra and soloists Rachel
Mercer (cello) and Erica Goodman (harp) underguest conductor Yoav Talmi.
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
PAST COMPETITION WINNERS
The 2016 Azrieli Commission: Brian Current for his
Seven Heavenly Halls
The 2016 Azrieli Prize: Wlad Marhulets for his
Klezmer Clarinet Concerto
The 2018 Azrieli Commission: Kelly-Marie Murphy for a
double-concerto for cello, harp and orchestra inspiredby Sephardic Music from across the diaspora.

Congratulations to our 2018 winners:
Kelly-Marie Murphy, Azrieli Commission
and Avner Dorman, Azrieli Prize.
Each receives $50,000, a world premieregala performance and a professional
recording of their prize-winning work.

Social links

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONALARTIST PIANO COMPETITIONThe Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
was the first competition to use a single elimination
format. All Bachauer competitors perform in two
separate rounds and, as there are no requirementsof repertory, competitors are free to display theirartistry and virtuosity.
MAIN OFFICE
Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation
138 West Broadway, Suite 220
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
UNITED STATES
801-297-4250
email
website

GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PIANO COMPETITION, cont’d

ELIGIBILITY

Artists ages 19-32

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

Germany; Douglas Humpherys, USA; Daejin Kim,
Korea; Gabriel Kwok, Hong Kong; Ursula Oppens, US;
Logan Skelton, US
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$200
Application deadline
October 15, 2017

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Quadrennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Additional jurors
Natalya Antonova, Russia/USA; Angela Cheng,
Canada; Jane Coop, Canada; Bernd Goetzke,

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
June 18-19, 2018, Rose Wagner Performing Arts
Center, Salt Lake City, UTFINALS (live rounds)
June 22-23, 2018, Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, UT.
Finals take place with the Utah Symphony.

IX. INTERNATIONALVIOLIN COMPETITIONVIENNA 2018

20 to 30 SEPTEMBER
WWW.FRITZKREISLER.COM

3UHVHOHFWLRQDQG6HPL¿QDOJOSEPH HAYDN HALL
University of Music andPerforming Arts Vienna
16 recitals-DQ05Èý(.
1st Prize 2014

Final I
BRAHMS HALL
2 recitals and
GALA FINAL
ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Johannes Wildner
GREAT HALLMUSIKVEREIN VIENNA

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

BBC CARDIFF
SINGER OF THE WORLDBARLOW ENDOWMENT FOR MUSIC COMPOSITION—
PRIZE COMPETITION
The 2018 winning composer receives a $12,000
commission for a major new work of nine to 12
minutes for SATB unaccompanied choir. The work
is performed by consortium of choirs: BYU Singers(Utah), Seraphic Fire (Florida), and The Crossing(Pennsylvania).
MAIN OFFICE
A-501 HFAC
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
UNITED STATES
801-422-2818
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
There are no restrictions with regard to musicalstyle, nationality, age, gender, race, religion, or
political persuasion. The only limitations are: 1)
composers who have won the Barlow Prize in theprevious five years will not be considered; and 2)
members of the Barlow Boards are not eligible.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Composition

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

No
Annual$12,000
Performances
Not provided
6 to 10
June 1, 2018

BBC Cardiff Singer of the World is known throughout
the classical music world as one of the premiere
showcases for young professional singers at
the start of their careers. It is broadcast on BBC
Television, Radio and online, and can be seen andheard throughout the world.
MAIN OFFICEBBC Cardiff Singer of the WorldMusic Department Room E4113
BBC Cymru Wales
Broadcasting House
Llandaff
Cardiff CF5 2YQ
Wales
UNITED KINGDOM+44 303 0802855
email
websiteApplication notes
This deadline is a RECEIPT deadline, NOT mailingdeadline.

ELIGIBILITY
Open to singers of any nationality, at the beginningof their professional careers, who will have probably
studied at a conservatory of music or equivalent.
Entrants must have been born between June 23,
1986, and June 14, 2001.

FINALS (live rounds)
Notification of winners will be announced on thewebsite and Facebook by September 15 annually.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
David Pountney CBE, Artistic Director, Welsh
National Opera
Jury size
1 to 5
Application deadline
June 30, 2018
Application notes
The BBC reserves the right to extend the closing
date.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Main Prize Preliminary Rounds:
Four concerts June 16-19, 2019, St. David’s Hall,
Cardiff, Wales, UKSong Prize Preliminary Rounds:
Four recitals June 15-17, 2019, Royal Welsh Collegeof Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wales, UK
FINALS (live rounds)
Main Prize Final: June 22, 2019
St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales, UKSong Prize Final: June 20, 2019
St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales, UK

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the publicSocial links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

10

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

INTERNATIONAL TELEKOM
BEETHOVEN COMPETITION BONN
The Competition focuses on works by Beethovenfrom every phase of his creative life, along withcompositions by his predecessors, contemporaries,and successors. Candidates may add works of
their choosing to the compulsory program. Next
competition will take place in December 2020.
MAIN OFFICE
c/o Beethovenfest Bonn
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 3
53113 BonnGERMANY+49 228 181 11 181
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Pianists from all nations, as well as stateless persons,
who are between 18 and 32 years old at the time of
the competition are eligible.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEPiano

PIANOARTS 2018 NORTH AMERICANCOMPETITION & MUSIC FESTIVAL

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Biennial
First prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize€5,000 to €10,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Prof. Pavel Gililov, Artistic Director and Chairman of
the Jury
Jury size
6 to 10
Application deadline
May 15, 2020

MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2018
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
For pianists of any nationality, ages 16-21,
living or studying full-time in North America

10 SEMIFINALISTS • OVER $27,000 IN PRIZESCONCERTS • PIANOARTS FELLOWSHIPS
Carmen Knoll performing with MSO during
North American Competition Awards Concert
Photography: Woodrow Leung

Finalswith

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Rounds I-III will take place at the Telekom Zentrale inBonn, Germany

Associate
Conductor
Yaniv Dinur

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

World-Renowned JuryJohn Perry, Ann Schein, Joyce YangAPPLICATION: FEB. 9, 2018 / DVD SUBMISSION: FEB. 23, 2018
Repertory requirements and schedule:
www.PianoArts.org • Info@PianoArts.org
414-962-3055

9th International Franz Liszt Piano
Competition Weimar-Bayreuth

Social links

30 October – 10 November 2018

y
pl !
p
A ow
n

Bayreuth 31.10. - 03.11. 1st Round
Weimar 05.11. - 06.11. 2nd Round07.11.
Semifinal
09.11.
Final
conducted by
Christian Thielemann
Bayreuth 10.11.
Prize Winner‘s
Concert
Application Deadline: 15 March 2018www.hfm-weimar.de/liszt

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

11

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

INTERNATIONAL HANS GABOR BELVEDERESINGING COMPETITION
Since 1982 the International Hans Gabor Belvedere
Singing Competition has been one of the world’s
best networked singing competitions withqualifying rounds in more than 70 cities worldwide
each year. The singers are judged by a jury ofartistic and casting directors from the world’s mostprestigious opera houses.
MAIN OFFICE
Seidengasse 32/3/52
1070 Vienna
AUSTRIA+43-664-24 36 797
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Singers (males/females) born in or after 1986 of allnationalities are invited to enter the competition.
See the rules on our website for more details.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than €10,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
John Mordler, Opera Monte Carlo, Artistic Director(retired)
Additional jurors
David Agler, Wexford Festival Opera, Artistic Director; Dmitrij Bertman, Helikon Opera Moscow,
Artistic Director; Heribert Germeshausen, Theater
Dortmund, Opernintendant; David Gowland, Royal
Opera House Covent Garden, Artistic Director, Jette
Parker Young Artists Programme; Michael Heaston,

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

WILLIAM C. BYRD
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
The William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition wasstarted by William C. Byrd, conductor of the Flint
Symphony Orchestra, for the purpose of helping
launch careers for young musicians. Following his
untimely death, the St. Cecilia Society of Flint, MI,
has continued to sponsor the annual competition.

Metropolian Opera New York, Executive Director,
Lindemann Young Artist Development Program;
Olga Kapanina, Opera Bolshoi Moscow, Casting Director; Constanze Könemann, Staatsoper Hamburg,
Operndirektorin; Zigmars Liepinš, Latvian National
Opera and Ballet Riga, General Director; Joan Matabosch, Teatro Real Madrid, Artistic Director; Christoph Meyer, Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf- Duisburg; Generalintendant; Hein Mulders, Aalto
Theater und Philharmonie Essen, Intendant; Björn
Peters, Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden - Semperoper
Künstlerischer Betriebsdirektor; Christoph Seuferle,
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Operndirektor; Alard vonRohr. A pro just classics / Festliche Operngala derDeutschen AIDS-Stiftung, Geschäftsführer / Künstl.
Leiter; Michael Williams, Cape Town Opera, Managing Director; Diane Zola, Houston Grand Opera,
Director of Artistic Administration
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee€42 registration fee;
€168 finals fee
Application deadline
May 1, 2017

MAIN OFFICE
c/o Flint Institute of Music
1025 East Kearsley Street
Flint, MI 48503
UNITED STATES
810-964-9399 or 810-793-0538
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Contestants cannot have an agent. Instrumentalists
must be younger than 31 on the day of the Byrd
Competition, and vocalists must be younger than 35
on the day of the Competition.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
AnnualLess than $10,000
Less than $5,000
Performances
Not provided
1 to 5$75
January 7, 2019

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
March 2, 2019 (day), Flint Institute of Music, Flint, MI
FINALS (live rounds)
March 2, 2019 (evening), Flint Institute of Music,
Flint, MISEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Enrollment: 1st rounds & semifinals from
June 3-10, 2018 at Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala,LatviaCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

FINALS (live rounds)
Finals with orchestra on June 10, 2018 at Dzintari
Concert Hall, Jurmala, Latvia
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

12musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE 1ST INTERNATIONALCHOPIN COMPETITION ON
PERIOD INSTRUMENTS
The aspiration to revive the authentic sound of
our brilliant composer’s music, which has borne
fruit in the form of this unique event, is one of thefundamental ideas behind the work of The Fryderyk
Chopin Institute.
MAIN OFFICEThe Fryderyk Chopin InstituteTamka 4300-355 Warszawa
POLAND
224416101
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Pianists representing a professional level of
performance, aged 18 to 34 at the beginning of theCompetition.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize€5,000 to €10,000
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Additional jurors
Claire Chevallier; Nikolai Demidenko; Nelson
Goerner; Tobias Koch; Alexei Lubimov; Janusz
Olejniczak; Ewa Poblocka; Andreas Staier; Wojciech
Switala; Dang Thai Son
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee€50
Application deadline
May 1, 2018
Application notes
Applications submitted by mail must be postmarked
no later than May 1, 2018. Acceptance of the completed application will be confirmed by the Institute.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 8-10, 2018, Warsaw Philharmonic
FINALS (live rounds)
September 12-13, 2018, Warsaw Philharmonic
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

13

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONNATIONAL CHOPIN PIANO COMPETITION OF THE USA
The National Chopin Piano Competition (NCPC) is
open to U.S. pianists exclusively. It has been held
every five years since 1975, always in Miami, FL, andfollows closely the rules of the International Chopin
Competition in Warsaw, Poland. Its top winners go
on to the Warsaw Competition automatically.
MAIN OFFICE
1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117
Miami, FL 33141
UNITED STATES
305-868-0624
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
The National Chopin Piano Competition is open to
U.S. pianists exclusively. Eligibility is determinedby the requirements of the International Chopin
Competition in Warsaw.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency

Piano

Twenty-seven of the world’s most promising young
concert pianists perform in multiple rounds for the
chance to appear with The Cleveland Orchestra
in Severance Hall, more than $170,00 in prizes,
management services, a CD recording, and NY
debut. A concurrent festival offers concerts, films,
concert talks, and panel discussions.

No
Quinquennial (every
five years)
More than $50,000
Less than $5,000First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Kevin Kenner, faculty member of the Frost School ofMusic at the University of Miami, FL
Additional jurors
TBA
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$100
Application deadline
November 4, 2019

MAIN OFFICE
20600 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 1110
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
UNITED STATES
216-707-5397
email
websiteSEMIFINALS (live rounds)
February 22-27, 2020, Miami-Dade County
Auditorium, Miami, FL

Social links

TBA

ELIGIBILITY

Pianists ages 18-30

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

Social links

7-15 September 2018
’s-Hertogenbosch
Netherlands

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

FINALS (live rounds)

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

52nd International
Vocal Competition
Opera | Oratorio

FINALS (live rounds)
February 29 and March 1, 2020, Miami-Dade County
Auditorium, Miami, FL

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Quadrennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee
TBA
Application deadline
December 1, 2019

Jury
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa+\UQH=LQaV]Pǅ
Andrew Watts
Zizheng Yu
Robert Holl
Joel Ethan Fried
Eline de Kat
Jesús Iglesias Noriega
Evamaria Wieser

sopranomezzo-sopranocountertenor
tenor | Ningbo University China
bass | composer
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Opéra de Monte-Carlo
Dutch National Opera
Salzburger Festspiele

More than € 40,000 prize money plus engagements
Preliminary Rounds
05 & 06 February 2018 ·è}KǍ
17 & 18 February 2018 · Amsterdam
14 & 15 April 2018
· Ningbo
25 & 26 May 2018
· ’s-Hertogenbosch
23 June 2018
· Sulmona
Auditions also via YouTube

www.ivc.nu

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

14musicalamerica.com • February 2018

CLIBURN INTERNATIONALJUNIOR PIANO COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL
Quadrennial international competition for 13- to 17year-old pianists held in Dallas, TX, on the campusof SMU and at Meyerson Symphony Center. All
performances webcast live and on demand. Finalrounds with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
MAIN OFFICE
201 Main Street, Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76102
UNITED STATES
817-738-6536
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Applications for the 2019 Junior Competition, as
well as full requirements for candidates, will beavailable at Cliburn.org beginning March 1, 2018.
Applicants must have been born between June 8,
2001, and May 31, 2006.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair
Jury size
Application deadline

Yes
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Alessio Bax, pianist
6 to 10January 10, 2019

SEMI FINALS
May 31-June 6, 2019, preliminary, quarterfinal, andsemifinal rounds, Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, TX
FINALS (live rounds)
June 8, 2019, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX

MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONALVIOLIN COMPETITIONJUNE 2019. NEW ZEALAND

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

The world’s best emerging violin talent in the world’s most unique location.
Airfares provided for semi-finalists | Application deadline 15 November 2018violincompetition.co.nz2017 winner Ioana Cristina Goicea, Romania
Photo by Sheena Haywood

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

15

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

SIXTEENTH VAN CLIBURNINTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
May 28 - June 12, 2021. Quadrennial international
piano competition held at Bass Performance Hallin Fort Worth, TX. Cash awards: $50,000; $25,000;$15,000. Winners also receive three years ofcomprehensive artist management services andtour booking, professional recording, publicity
services, more. Entire competition is professionally
web-streamed.
MAIN OFFICE
201 Main Street, Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76102
UNITED STATES
817-738-6536
email

websiteCONCERT ARTISTS GUILDVICTOR ELMALEH COMPETITIONELIGIBILITY
Age 18 to 30; first-prize winners of previous Cliburn
Competitions are not eligible to compete.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

The annual CAG Victor Elmaleh Competition is
open to instrumentalists and chamber ensembles
performing classical and non-traditional repertoire.
CAG offers comprehensive management services
including concert bookings, commissions, recording, and marketing and publicity support. Winners
are presented at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall.

Piano

DETAILS
Frequency
Quadrennial
First prize$50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application deadline
October 15, 2020

MAIN OFFICE
850 Seventh Avenue, PH-A
New York, NY 10019
UNITED STATES
212-333-5200
email

ELIGIBILITY
Suggested age limit for individual singers and vocal
ensembles is 35, maximum 40; for instrumentalists
and instrumental ensembles it is 30, maximum
35. Applicants over suggested age limits muststate why they feel they are in the early stages of aprofessional career. Applicants with North American
management are not eligible.

FINALS (live rounds)
Piano: June 9-12, 2021, Bass Performance Hall, Fort
Worth, TX
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals

website✔ Finals streamed

Social links

Ensembles should have been in existence with thesame members for at least 12 months.

Piano • Strings • Voice •All solo instruments andchamber ensembles
DETAILS
No
Travel covered?
AnnualFrequency$5,000First prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Management
Not provided
Jury chair
6 to 10
Jury size$125
Application fee
April 14, 2018
Application deadline
Application notes
The 2018 competition is open only to piano,
strings and voice. Early-bird deadline is March 31(save $25 on the application fee).
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
October 2018, New York City
FINALS (live rounds)
October 2018, in New York CityCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

16

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

CONCOURS MUSICAL INTERNATIONAL DE MONTRÉAL—CMIMThe CMIM is one of the world’s most highly regardedclassical music competitions; it is the only one inNorth America to be held annually and to present
three disciplines (voice, violin, piano) in a threeyear rotation. Prizes total half-a-million dollars per
cycle and winners benefit from many professional
opportunities.
MAIN OFFICEJMC/CMIM offices
305 Mont-Royal Avenue East
Montréal, QC H2T 1P8
CANADA
514-845-4108
email
websiteCONCOURS MUSICAL INTERNATIONAL DE MONTRÉAL—CMIM, cont’dJury chair
André Bourbeau, président of the jury and Presidentof CMIM
Additional jurors
Édith Bers; Ben Heppner; Soile Isokoski; Warren
Jones; François Le Roux; Dame Felicity Lott; Joseph
Rouleau; Dame Kiri te Kanawa
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$117 (150$CAD)
Application deadline
December 15, 2017**

ELIGIBILITY
Voice 2018 age limit: born in 1983 or later; Violin
2019: born in 1990 or later; Piano 2020: born in 1990
or later.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Piano • Voice • Strings

DETAILS
Yes
Travel covered?
AnnualFrequency$10,000 to $50,000
First prize
Less than $5,000
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording

Application notes
Violin 2019 – To be announced (refer toconcoursmontreal.ca); Voice 2018 – December
15, 2017** (**The application deadline for 2018has passed; future applicants are referred to thecompetition website.)

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Art Song semifinals, June 1, 2018, Bourgie Concert
Hall, Montréal, Canada
Aria semifinals, June 4-5, Maison symphonique,Montréal, Canada
FINALS (live rounds)
Art Song finals, June 3, 2018 Bourgie Concert Hall,
Montréal, Canada
Aria finals: June 7, 2018, Maison symphonique,Montréal, Canada
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

GINA BACHAUERINTERNATIONAL ARTISTSPIANO COMPETITION-81(ŧ

BBC CARDIFF SINGER OF THE WORLD 2019
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Two Explosive Weeks
36 Competitors
Final Round with Utah SymphonyOver $100,000 in Prizes
Bachauer.com

Deadline end of June 2018
For details go to bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center & Abravanel Hall
Tickets available at ArtSaltLake.org / 801.355.ARTS

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

17

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

DISCOVER NATIONALCHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION

THOMAS AND EVON COOPERINTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The Cooper International Competition alternates
annually between piano and violin. The multi-roundcompetition, open to the public and live-streamed,is open to musicians ages 13-18. The competition
culminates in a final round at Severance Hall, where
the top three competitors perform a full concertowith The Cleveland Orchestra.
MAIN OFFICE
Anna Hoffmann, Program Administrator
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
77 West College Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
UNITED STATES
440-775-8044
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to young pianists ages 13
to 18 as determined by the competitor’s age as ofJuly 14, 2018, and who have not won one of the top
three prizes in a previous Cooper competition.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Piano in even years; violin in odd years
DETAILS
No
Travel covered?
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Robert Shannon, Professor of Piano, Oberlin
Conservatory

The Discover National Chamber Music Competition
is designed to provide an educational as well as
a competitive experience for young chamber
ensembles. Overall winning ensembles will each
receive a cash prize of $1000 and will perform on aWinners’ Recital in March.

Additional jurors
Angela Cheng, Professor of Piano, Oberlin Conservatory; Alvin Chow, Professor of Piano, Oberlin Conservatory; Stanislav Ioudenitch, Professor of Piano,
Oberlin Conservatory; Daejin Kim, Professor of Pianoat Korean National University of Arts and Music Director of the Changwon Philharmonic Orchestra; JonNakamatsu, international performing and recording
artist and faculty at the San Francisco Conservatoryof Music; Roberto Plano, international performing
and recording artist and Assistant Professor of Musicin Piano at Boston University; Haewon Song, Professor of Piano, Oberlin Conservatory; Martino Tirimo,international performing and recording artist
6 to 10
Jury size
Application fee$100
Application deadline
April 15, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
878 Lyster Road
Highwood, IL, 60040
UNITED STATES
847-926-9898
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to chamber ensembles ofthree to eight musicians in 12th grade and younger.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Piano • Strings • VoiceDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

No
AnnualPerformances
Not provided
1 to 5February 1, 2018

FINALS (live rounds)
February 2017, Bennett Gordon Hall, Ravinia
Festival, Highland Park, IL
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
July 14-16: Semifinals Round I and II, Oberlin
Conservatory, Warner Concert Hall in Oberlin, OH
July 17: Concerto Round, Oberlin Conservatory,
Warner Concert Hall in Oberlin, OH
July 19: Honors Recital, Oberlin Conservatory,
Warner Concert Hall in Oberlin, OH

Social links

FINALS (live rounds)
July 18: Recital Finals, Oberlin Conservatory, WarnerConcert Hall in Oberlin, OH
July 20: Concerto Finals with The Cleveland
Orchestra, Severance Hall in Cleveland, OH(All finals broadcast live on WCLV-104.9 FM)
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

18

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION
Founded in 1973, the Fischoff National ChamberMusic Competition encourages young people topursue chamber music study and performance.
Each year 49 ensembles of three to six players areinvited to participate in the Junior Division, Senior
String Division, and Senior Wind Divisions.
MAIN OFFICE
303 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
UNITED STATES
574-631-0984
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Please click here to see a complete description.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Chamber MusicDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Performances
Not provided
11 or more
$40 per person
February 28, 2018

hannover

PROMOTING EXCELLENCESEMIFINALS (live rounds)
May 11-13, 2018, at the University of Notre Dame,
South Bend, IN

Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition HannoverOctober ��–��, ����FINALS (live rounds)
May 13, 2018, at the University of Notre Dame,
South Bend, IN
June 2020
New York City
Ages 16–21

The 10th NYIPC
New York International
Piano Competition®

• Prizes and Awards totaling $50,000• Concert and Recital Appearances

1st Prize $10,000
2nd Prize $6,000
3rd Prize $3,000
4th Prize $2,000• Seminars and Master Classes
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

19

The

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

C

tion Egg by The
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119 West 57th Street, Suite 1401 New York, New York 10019, U.S.A.
Tel: (+1) 212 - 581-8380 Fax: (+1) 212 - 581-4186
info@stecherandhorowitz.org www.stecherandhorowitz.org Facebook.com/NYIPC

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THE STECHER AND HOROWITZ FOUNDATION

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The

• Open to pianists of all nationalities

Ensemble Prizes$6,000Best performance ofcommissioned work
$1,500
Finalist Award to each of
the remaining contestants$1,000mpetition• No elimination of any contestantthroughout the Competition

Social links

o Co
an

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamedork International
wY
Pi
Ne

The three gold medalists from each division will
perform in a Grand Prize Concert immediately
following the awards ceremony.

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

FLEISCHMANN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY COMPETITION
Each year some of the finest adult amateurchoirs compete for the prestigious FleischmannInternational Trophy. The selected choirs will also bescheduled for a range of additional festival activities
throughout the week including fringe concerts andchurch and informal performances.
MAIN OFFICE
Civic Trust House
50 Pope’s QuayCork
IRELAND+353 21 421 5125
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to any choir of international standing (except
specifically children’s choirs); minimum of 20
voices, maximum of 60. Requirements: A programof a cappella music consisting of either three orfour contrasting works whose total duration is 10
to 12 minutes; a contrasting program of a piececomposed before 1750, an original work by a living
composer, and a work by a composer of the choir’s
native country. After final acceptance, a choir may
not change its program or the order.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEFORTE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Forte International Music Competition is open to
piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, and vocalists ages
four to 35.

Voice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than €10,000
Smallest prize
Less than €5,000
Additional prize
RecordingJury chair
Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo, Norway
Additional jurors
Mark Armstrong, Ireland; Mervyn Cousins, England;
Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo, Norway; Zoltan Pad,
Hungary; Jean-Claude Wilkens, Belgium
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee€300
Application deadline
October 31, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
2733 Cropsey Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214
UNITED STATES
718-755-2110
email

websiteELIGIBILITY

Ages 4-35

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Piano • Strings • Voice • Woodwinds • Brass
DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
AnnualLess than $10,000
Less than $5,000
Not provided
1 to 5$140
November 5, 2018

Application notes
Early Bird deadline: Oct. 15; Late Fee deadline: Nov. 10
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
December, 2018, New York City, details TBA.
Competitors can also participate online in the
preliminary and semi-final rounds. See website.

Application notes
Application for Fleischmann International Trophy
Competition happens annually on 31st of Octobereach year.

FINALS (live rounds)
January/February 2019, Carnegie Hall, 154 West57th Street, New York, NY

FINALS (live rounds)
The competition occurs on the Saturday of theFestival in Cork’s City Hall, which happens annuallyon the five days preceding the May Bank Holiday
weekend.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals streamed✖ Semifinals✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

20

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE 16TH INTERNATIONALEDVARD GRIEG PIANO COMPETITIONGENEVA
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Founded in 1939, the Geneva Competition is
one of the world’s leading international musiccompetitions. It rotates annually among disciplines
and aims at discovering, promoting, and supporting
young talented artists, giving them the necessary
tools to launch an international career.
MAIN OFFICE
Concours de Genève
International Music Competition
Boulevard de Saint-Georges 34 / CP 268
1211 – Genève 8
SWITZERLAND+41 22 328 62 08
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Candidates born after November 8, 1988.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

2018: Piano • Clarinet

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording

The competition will take place at Troldhaugen,Grieg’s picturesque home in Bergen, Norway, in
September 2018. Competitors will reside with hostfamilies, and those who do not advance to theSecond Round and beyond will perform at a paid
concert in the Bergen area.

Jury chairs
Joaquín Achúcarro, Spain (piano), Sharon Kam, Israel(clarinet)
Additional jurors
Piano: Hortense Cartier-Bresson, France; Peter Donohoe, Great Britain; Kei Itoh, Japan; Björn Lehmann,
Germany; Cédric Pescia, Switzerland; Andrei Pisarev,
Russia; Clarinet:Jerry Chae, Korea; Michael Collins,
Great Britain; Lorenzo Coppola, Italy; Romain Guyot,
France; Kari Kriikku, Finland; Richard Stolzman, USA
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€212
Application deadline
May 4, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
KODE Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen
Troldhaugveien 65
NO-5232 Paradis - Bergen
NORWAY+47 55 92 29 92
email
websiteApplication notes
Application deadline above is for piano & clarinet
competition 2018.

ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to pianists of allnationalities born in the years 1985-2001.

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Piano: November 4-5, 2018 - Geneva, Switzerland
Clarinet: November 11, 2018 - Geneva, Switzerland

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording

FINALS (live rounds)
Piano: November 8, 2018 Geneva, Switzerland
Clarinet: November 14, 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Piano
No
Biennial€10,000 to €50,000
Less than €5,000

Jury chair
Professor Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, Norway
Additional jurors
Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Germany; Leon McCawley,Great Britain; Ya-Fei Chuang, USA; Christian Ihle
Hadland, Norway; Noriko Ogawa, Japan; Lilya
Zilberstein, Germany
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€100
Application deadline
April 20, 2018
Application notes
The application and application fee must arrive by
23.59 CEST on April 20, 2018.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 1-4, 2018, Rounds 1 and II, solo piano
September 5, 2018, Semifinal, solo piano & chambermusic
Edvard Grieg Museum, Troldhaugen, Bergen, Norway
FINALS (live rounds)
September 9, 2018, Piano soloist with the Bergen
Philharmonic Orchestra (cond. Edward Gardner),
Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

21

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION HARBIN
An international competition co-hosted by the
Harbin Municipal Government and Harbin Conservatory of Music for violinists, pianist, and vocalists
with a first prize of $50,000 for each category.

ELIGIBILITY
Instrumentalist applicants must be between 20 and
34 years old. Vocalist applicants may be up to 36
years old.

MAIN OFFICE
Room 519, Harbin Conservatory of Music
3179 XueZi Avenue, Songbei District
Harbin 150028
CHINA+86-0451-5859 7653
email
websiteARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Strings • Voice • Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size

Yes
Annual$10,000 to $50,000$5,000 to $10,000
Not provided
11 or more

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION HARBIN, cont’d
Application fee
Application deadline

$100
TBA

Application notes
The last competition was held January 12-26, 2018.
New deadlines and dates are TBA.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
TBA at a location in Harbin, China. Please check thewebsite for the most up-to-date information.
FINALS (live rounds)
TBA at a location in Harbin, China. Please check thewebsite.

bleckanzeige18:09 07.01.18 21:14 Seite 1

The 16th International
Edvard Grieg Piano Competition

1ST PRIZE
30 000 EURO

September 1–9 • 2018 • Bergen • Norway

INTERNATIONALSINGING COMPETITIONFOR YOUNGOPERA SINGERS 2018

Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The foundation Stiftelsen Kristian Gerhard Jebsen
JURY: Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, chairman • Noriko Ogawa • Christian Ihle Hadland
Ya-Fei Chuang • Lilya Zilberstein • Jan Jiracek Von Arnim • Leon McCawley

Application deadline: April 20 • 2018>> Sign up now at: www.griegcompetition.com

www.belvedere-competition.com
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

22

about 70 qualifying rounds
worldwide – jury members of themost important opera houses –many engagements –final rounds 2018 in Jurmala, Latvia
musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE MIRJAM HELIN
INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION
Quinquennial (every five years) international
voice competition held in Helsinki, Finland. Oneof the leading international singing competitions.
Designed for outstanding young singers, it is known
for its high standard, exacting repertoire, superb
prizes and prestigious Jury. Prizes total €173,000.
Streamed live online and televised by the Finnish
Broadcasting Company.
MAIN OFFICE
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Bulevardi 5A
PO Box 203
FI-00121 Helsinki
FINLAND+358 9 6128 1248
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Women born in 1989 or later and men born in 1987
or later are eligible to participate in the competitionin 2019, regardless of nationality.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

MICHAEL HILL
INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITIONDETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Quinquennial (every five years)
First prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize€5,000 to €10,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Jorma Silvasti (tenor), Artistic Director of the
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Additional jurors
TBA
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee
None
Application deadline
November 30, 2018

The world’s best emerging violin talent in a uniqueworld location.
MAIN OFFICEPO Box 24657
Royal Oak, Auckland 1345
NEW ZEALAND+64 9 639-2010
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Violinists between the ages of 18-28
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Biennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Not provided
Additional jurors
Dale Barltrop; James Ehnes; Ning Feng; Isabella van
Keulen; Anthony Marwood; Wilma Smith.
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$150
Application deadline
November 15, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
May 31-June 3, 2019, Rounds I and II. Solo and piano
accompanied work performed by 16 semi-finalists,
Queenstown Memorial Center.
June 5-6, 2019, Auckland Concert Chamber Rounds
III. Mozart string quintets performed by top six semifinalists.

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
May 20-23, 2019, Helsinki Music Center, Helsinki,
Finland. Competitors perform a 15-20-minute (max.)
recitalMay 24-25, 2019, Helsinki Music Center, Helsinki,
Finland. 16-20 competitors perform a 30-minute(max.) recitalFINALS (live rounds)
June 8, 2019, Auckland Town Hall Final Round.
Concerti performed by top three finalists.

FINALS (live rounds)
May 29, 2019, Helsinki Music Center, Helsinki, FI.
Eight competitors perform two works with the
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Hannu Lintu.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

Social links

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

23

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

2019 HILTON HEADINTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONFirst prize winner receives $15,000 US plus recital at
Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall; return engagementwith Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and otherperformance opportunities. Second Prize—$10,000;
Third prize—$5,000; Medalists (3)—$1000 each;
Sascha Gorodnitzki Memorial Prize—$1000.
MAIN OFFICE
2 Park Lane, Suite 300/301
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
UNITED STATES
843-842-5880
email
websiteCompose a 5-minute scorein just 14 days! Grand prize winnergets cash prize,
premieres of a new chamber workin major American cities,
and a commission from theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra!
www.RapidoCompositionContest.com

ELIGIBILITY

Pianists ages 18-30

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Pavlina Dokovska, Coordinator of the Piano
Department at Mannes College The New School forMusic, New York City

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

24

Additional jurors
Bruce Brubaker, Chair, Piano Department, New
England Conservatory of Music; Marian Hahn,
Singapore Conservatory Chair in Music, Peabody
Institute; Gabriel Kwok, Head of Piano Department,
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Evans
Mirageas, Vice President of Artistic Planning andOperations for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra(ASO) and The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of
Cincinnati Opera; Ronan O’Hora, Head of Keyboard
Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama;
Orli Shaham, pianist.
Jury size
6 to 10
Application deadline
September 30, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
March 11-16, 2019, Rounds I, II, and III, First
Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head, SC
FINALS (live rounds)
March 18, 2019, Round IV, First Presbyterian Church,
Hilton Head, SC
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

HONENS INTERNATIONALPIANO COMPETITION
Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition
takes place every three years and awards $100,000(CAD) and an Artist Development Program valued
at a half-million dollars. Honens prepares its
Laureates for the rigors and realities of professional
careers in music and creates opportunities for
growth and exposure.
MAIN OFFICE
888 10 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 2X1
CANADA
403-299 0130
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Pianists of all nationalities aged 20 to 30 on August30, 2018 may apply. Past Honens Laureates andprofessionally managed artists are not eligible.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize
More than $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording

JurorsInon Barnatan, Concert pianist, Inaugural Artist-inAssociation, New York Philharmonic 2016 to 2018;
Ingrid Fliter, Concert pianist, 2006 Gilmore Award
Artist; Annette Josef, Managing Director, Munich
Symphony Orchestra; Wu Han, Co-Artistic Director,
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center;
André Laplante, Concert pianist, 2004 Juno Awardwinner; Asadour Santourian, Vice President, Artistic
Administration and Artistic Advisor, Aspen Music
Festival and School; Minsoo Sohn, 2006 Honens
Prize Laureate, Professor of Piano, Korean National
University of Arts; Garrick Ohlsson, Mentor
Jury size
6 to 10
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
August 30-September 3, 2018, Jack Singer Concert
Hall at Arts Commons, Calgary, Canada
FINALS (live rounds)
September 6-7, 2018, Jack Singer Concert Hall at
Arts Commons, Calgary, Canada
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
PAST COMPETITION WINNERS
Luca Buratto, piano, 2015;
Pavel Kolesnikov, piano, 2012:
Georgy Tchaidze, piano, 2009;
Minsoo Sohn, piano, 2006;
Xiang Zou, piano, 2003.
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

25

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

INTERNATIONAL VIOLINCOMPETITION OF
INDIANAPOLIS

The 10th Quadrennial

INTERNATIONALVIOLIN COMPETITIONOF INDIANAPOLIS

Hailed by musicians, media, and critics as one of theworld’s most important competitions for launchinga professional career in violin, “The Indianapolis”
now celebrates its 10th Quadrennial Competition
to search the globe for the finest young talents andpropel them onto the concert scene.
MAIN OFFICE
32 East Washington Street, Suite 1320
Indianapolis, IN 46204
UNITED STATES
317-637-4574
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Violinists of all nationalities born after September
16, 1988 and before August 31, 2002 are invited toparticipate.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Quadrennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chair
Jaime Laredo, Jury President
Additional jurors
Pamela Frank (USA), Rodney Friend (UK), Dong-Suk
Kim (South Korea), Cho-Liang Lin (USA), Mihaela
Martin (Romania), Dmitry Sitkovetsky (Russia),
Arnold Steinhardt (USA), Kyoko Takezawa (Japan)
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$125
Application deadline
February 28, 2018
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

August 31 – September 16, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 7-10, 2018, Eugene and Marilyn Glick
Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street,
Indianapolis, IN

Jaime Laredo, Jury President
Deadline for application: February 28, 2018

Four Decades of Discovery

FINALS (live rounds)
September 12-13, 2018, Classical Finals (with East
Coast Chamber Orchestra):, Howard L. SchrottCenter for the Performing Arts at Butler University,
4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN
September 14-15, 2018, Finals (with Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, Guest
Conductor), Hilbert Circle Theater, 45 Monument
Circle, Indianapolis, IN“The Indianapolis” proudly
recognizes all of itsdistinguished Laureates.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamedwww.violin.org

PAST COMPETITION WINNERS
Jinjoo Cho (2014)
Clara Jumi-Kang (2010)
Augustin Hadelich (2006)
Barnabas Kelemen (2002)
Judith Ingolfsson (1998)
Social links

26“The Indianapolis”
might well be theworld’s leading
violin competition interms of cumulative
prizes and careerdevelopment for
its winners.
– The Strad

Leonidas Kavakos
Clara-Jumi Kang Marco Rizzi
Stefan Milenkovich Liviu Prunaru
David Chan Robin Sharp Bin Huang
Augustin Hadelich Dami Kim Sungsic YangDavid Kim Svetlin Roussev Yuval Yaron
Yuriko Naganuma Barnabás Kelemen
Bella Hristova Ivan Chan Tessa Lark
Soyoung Yoon Benjamin Beilman
Jinjoo Cho Nai-Yuan Hu Antal Zalai
Andrey Baranov Judith Ingolfsson
Jaakko Kuusisto Susie Park
Haoming Xie Ida Kavafian
Soovin Kim Pavel Berman
Mihaela Martin Chin Kim
Ye-Eun Choi Frank Huang
Ji Yoon Lee Juliette Kang
Alina Pogostkina Andrew Haveron
Simone Lamsma Yoojin Jang Andrés Cárdenes
Celeste Golden Boyer Annick Roussin
Yura Lee Virginie Robilliard Sergey Khachatryan
Kyoko Takezawa Ji Young Lim Michiko Kamiya
Martin Beaver Ju-Young Baek Olivier Charlier
musicalamerica.com • February 2018

52nd INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION’S-HERTOGENBOSCH
Sole classical vocal competition in the Netherlands
that involves opera and oratorio, as well as art songfor singer/ pianist duos. Much attention paid to
20th-century and contemporary music. Finals withsymphony orchestra, master classes, media training,
feedback from jury members, career development,
accommodation at host families.
MAIN OFFICE
Prins Bernhardstraat 85211 HE ’s-Hertogenbosch
THE NETHERLANDS+31736900999
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
The IVC is open to candidates of all nationalities.
Singers wishing to take part must have completed
conservatory training or have reached an equivalentlevel of training. Age limits: born in 1988 or later(ladies); born in 1986 or later (gentlemen). All
candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Voice • Opera • Oratorio
DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize
Less than €5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, sopranoJENSEN FOUNDATIONVOCAL COMPETITION

Additional jurors
Dunja Vejzovic, mezzo-soprano; Andrew Watts,
countertenor; Zizheng Yu, tenor and seniorprofessor Nanjing Normal University; Robert Holl,bass | composer; Joel Ethan Fried, artistic director
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam; Elinede Kat, artistic coordinator Opéra de Monte-Carlo;
Jesús Iglesias Noriega, head of artistic affairs Dutch
National Opera Amsterdam; Evamaria Wieser,
Salzburger Festspiele
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€35 (preliminary rounds), €130 (main competition)
Application deadlines
March 20-April 25, 2018 (see individual preliminary
deadlines below)

The Jensen Foundation auditions 100 of America’s
most promising young opera singers and chooses
12 to perform in its Finals Competition. Singers
compete for more than $40,000 in awards, including$15,000 for first place.
MAIN OFFICE
220 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
UNITED STATES
704-641-4691
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Singers between the ages of 25 and 35, who havenot placed first, second, or third in a past Jensen
Competition, are eligible. Applicant must be apermanent legal resident of the U.S.; must nothave been or be contracted for a principal role withan OPERA America Budget Level I company or its
international equivalent. See website for details.

SEMIFINALS (remaining eligible preliminary
rounds)China: April 14 & 15, Ningbo University; application
deadline, March 20, 2018
Netherlands: May 25 & 26, Theater aan de Parade’s-Hertogenbosch; application deadline, April 25, 2018
Italy: June 23, 2018, Teatro Maria Caniglia, Sulmona;
application deadline, June 1, 2018
YouTube or DVD recording: Jury viewing April/May,
2018; application deadline, June 1, 2018

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Not provided
1 to 5$25
March 18, 2018

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
May 21-24, 2018, Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55
Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
FINALS (live rounds)
May 26, 2018, Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55
Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

FINALS (live rounds)
September 7-15, 2018, ’s-Hertogenbosch,
Netherlands
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

27

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

JOSEPH JOACHIM
INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION HANNOVER
Since 1991, Stiftung Niedersachsen has beenpresenting the Joseph Joachim International Violin
Competition Hannover. Winners receive impressive
monetary prizes, a three-year loan of a Guadagnini
violin, performance opportunities, and CD recording
distributed worldwide.
MAIN OFFICE
Stiftung Niedersachsen
Künstlerhaus
Sophienstraße 230159 Hannover
GERMANY
email

websiteELIGIBILITYJJV Hannover 2018 welcomes violinists of all nations
born between October 27, 1990 and October 13, 2002.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

KERIKERI INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION(NEW ZEALAND)DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize
More than €50,000
Smallest prize
Less than €5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Professor Krzysztof Wegrzyn (non-voting)
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€100
Application deadline
May 30, 2018

Selection from the general pool of applicants
is by video recording. A total of 15 pianists willcompete in Rounds I and II, with four finalists
chosen. First prize is NZ$15,000; some assistance
may be available for travel costs; home-stayaccommodation is provided (if required).
MAIN OFFICE
29 Jennings Road
RD2
Kerikeri 0295
NEW ZEALAND
email

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
October 18-21, Hanover University of Music, Drama
and Media, Hanover, Germany. Six semifinalists willreach the final rounds.

websiteELIGIBILITY
Contestant must have been born on or after
September 28, 1990.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEFINALS (live rounds)
October 22-26, Hanover University of Music, Drama
and Media and NDR Landesfunkhaus, Hanover,Germany. Each finalist will perform first violin in astring quintet, as well as a violin concerto with the
NDR Radiophilharmonic Orchestra.

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Biennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Jury chair(s)NoneAdditional jurors
Soo-Jung Shin, Professor Emeritus, Seoul National
University. South Korea; Phillip Shovk, Lecturer in
Piano and Accompaniment, Sydney Conservatoriumof Music. Australia; Awadagin Pratt, Professor of
Piano, College-Conservatory of Music, University ofCincinnati, USA
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee$123 (US); NZ$175
Application deadline
May 14, 2018
Application notes
Deadline is midnight May 14, 2018, New Zealandtime.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 27-29, 2018, Rounds I & II, Turner Center,
Kerikeri, New Zealand

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

FINALS (live rounds)**
September 30, 2018, Turner Center, Kerikeri**No music should be repeated from any rounds ofthe competition.

Social links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

28

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE KULESHOV INTERNATIONALPIANO FESTIVAL AND COMPETITIONIX FRITZ KREISLER VIOLIN COMPETITION
The most important violin competition in Austria,
organized in Vienna every four years, will take place
September 20-30, 2018, with the Gala Final being
hosted in the beautiful Golden Hall of Vienna’s
Musikverein. The finalists will perform together with
the ORF-Radio Symphonic Orchestra conducted by
Johannes Wildner.
MAIN OFFICEPO Box 76
A-1030 Vienna
AUSTRIA+43 664 2400714 | +43 699 10547442 | +43 699
17310770
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
All young violinists from 14 to 30 years of age.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
Quadrennial
Less than €10,000
Less than €5,000

The Kuleshov Festival and Competition is a biennial
piano competition for high school and college
students ages 15-24 held on the campus of the
University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK.
Participants and audiences enjoy a weekend ofguest artist recitals, discussions, master classes, andcompetition performances.

Not provided
6 to 10€70
June 15, 2018

MAIN OFFICEThe University of Central Oklahoma
School of Music
100 North University Drive
Edmond, OK 73034
UNITED STATES
405-974-5948
email
websiteSEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 20-22, 2018, Round I, eight recitals in
Haydn Hall, University of Music and Performing Arts,
ViennaSeptember 23-25, 2018, Semifinal, eight recitals in
Haydn Hall, University of Music and Performing Arts,
ViennaELIGIBILITY

FINALS (live rounds)
September 27, 2018, Final I, two recitals in Brahms
Hall, Musikverein Vienna
September 30, 2018, Gala final, Great Hall (GoldenHall), Musikverein Vienna

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Biennial
First prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Jury chair
Sallie Pollack, Associate Professor of Collaborative
Piano, UCO
Additional jurors
Petronel Malan, international concert artist ; Eugene
Skovorodnikov, international concert artist; Steve
Betts, Southern Nazarene University
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee$50
Application deadline
January 15, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
February 24, 2018, University of Central Oklahoma,
Edmond, OK
FINALS (live rounds)
February 25, 2018 University of Central Oklahoma,
Edmond, OK

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Ages 15-24

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

29

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE LOTTE LENYA COMPETITION

THE THOMAS & EVON

A unique international theater singing contest
that emphasizes wide-ranging repertoire and theacting of songs and arias within a dramatic context.
The competition recognizes young singer/actors
who are dramatically and musically convincing inrepertoire ranging from opera to contemporary
Broadway to the works of Kurt Weill.

COOPER
INTERNATIONALCOMPETITION

MAIN OFFICEThe Kurt Weill Foundation for Music
7 East 20th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003
UNITED STATES
212-505-5240
email
websitePiano 2018 July 12-20

ELIGIBILITY
Open to singer/actors of all nationalities, ages
19–32.

For ages 13-18
FIRST PRIZE: $20,000$40,000 in total cash prizes
Finals with The Cleveland Orchestra
Broadcast live on WCLV 104.9 FM

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

Yes
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Not provided
1 to 5January 22, 2018

Application notes
The deadline to submit a video audition for the
preliminary round is January 22, 2018.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
March 8-9, 2018, Manhattan School of Music, New
York, NY
FINALS (live rounds)
April 14, 2018, Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School ofMusic, Rochester, NY
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

More information at www.oberlin.edu/cooper
Ryota Yamazaki,
2016 First Prize

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

RO GER MA ST R O I AN N I

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15

30

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE GERDA LISSNER FOUNDATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIEDERKRANZ FOUNDATION
Winners are granted awards ranging from $ 1,000 to$ 15,000 based upon placement in the competition.
A total of $100,000 will be awarded in prizes. The
winners concert is May 6, 2018, in Zankel Hall at
Carnegie Hall.
MAIN OFFICE
15 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065
UNITED STATES
212-826-6100
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
General Division 21-35 years of age only; Wagnerian
Division 30-45 years of age only.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair
Stephen De Maio, President
Jury size
Application deadline
March 1, 2018, 5 p.m. EST

INTERNATIONAL FRANZ LISZTPIANO COMPETITIONVoice

One of the world’s most prestigious pianocompetitions, it is also known for the thorough andprofessional support it offers young musicians. The
Competition is devoted entirely to the piano works
of Franz Liszt.

No
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000

MAIN OFFICE
Ganzenmarkt 143512 GD Utrecht
THE NETHERLANDS+316966144
email

6 to 10websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to professional pianists between the ages of
19 and 29.

Application notes
Handwritten applications are not accepted.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
General Division: April 2-5, 2018; Wagnerian Division
April 6, 2018,
Liederkranz Foundation, 6 East 87th Street, New
York, NYARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize$5,000 to $10,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application deadline
May 1, 2019
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
April 2020
FINALS (live rounds)
April 2020
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

FINALS (live rounds)
Both Divisions: April 7, 2018, the Liederkranz
Foundation, 6 East 87th Street, New York, NY

Social links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the public

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

31

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

LONG THIBAUD CRESPIN
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

INTERNATIONAL FRANZ LISZT PIANO COMPETITIONWEIMAR-BAYREUTH
Franz Liszt, after whom the competition and the
University of Music in Weimar is named, always
felt obligated to support young artists. He wassignificantly more than “just” a piano virtuoso andcomposer: He worked over a period in Weimar.
MAIN OFFICE
Hochschule für Musik
FRANZ LISZT Weimar
Competition OfficePlatz der Demokratie 2/3
D-99423 Weimar
GERMANY+49 (0)3643 555 150
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Pianists of all nationalities up to 31 years old.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize

No
Triennial€10,000 to €50,000
Less than €5,000
Performances

Jury chair
Prof. Gerlinde Otto, Weimar
Additional jurors
Rolf-Dieter Arens, Germany (from the 2nd roundonwards); Aquiles delle Vigne, Belgium; GabrielKwok, Hong Kong; Natalia Trull, Russia; Michael
Wladkowski, France; Makoto Ueno, Japan; Muza
Rubackyte, Lithuania; Wolfgang Döberlein, Germany(1st round)
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€100
Application deadline
March 15, 2018

The Long Thibaud Crespin International
Competition is a piano, violin, and singing
competition open to young musicians from all over
the world. For more than 70 years, it has been ahighlight of the local, national, and international
season. The 2018 violin competition is taking place
under Renaud Capuçon’s artistic direction.
MAIN OFFICE
32 avenue Matignon
75008 Paris
FRANCE+33 1 42 66 66 80
email

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
October 31 - November 3, 2018, Round I, Musikschule
Bayreuth, Richard-Wagner-Saal, Bayreuth, Germany
May 11 - June 11, 2018, Round II, University of Musik
FRANZ LISZT Weimar, Festsaal Fürstenhaus, Weimar
November 7, 2018, Semifinals, University of Musik
FRANZ LISZT Weimar, Festsaal Fürstenhaus, Weimar

websiteELIGIBILITY
The 2018 competition is open to young violinistsof all nationalities, born after January 1, 1988.
Pre-selections in 10 cities all over the world areorganized before the three final rounds in Paris.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINESFINALS (live rounds)
November 9, 2018, with the Staatskapelle Weimar
conducted by Christian Thielemann, Weimar, ccn
Weimarhalle
November 10, 2018, laureate concert, Saal im
Gemeindehaus, Bayreuth, Germany

Piano • Strings • VoiceDETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize
Less than €5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Renaud Capuçon, violinist
Additional jurors
Kolja Blacher; James Ehnes; Martin Engströem;
Liana Gourdjia; Jean-Jacques Kantorow; Guillaume
Sutre; Akiko Suwanaï; Yan-Pascal Tortelier; Maxim
Vengerov; Qian Zhou.
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee€100
Application deadline
March 15, 2018
FINALS (live rounds)
November 7, 2018 (recital), November 9, 2018(concerto). Auditorium Radio France, Paris, France
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Semifinals✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

32

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

LYON INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION
Member of the WFIMC. More than 900 chamber
artists have taken part to the CIMCL from 2004.
Broadcast on France musique radio and streamingon NoMadMusic. A large audience follows thecompetition in the most beautiful halls of the Opéra
Auditorium, Université Hall, Lyon.
MAIN OFFICE
54 Rue du 1er Mars 1943
69100 Villeurbanne
FRANCE+33 6 52 14 80 45
email

websiteLYON INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION, cont’d

ELIGIBILITY
All nationalities, artists under 35 years old.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINESDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair(s)Piano • Strings • VoiceNo
Annual€10,000 to €50,000
Less than €5,000
Not provided

Additional jurors
Natalia Gutman, cello (Münich); Emmanuel Hondré,
concert managing director in Philharmonie (Paris);Sergey Kravchenko, violin (Moscow); Avedis
Kouyoumdjian, piano (Wien); Niklas Schmidt, cello(Hambourg); Susan Tomes, piano (Edinburgh); JeanMarc Phillips-Varjabedian, violin (Paris).
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€180
Application deadline
January 15, 2018

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
April 12, 2018, Piano trio, Université Lumière Lyon 2,
Lyon, France

Application notes
January (approximately) of each year.

Social links

FINALS (live rounds)
April 13, 2018, Piano trio, Université Lumière Lyon 2,
Lyon, France
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

William C. Byrd

Young Artist Competition

Saturday, March 2, 2019
Auditions 8am ~ 5pm
Finals 7pm

Flint Institute of Music
Flint, Michigan

Sponsored by the St. Cecilia Society,
DQ$I¿OLDWHRIWKH)OLQW,QVWLWXWHRI0XVLF
First Prize - $6,000 and a performance with the
Flint Symphony Orchestra
Second Prize - $2,500
Plus Three $1,000 Finalist Prizes

Application deadline will be January 7, 2019www.ByrdArtists.com

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

33

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

M-PRIZE CHAMBER ARTS COMPETITION
The M-Prize aims to identify and showcase thehighest caliber of international chamber arts
ensembles; provide a world-class performance andadjudication platform for the chamber arts; launch
and advance the careers of chamber ensembles;develop the breadth and depth of the chamber arts
landscape.
MAIN OFFICE
M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition
University of Michigan School of Music,
Theatre & Dance
1100 Baits Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
UNITED STATES
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Junior Division: 18 years and under. Senior Division:
average age does not exceed 35, with no individual
member over 40 years of age. Ensembles must have
two to 10 members with one member per part.
Ensembles may not include conductors. Please see
full eligibility requirements on the M-Prize website.

THE MAHLER COMPETITIONARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Piano • Strings • Voice • Winds • Open(ensembles of any instrumentation/genre)
DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair
Jury size
Application deadline

The competition is one of the most important
events of its kind anywhere in the world. It has
attracted entries from more than 1,600 young
conductors of all nationalities. Only 65 candidates
have been invited to Bamberg to compete and of
those, barely 12 have made it to the finals.

No
AnnualMore than $50,000
Less than $5,000
Performances
Not provided
11 or more
January 15, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
Bamberger Symphoniker - Bayerische
Staatsphilharmonie
Mussstrasse 1
D-96047 Bamberg
GERMANY+49 951 964 7100
email
websiteFINALS (live rounds)
May 6, 2018: The M-Prize Winner is announced
during the gala concert at Hill Auditorium, Ann
Arbor, MI.

ELIGIBILITY
Conductors not older than 35 years on January 1,
2020.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Conducting

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize€10,000 to €50,000
Smallest prize€5,000 to €10,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management
Jury chair
TBA
Jury size
11 or more
Application deadline
October 31, 2018
Application notes
Please check our website for more information.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
2020, Konzerthalle, Bamberg, Germany
FINALS (live rounds)
2020, Konzerthalle, Bamberg, Germany
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

Social links

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

34

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

ELEANOR MCCOLLUM COMPETITION
The Eleanor McCollum Competition and Concert ofArias is the primary recruitment tool for the Houston
Grand Opera Studio. Applicants can be considered
for the HGO Studio, the Competition, or both, andapplicants do not need to be a prize winner to be
invited to the Studio.
MAIN OFFICE
510 Preston Street
Houston, TX 77002
UNITED STATES
713-546-0227
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
All classical singers of any age and nationality; theapplication requests that singers over the age of 30
explain why the HGO Studio is the next step in theircareers.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Voice

MONTE CARLO PIANO MASTERS

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
JurorsPatrick Summers, Perryn Leech, and a guest judge
Jury size
1 to 5
Application deadline
September 23, 2018

Reserved to the finalist of the international
competitions. One single final prize.

Application notes
Applications for the 2018-19 Studio and the2018 Eleanor McCollum Competition are closed;
applications for the 2019-20 Studio and the 2019
Eleanor McCollum Competition will be announced
in summer of 2018.

ELIGIBILITY
For artists up to 40 years old and finalists of theinternational competitions.

MAIN OFFICE
45 rue La Boétie
75008 Paris
FRANCE+330674826280
email

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
November-December 2018, preliminary auditionsin Houston, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,
and New York. January 2019, semi-final auditions in
Houston.

websiteARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Piano • Strings • VoiceDETAILS
Travel covered?

Yes

AnnualFrequency
First prize€10,000 to €50,000
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€50 (pre-inscription) and for the competition (€150)
Application deadline
June 1, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
October 3-4, 2018, Opéra de Monte Carlo, MC
FINALS (live rounds)
October 6, 2018, with orchestra, Opéra de Monte
Carlo, Monte Carlo
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

FORTY-FIFTH ANNUALFISCHOFF

FINALS (live rounds)
Late January 2019, culminating in the Eleanor
McCollum Competition and Concert of Arias on
February 1, 2019.

NATIONAL CHAMBERMUSIC COMPETITIONCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

May 11-13, 2018

Social links

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
University of Notre Dame

Entry Deadline: February 28
www.fischoff.org
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

35

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF TEACHERS OF SINGINGCOMPETITIONS
MAIN OFFICE
9957 Moorings Drive, Suite 401
Jacksonville, FL 32257
UNITED STATES
904-992-9101
email
website
NATS ARTIST AWARDS (NATSAA)
The biennial NATS Artist Awards competition isdesigned to assist singers prepared to launch a
professional career.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant must be at least 21 but not more than
35 years of age as of September 5, 2019; either theapplicant or his/her teacher for the last year must
be a full or associate member of NATS for at least
one year prior to September 5, 2019.
Frequency
Cash prizes
Application deadline

Biennial
More than $50,000
September 5, 2019

SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds)
January 2020 (date and location TBA)
NATS ART SONG COMPOSITION AWARD
The NATS Art Song Composition Award program’s
purpose is to stimulate the creation of quality
vocal literature through the cooperation of singer
and composer. The performance of the first-place
winning composition will be premiered in 2020.
ELIGIBILITY
Competition is open to any composer. The work
must be: a song cycle, group of songs, or extended
single song approximately 15 minutes in length; forsingle voice and piano; to a text written in English,
for which the composer has secured copyrightclearance; composed within the last two years (afterJan. 1, 2017).
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Frequency
Cash prizes
Application deadline

AnnualMore than $5,000
December 1, 2018

NATS NATIONAL MUSIC THEATER COMPETITIONAs the first national competition for music theater
soloists, winners are finding success on Broadway,
national tours, and theaters across the country.
ELIGIBILITY
All singers age 20-28 as of September 15, 2019.
Frequency
Cash prizes
Application deadline

NATSAA

NATS Artist Awards
Competition for Singers
More than $50,000 in prizes; launchingcareers of classical singers since 1955

Biennial
More than $14,000
September 15, 2019

SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds)
January 2020 (date and location TBA)
NATS NATIONAL STUDENT AUDITIONS
Originally for classical repertoire only, auditions
have been expanded to music theater and (in evennumbered years) the Hall Johnson Spirituals.

A competition to stimulate thecreation of quality vocal literature

ELIGIBILITY
Student singers advance through NATS Regional
Auditions, which take place at varying times
throughout the year.
Frequency
Cash prizes
Application deadline

JOURNAL
OF SINGINGThe official journal of NATS
since 1944, with a complete
digital library on nats.org

AnnualMore than $35,000
April 13, 2018

SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds)
June 22 and June 24 at the University of Nevada, Las
Vegas, as part of the 55th NATS National Conferencein Las Vegas.

A national round of evaluation
with more than $35,000 in prizes

The first national competition
for the music theater soloist
with more than $14,000 in prizes

LIVE
LEARNINGCENTERA dynamic database of voice
and voice science resources
for all levels of learning

View session recordings onlinefrom past NATS conferences
and workshops

WWW.NATS.ORG
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING

Social links

36

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE WALTER W. NAUMBURG
FOUNDATION
Prize includes a cash award, two fully subsidized
New York recitals, and a commissioned work.
MAIN OFFICE
120 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027
UNITED STATES
917-493-4040
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to violinists of every
nationality. The competitors may not be under theage of 18 years or over 31.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Piano • Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

MICHAEL LUDWIG NEMMERSPRIZE IN MUSIC COMPOSITION
In 2003, the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Musicat Northwestern University established the Michael
Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition,a biennial award of $100,000 honoring classicalmusic composers. Northwestern sponsors fourother Nemmers Prizes, in economics, mathematics,
medical science, and earth sciences.

No
Quadrennial$10,000 to $50,000$5,000 to $10,000
Performances
Not provided
11 or more
TBA

MAIN OFFICE
Bienen School of Music
Northwestern University
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Centerfor the Musical Arts
70 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
UNITED STATES
email
websiteFINALS (live rounds)
TBA, early in 2019
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

next event

Kerikeri | Northland | New Zealand

SEPTEMBER
2018

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

ELIGIBILITY
Any living classical composer of any nationality may
be nominated, preferably by recognized authorities
in the field, via email to the Selection Committee
at nemmersmusic@northwestern.edu. Nominators
must email from their professional affiliations;anonymous nominations are acceptable. The winnermust be available for a two- to three-week residency
at Northwestern University and able to interact withfaculty and students. Former or present members of
the Northwestern University faculty and employeesof the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are not eligible.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Composition

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

Yes
Biennial
More than $50,000
Performances
Not provided
1 to 5February 1, 2018

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the public

COMPETITION DATES
26 - 30 September 2018
Open to pianists of any nationality
born on or after 28 September 1990

ENTRIES CLOSE – 14 May 2018
TOTAL PRIZE POOL NZ$32,000
Judges: Soo-Jung Shin (South Korea),
Phillip Shovk (Australia), Awadagin Pratt (USA)www.kipc.nz

New Zealand37

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONNEP CALL FOR SCORES
Since 1985, the New England Philharmonic has
been one of few orchestras of its size in the country
with a Composer-in-Residence program that holds
an annual Call for Scores competition, receiving
submissions from around the world. Winning scoresare performed on one of our season’s programs.
MAIN OFFICEPO Box 231168
Boston, MA 02123
UNITED STATES
855-463-7445
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Scores will be accepted from emerging composers.
Scores should be no longer than 15 minutes induration. Concertos, vocal works, and works forstring orchestra, woodwind, or brass ensemble are
not eligible. Instrumentation may include up to thefollowing: 3 flutes (1 doubling piccolo); 3 oboes (1doubling English horn); 3 clarinets (1 doubling bass
clarinet); 3 bassoons (1 doubling contrabassoon);
4 horns, 3 trumpets; 3 trombones (3rd is bass
trombone); 1 tuba; 1 timpanist; 3 percussions; harp;
piano/celesta; strings.

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Composition

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
AnnualNone
Not provided
1 to 5$40
April 30, 2018

A first in the world of competitions and a uniquefeature of the NYIPC, no participant is eliminatedthroughout the competition. The Foundation
presents a cash award to each of the contestants
not receiving a major prize. The NYIPC includes
seminars, master classes, ensemble playing, andconcert and recital appearances.
MAIN OFFICEThe Stecher and Horowitz Foundation
119 West 57th Street, Suite 1401
New York, NY 10019
UNITED STATES
212-581-8380
email
websiteApplication notes
The $40 application fee must accompany each score
submitted. The winner will be announced by June15, 2018.
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the public

ELIGIBILITY
Open to pianists of all nationalities. Applicants must
be between the ages of 16 and 21 during the timeof the competition.

Social links

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE38

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Biennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Tong Il-Han
Additional jurors
Lydia Artymiw, Ian Hobson, John O’Conor, Esther
Park, Erik Tawastjerna
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$150
Application deadline
December 4, 2017
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

Pianomusicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE 12TH INTERNATIONALOBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN 2018 IN TOKYO
Established by the Sony Music Foundation in 1985,
this unique competition is solely dedicated to theoboe, with past winners becoming internationalsoloists or principals in world-renowned orchestras.
A member of the World Federation of International
Music Competitions.
MAIN OFFICE
Secretariat of THE 12th INTERNATIONAL OBOECOMPETITION OF JAPAN 2018 in Tokyo
c/o Sony Music Foundation
SME-Rokubancho Building
4-5, Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-8353
JAPAN+81-3-3515-5261 *Please use email for inquiries
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Aged 18-30; anyone born between January 1, 1988,
and December 31, 2000, is eligible, except for past
first-prize winners of this Competition.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Oboe

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Hansjörg Schellenberger (Oboist, Conductor)
Additional jurors
Maurice Bourgue (Oboist); Ken-ichi Furube (Principal
Oboist, New Japan Philharmonic); Gordon Hunt
(Principal Oboe, London Chamber Orchestra, former
Principal Oboe, Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor);
Yoshiaki Obata (Professor at Tokyo University of
the Arts); Dwight Parry (Principal Oboist, Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra); Masaru Yoshida (Principal
Bassoonist, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra,
Tokyo)
Jury size
6 to 10
Application deadline
March 13, 2018*

20–29 May 2019
Helsinki

Application notes*Application must arrive by this date, Japan timePrizes to be awarded
in both categories:

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 29, 30, 2018, Round I
October 2-4, 2018, Round IITokyo Opera City Recital Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Categories:
Women born in 1989 or later
Men born in 1987 or later

FINALS (live rounds)
October 6, 2018, Final Round and Award Ceremony,
Kioi Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Deadline for application:
30 November 2018

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

I 30 000 €II 20 000 €III 15 000 €IV 10 000 €Special andengagement prizes

THE MIRJAM HELIN INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION
P.O.Box 203, FI-00121 Helsinki ∙ Phone: +358 9 6128 1248 ∙ info@mirjamhelin.fi
www.mirjamhelin.fi

39musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE 10TH OSAKAINTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITIONThe Osaka International Chamber Music
Competition has two sections: Section I is for thestring quartet. Section II is for other groups, such as
wind ensemble, piano trio, etc.
MAIN OFFICE
2-2-33, Shiromi Chuo-ku
Osaka, 540-8510
JAPAN
81-6-6947-2184
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Ensembles of musicians of any nationality whose
members are 35 years old or younger.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Strings • Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Additional jurors
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

PIANOARTS

Yes
Triennial$10,000 to $50,000$5,000 to $10,000

Finalists have four rehearsals: with second pianist,
conductor, chamber ensemble, and orchestra prior
to performing a full concerto with the Milwaukee
Symphony Orchestra. Contestants are provided
with classes on engaging audiences with concert
conversations. During the concurrent festival, allperform community concerts.

TBA
TBA
6 to 10None
October 20, 2019

MAIN OFFICE
2642 North Summit Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
UNITED STATES
414-962-3055
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
For pianists, ages 16-21, of any nationality, living or
studying full time in North America.

Application notes
Specific dates TBA
SEMIFINALS & FINALS (live rounds)
May, 2020, Izumi Hall, Osaka, JapanCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize

No
Biennial$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Performances

Jury chair
Joyce Yang, concert pianist
Additional jurors
John Perry: concert pianist, professor at Glenn Gould
School; Ann Schein: concert pianist, master teacher,visiting professor; Jean Barr: professor, chambermusic at Eastman School of Music; Jacob Ertl:
professor at Nazareth College, Piano Artist; Jeannie
Yu: pianist at Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$125
Application deadline
February 9, 2018
Application notes
Preliminary round video submission is due on
February 23, 2018.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
June 1, 2018, ten pianists perform non-eliminating
solo recitals
June 3, 2018, pianists perform a collaborative recitalwith a partner from the Milwaukee SymphonyOrchestra.
FINALS (live rounds)
June 5, 2018, three pianists perform complete
concertos with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

40

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

QUEEN ELISABETH
COMPETITION—BELGIUM – BRUSSELS
Established in 1951 on the initiative of Her Majesty
Queen Elisabeth of Belgium as a successor to the
Eugène Ysaÿe Competition, the Queen Elisabeth
Competition very soon became one of the leadinginternational competitions for violinists, pianists,singers, and, in 2019, violin.
MAIN OFFICE
Rue aux Laines, 20
B-1000 Brussels
BELGIUM+32 2 213 40 50
email

websiteQUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITIONDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline
December 6, 2018 (violin)

Yes
AnnualMore than €50,000
Mr. Arie Van Lysebeth
11 or more
€100

ELIGIBILITYThe Queen Elisabeth International Music
Competition of Belgium is holding sessions
for pianists, violinists, singers, and cellists. This
competition is for musicians who have completed
their training and who are ready to embark uponan international career. The competition is open
to candidates of all nationalities, who are aged
at least 18 and who have not yet reached theage of 30 for the instrumental sessions and 32 forthe voice competition.

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Voice: May 4-5, 2018
Violin: May 6-11, 2019
Piano May 4-16, 2020
Place Flagey, Elsene, Brussels, Belgium

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINESCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Voice • Strings • Piano

violin
piano
cello
voice
2019

2020

04 → 30/05/2020

2021

FINALS (live rounds)
Voice: May 10-12, 2018
Violin: May 20-25, 2019
Piano: May 25-30, 2020
Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium

03 → 29/05/2021

2022

PAST COMPETITION WINNERS
Piano 2013: Boris Giltburg [Israël]Voice 2014: Hwang Sumi [Korea] soprano
Violin 2015: Lim Ji Young [Korea]
Piano 2016: Lukas Vondracek [Czech Republic]
Cello 2017: Victor Julien-Laferrière [France]

10 → 21/05/2022

www.qeimc.be —@qeimcbelgium

Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium
Info : rue aux Laines 20, B-1000 Brussels [Belgium], tel : +32 2 213 40 50 – info@qeimc.beSocial links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE QUEEN SONJAINTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Through exposure to an international jury of
influential figures within the opera world, masterclasses with award-winning professionals, andconsiderable cash prizes, participation in The Queen
Sonja International Music Competition offers young
artists a valuable kick-start to their careers.
MAIN OFFICE
Universitetsgaten 14
0164 OsloNORWAY+47 22 99 21 05
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Singers of all nationalities born after January 1, 1987,
can apply to take part in the 2019 Competition.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEVoice

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair
Additional jurors
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

RAPIDO!®
14-DAY COMPOSITION CONTEST
Rapido!,® a 14-day composition contest, wasfounded by the Atlanta Chamber Players &The Antinori Foundation in 2009 to promote
new chamber music compositions. The contest
challenges composers of all ages to submit an
original chamber work of four to six minutes
composed in just 14 days, following a specific theme
and instrumentation.

No
Biennial$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Performances
TBA
TBA
6 to 10$100
April 1, 2019

MAIN OFFICEPO Box 5438
Atlanta, GA 31107
UNITED STATES
404-594-3445
email

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
August 15, 16, 2019, preliminary rounds, theNorwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Norway
August 18, 2019, semifinal rounds, the Norwegian
Academy of Music, Oslo, Norway

websiteELIGIBILITY
The contest is open to composers of any age andlevel of experience who are residents or full-timestudent residents of one of the 50 United States.

FINALS (live rounds)
August 23, 2019, the Norwegian National Opera &Ballet, Oslo, Norway

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINECOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Mixed Ensemble

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Biennial
First prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Robert Spano, Music Director, Atlanta SymphonyOrchestra
Additional jurors
TBA
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee$40
Application deadline
May 15, 2018
Application notes
June 4-17, 2018 is the competition/submission ofcomposition.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
October-November 2018
Boston, Dallas, Detroit and West Coast; details TBA
FINALS (live rounds)
January 2019, Atlanta, GA
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Social links

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE 16TH ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN
INTERNATIONAL PIANO MASTER COMPETITION

MTNA

2018–19 Music Teachers National Association
Student Competitions

With past winners including Daniil Trifonov,
Kirill Gershtein, and Emanuel Ax, the RubinsteinInternational Piano Master Competition is among
the most prestigious competitions in the world. Itawards over $120,000 in cash prizes, and provides
free hotel accommodation; the next competition isscheduled for spring 2020.

The MTNA student competitions provide educational experiences and recognize exceptionallytalented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence. The three-tiered MTNA
competitions begin at the state level. State first-place winners and representatives advance to an
online-only video submission division competition. Division winners compete in the national finals
at the MTNA National Conference in Spokane, Washington, March 16–20, 2019.
The competitions are divided into five age groups: Elementary (ages 5–10; composition only),
Junior (ages 11–14), Senior (ages 15–18) and Young Artist (ages 19–26) and
Chamber Music (average age 18–26).

MAIN OFFICE
12 Huberman Street
Tel Aviv 6407510
ISRAEL
972-3-6856684
email

Competitions include Composition, Brass, Piano, String, Voice, Woodwind and Chamber Music.

The deadline to apply for the 2018–2019 MTNA student competitions is
September 12, 2018. For more information, visit www.MTNA.org

websiteELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to pianists of allnationalities. Age limit: 18-32 years of age.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Triennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Prof. Arie Vardi, Pianist, Conductor, and Piano
Pedagogue
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee$150
Application deadline
October 1, 2019
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Spring 2020, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 27 Shaul
Hamelech Blvd, Tel Aviv, Israel
FINALS (live rounds)
Spring 2020, Charles Bronfman Auditorium, 1
Huberman Street, Tel Aviv, Israel
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

33rd Annual Call for ScoresSocial links

Open now through April 3O

NEP will perform

winning composition
during the
2O18-19 season.

For details: www.NEPhilharmonic.org/call-for-scores
A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

SCHOENFELD
INTERNATIONAL STRINGCOMPETITION (OR SISC)
Schoenfeld International String Competition was
founded in 2013 in honor of the violinist Alice
Schoenfeld and her late sister, the cellist Eleonore
Schoenfeld, both legendary performers andpedagogues. With the support of the Foundation,
we continue to build a multifaceted platform
for gifted violinists, cellists, and chamber music
performers.
MAIN OFFICE
217 East Magna Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006
UNITED STATES
626-823-5886
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to competitors from all nations. Previous 1st
prize winner resubmission will not be accepted. Agelimit: not over 30.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Strings • Chamber Music: Piano Trio, Piano Quartet,
String Quartet
DETAILS
Frequency
Biennial
First prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chairs
David Cerone (Violin), David Geringas (Cello)
Additional jurors
TBD
Jury size
11 or more
Application deadline
March 31, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
Harbin Conservatory of Music, Harbin, China
FINALS (live rounds)
Harbin Concert Hall / Harbin Grand Theatre, Harbin,
China
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

SHANGHAI ISAAC STERNINTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITIONFRANZ SCHUBERTAND MODERN MUSIC
Its uniqueness is the combination of traditionaland contemporary music so that not only theparticipants but also the audience gets in touchwith both genres. Participants will perform
contemporary pieces that are results of compositioncompetitions established for this event.
MAIN OFFICE
Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst
Leonhardstraáe 15
A-8010 Graz
AUSTRIA+43 316 389-1900
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Born after February 28, 1982.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES

Piano • Strings • VoiceDETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Triennial
First prize
Less than €10,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management, Recording
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€140-280
Application deadline
October 5, 2017

The second biennial Shanghai Isaac Stern
International Violin Competition (SISIVC), Shanghai’s
world-class violin competition, will be held August
10 - September 1, 2018, in Shanghai, China. The
competition has a grand prize of $100,000 USD.
MAIN OFFICE
No. 1380 Middle Fuxing Road
Shanghai
CHINA
email
websiteSEMIFINALS (live rounds)
February 24, 25, 2018, Trio for Piano, Violin and
Violoncello, MUMUTH (House of Music and Music
Drama), Graz, Austria
February 25, 2018, Duo for Voice and Piano, Palais
Meran, Graz, Austria
February 25, 2018, Lied,Theater im Palais (T.i.P.),
Graz, Austria

ELIGIBILITYThe Competition is open to all participants between
the ages 16 and 32.
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Yes
Frequency
Biennial
First prize
More than $50,000
Smallest prize$5,000 to $10,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chairs
David Stern & Vera Tsu Weiling
Additional jurors
Zakhar Bron; Martin Campbell-White; Glenn
Dicterow; Augustin Dumay; Daniel Heifetz;
Emmanuel Hondré; Sreten Krstic; Weigang Li;
Siqing Lu; Dora Schwarzberg; Philip Setzer; Maxim
Vengerov; Lina Yu
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee$100
Application deadline
January 31, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
August 18 - 24, 2018, Shanghai Symphony Hall,
Shanghai, China

FINALS (live rounds)
February 27, 2018, All configurations, MUMUTH(House of Music and Music Drama), Graz, Austria

FINALS (live rounds)
August 30 - September 1, 2018, Shanghai Symphony
Hall, Shanghai, China

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

Social links

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

THE SOLTI FOUNDATION U.S.
The foundation was established to honor the
memory of legendary conductor Sir Georg Solti andhis dedication to helping young artists. The Solti
Conducting Fellow receives $25,000 and dooropening introductions, professional mentoring, andintroductions to Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. A separate, Solti Foundation
U.S. Career Assistance Award of varying amounts is
also available.
MAIN OFFICEThe Solti Foundation U.S.
1555 Sherman Avenue, Suite 310
Evanston, IL 60201
UNITED STATES
847-448-8329
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be: A career-ready artist in the fieldof conducting; developing a career as a symphonic/
operatic conductor; a citizen or permanent residentof the U.S.; and no more than 38 years of age as ofJanuary 15, 2018.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINESPHINX COMPETITIONThe Sphinx Competition offers young Black and
Latino classical string players a chance to compete
under the guidance of a renowned panel of judges.
Its primary goals are to encourage, develop, andrecognize classical music talent in the Black and
Latino communities.

Conducting

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Jury chair
Elizabeth Buccheri, Chair, Artistic and Awards
Committee
Jury size
1 to 5
Application deadline
January 15, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2550
Detroit, MI 48243
UNITED STATES
313-877-9100 x712
email
websiteSEMIFINALS (live rounds)
No live rounds

ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to Black and Latino string
players of high school, junior high school, or college
age residing in the U.S.

FINALS (live rounds)
No live rounds
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Not open to the public

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Social links

Application notes
sphinx.myreviewroom.com
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
January 31, 2019, Detroit, MI
FINALS (live rounds)
February 3, 2019, Detroit, MI
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

The award will be based on the following:
Professional experience in the field of conducting;demonstration of advanced conducting technique;a written proposal for use of the funds (seeApplication Requirements).

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize$10,000 to $50,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Performances, Management
Jury chair
Not provided
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee$35
Application deadline
November 5, 201846

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

STULBERG INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION
Established in 1975, the Stulberg is one of thelongest-standing string competitions in the country.
Its uniqueness stems from its focus on young stringmusicians, its strong reputation, and the high caliberof judges.
MAIN OFFICE
359 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 14
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
UNITED STATES
269-343-2776
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to all students of violin, viola, cello, or double
bass around the world who are under the age of
20 on January 1, prior to that year’s competition.
Proof of date of birth will be required if selected asa semifinalist. Current students of that year’s judges
are not eligible.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINETORU TAKEMITSU COMPOSITION AWARD 2018

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair(s)Not provided
Additional jurors
Aaron Dworkin, Anthony Ross, Scott St. John
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee$125
Application deadline
February 1, any year
SEMIFINALS & FINALS (live rounds)
May 18, 2018, semifinals (day) and finals (evening),
Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan
University, Kalamazoo, MI

Composition

MAIN OFFICE
3-20-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 163-1403
JAPAN+81 3 5353 0770
email
websiteDETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Jury chair
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

Yes
Annual$10,000 to $50,000
Less than $5,000
Unsuk Chin
1 to 5Free
September 28, 2018ELIGIBILITY
Any person, regardless of nationality, who is notover 35 years old at the end of the year his/her
application is submitted.

Application notes
Please submit two copies of the bound score,
together with a completed entry form. The above
deadline is for receipt of both, by 6 p.m., Japan time.
FINALS (live rounds)
May 27, 2018, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Tokyo,
Japan

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Cash award of 3,000,000JPY (about $27,000) eachyear. The judge may withhold the prize. The composers whose works are selected to be performed at
the final selection will be invited to attend.

47

musicalamerica.com • February 2018

ROSALYN TURECKINTERNATIONAL BACH COMPETITION
The competition welcomes pianists age eight to28 from the world over who pursue the musicalideals espoused by the late Rosalyn Tureck. The
competition consists of eight categories divided byrepertoire difficulty. A competitor may compete in
up to three categories and is required to perform acontemporary work.
MAIN OFFICE
23 West 73rd street
New York, NY10023
UNITED STATES
212-873-6087
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
Ages 8-28, based on the category.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Additional jurors
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
Biennial
Less than $10,000
Performances
TBA
TBA
1 to 5$180
October 1, 201934TH VALSESIA MUSICA
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION 2018
Valsesia Musica Competition (former Viotti Valsesia)
started in 1981 to promote young talented
musicians as well as Valsesia, the greenest valley
in Italy. It is divided in different sections: violin andorchestra, piano, and voice. There is also a juniorcontest for piano, strings, and chamber music.
MAIN OFFICE
corso Roma, 35
I-13019 Varallo (VC)
ITALY
+39 0163 560020
email

Application notes
Deadline for unedited DVD of repertoire to be
performed is October 15, 2019.

websiteELIGIBILITY
Violinists, singers, and pianists from all over theworld up to 37 years old.

SEMIFINALS & FINALS (live rounds)
November, 2019, New York City, venue TBA

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINESCOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Strings • Voice • Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prizes
Performances, Recording
Jury chair(s)Additional jurors
Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

No
AnnualLess than €10,000
Less than €5,000
TBA
TBA
1 to 5€100
April 24, 2018

Application notes
The above deadline is for violin and orchestra; theapplication deadline for piano is August 3, 2018.
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
May 17, 2018, violin and orchestra; September 1-2,
2018, piano, Teatro Civico in Varallo (VC) Italy
FINALS (live rounds)
May 18, 2018, violin and orchestra; September 3,
2018, piano, Teatro Civico in Varallo (VC) Italy

Social links

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Semifinals✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

VSA INTERNATIONAL YOUNG SOLOISTS
Each year outstanding young musicians withdisabilities from around the world receive the VSA
International Young Soloists Award, $2,000, andthe opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
MAIN OFFICE
2700 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20566
UNITED STATES
202-416-8822
email

websiteELIGIBILITYMusicians with disabilities between the ages of 14-25.

WIDEMAN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
All instruments and genres
DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application fee
Application deadline

To encourage and promote young pianists with anopportunity to play with an orchestra, give recitals,
and win cash prizes. Please visit our website formore information on prizes, winner’s recitals, andapplication.

Yes
AnnualLess than $10,000
Less than $5,000
Performances
Not provided
1 to 5$0February 7, 2018

MAIN OFFICE
1200 Meadowbrook Road #39
Jackson, MS 39206
UNITED STATES
601-946-2063
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
18 and not older than 28 by December 3, 2018.

FINALS (live rounds)
May 30, 2018, the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINECOMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

Piano

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
Lester Senter Wilson, Executive Director
Jury size
1 to 5
Application fee$100
Application deadline
October 12, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
November 30 and December 1, 2018, Hurley Schoolof Music, Centenary College, Shreveport, LA
FINALS (live rounds)
December 2, 2018, Hurley School of Music,
Centenary College, Shreveport, LA
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✖ Finals streamed

Social links

Social links

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

16TH INTERNATIONALHENRYK WIENIAWSKI VIOLIN COMPETITION
Launched in 1935 and now quinquennial (every five
years), this is the oldest violin competition in theworld. Honorary Chairman: Krzysztof Penderecki.
For the preliminary selection live, Maxim Vengerov
will listen to the candidates in different locations in
Europe, Asia, and North America.
MAIN OFFICE
Swietoslawska str. 761-840 Poznan
POLAND+48 61 8522642, +48 61 8528991
email
websiteELIGIBILITY
Open to violin players of all nationalities aged 16 to
28 years
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
Frequency
First prize
Smallest prize
Additional prize
Jury chair(s)Jury size
Application deadline

WIGMORE HALL
INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET COMPETITION
The Wigmore Hall International String Quartet
Competition is one of the best and most prestigious
quartet competitions in the world. Held under
the auspices of Wigmore Hall, the leading venue
for chamber music, the competition attracts thebest young quartets and offers excellent careerdevelopment opportunities to prize winners.

No
Quinquennial€10,000 to €50,000$5,000 to $10,000
Performances
Not provided
6 to 10January 20, 2021

MAIN OFFICE
Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2BP
UNITED KINGDOM+442072588244
email

Application notes
Competition dates, October 8-23, 2021.
FINALS (live rounds)
October 20-22, 2021, Adam Mickiewicz Auditorium
in Poznan, H. Wieniawski str. 1, Poznan, POLAND

ELIGIBILITY
All members of quartets wishing to apply must be
under 35 on the date of the finals of the competition
to which they are applying.

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

websiteARTISTIC DISCIPLINE

Strings

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Triennial
First prize
Less than €10,000
Additional prize
Performances
Jury chair
John Gilhooly OBE - Director, Wigmore Hall
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€25 (initial); €35 (if selected)
Application deadline
October 13, 2017
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
April 14, 2018, Wigmore Hall, London, United
Kingdom
FINALS (live rounds)
April 15, 2018, Wigmore Hall, London, United
Kingdom
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

WIGMORE HALL/INDEPENDENT OPERAINTERNATIONAL SONG COMPETITION
The competition celebrates the art of the song
recital and honors the Lied’s place at the heart of
the genre. The competition has grown in status andprestige since its foundation in 1997 and continues
to attract international singers and pianists keen toembark on significant recital careers.
MAIN OFFICE
Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2BP
UNITED KINGDOM
0207 258 8244
email

websiteELIGIBILITY
All singers and accompanying pianists must be
under 33 on the date of the finals of the competition
to which they are applying.

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINEYOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS
INTERNATIONAL AUDITIONS

VoiceYoung Concert Artists Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering and developing the
careers of extraordinary classical musicians. The solecriteria are exceptional musicianship, virtuosity, andindividuality. The musicians compete against a standard of excellence not each other. There is no limit
to the number of winners.

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
Biennial
First prize
Less than €10,000
Smallest prize
Less than €5,000
Jury chair
John Gilhooly OBE - Director, Wigmore Hall
Jury size
6 to 10
Application fee€25 (initial); €35 (if selected)
Application deadline
March 22, 2019

MAIN OFFICE
1776 Broadway, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10019
UNITED STATES
212-307-6656
email

SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
September 10, 2019, Wigmore Hall, London, United
Kingdom

websiteELIGIBILITY
Applicants at the beginning of a musical career, whooffer repertoire within the categories listed, provide
two appropriate letters of recommendation, and are
not under U.S. management.

FINALS (live rounds)
September 12, 2019, Wigmore Hall, London, United
Kingdom

ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES
Piano • Strings • Voice • Brass • Woodwinds• Chamber Ensembles

COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✔ Semifinals streamed✔ Semifinals✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed

DETAILS
Travel covered?
No
Frequency
AnnualFirst prize
Less than $10,000
Smallest prize
Less than $5,000
Additional prizes
Management, Performances, Recording
Jury chair
Susan Wadsworth, Director, Young Concert Artists, Inc.
Jury size
11 or more
Application fee$50 early deadline / $85 final deadline
Application deadline
June & August, 2018
Application notes
Early deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018; Final deadline:
Friday, August 17, 2018
SEMIFINALS (live rounds)
November 5, 7, 8, 2018, New York, NY
FINALS (live rounds)
November 11, 2018, New York, NY
COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
✖ Semifinals✖ Semifinals streamed✔ Finals✔ Finals streamed
Social links

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

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musicalamerica.com • February 2018

WEb

MORE
ON THEIn addition to the Competitions featured in this special report, the Musical America database of more than
450 music competitions worldwide is free of charge for the month of February 2018!
A Musical America Guide to Competitions
Our Special Report on the top competitionsin the world.

Confessions of a Seasoned Jurist

Competition Insights from the Horse’s
Mouth

Why Competitions Matter (or Not)

What Do the Judges Look For?

Win a Contest, Get a Gig?
5 Top Competitors: Lessons Learned from
Winning and Losing
Jamie Barton: Competitor Extraordinaire

In The Next Issue…

FESTIVALSA 2018 Summer Guide
Coming 3 April 2017

Questions? Email info@musicalamerica.com

A musical america Guide to Top Competitions

Choosing the Best Competition for YOU
A List of Competitions You May Not
Know About

Advertiser Index
The Azrieli Foundation................................................................................ 8
Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition............................17
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.................................................................17
International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition........................22
William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition.................................................33
1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments...................13
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition............................................33
Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM)................................. 6
Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition
at Oberlin Conservatory.......................................................................30
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.........................................35
The International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition...................................22
The Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition...............................39
Michael Hill International Violin Competition...........................................15
Honens International Piano Competition..................................................25
International Violin Competition Indianapolis...........................................26
International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch (IVC)..........................14
Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition Hannover.....................19
Kerikeri International Piano Competition (NZ)..........................................37
IX International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition......................................... 9
9th International FRANZ LISZT Piano Competition
Weimar-Bayreuth.................................................................................11
International Competition Long Thibaud Crespin......................................24
Monte-Carlo Piano Masters......................................................................... 9Music Teachers National Association.........................................................43
National Association of Teachers of Singing..............................................36
New England Philharmonic’s 33rd Annual Call for Scores.........................43
The New York International Piano Competition.........................................19
PianoArts North America Competition and Music Festival.......................11
Queen Elisabeth Competition—Belgium.................................................41
Rapido! 14-Day Composition Contest........................................................24
Schoenfeld International String Competition............................................44

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