Competitions in Music Performance

Division Repertoire Requirements

Undergraduate Division

Undergraduates must be prepared to perform no more than 15 minutes of concerted music in the final round and no more than 10 minutes in the preliminary round. The student, in consultation with their applied teacher, can decide to either present a "cut version" of their selection or submit complete movements/works. If the latter option is chosen, the judges will be given the opportunity to choose the section or sections to which they would like to listen and may stop the contestant at any time. In both rounds, students will have one minute to set the stage, adjust the piano bench, tune, etc. before beginning their performance.

Instrumentalists

All movements or selected movements of a concerto or concerto-like composition for solo instrument(s) and orchestra or band. Concertos for more than one instrument are allowed, but are still subject to the memorization requirement and time limit. If any of the performers are a certificate or graduate student, the entry must be in the graduate division.

Vocalists

Arias or works with orchestra or band accompaniment.

Graduate Division

Graduates must be prepared to perform no more than 20 minutes of concerted music in the final round and no more than 12 minutes in the preliminary round. The student, in consultation with their applied teacher, can decide to either present a "cut version" of their selection or submit complete movements/works. If the latter option is chosen, the judges will be given the opportunity to choose the section or sections to which they would like to listen and may stop the contestant at any time. In both rounds, students will have one minute to set the stage, adjust the piano bench, tune, etc. before beginning their performance.

Instrumentalists

All movements (or selected movements) of a concerto or concerto-like composition for solo instrument(s) and orchestra or band. In order to stay within the allotted time, the performer must, in consultation with the private instructor, make appropriate cuts and will be stopped after 12 minutes (prelims), 20 minutes (finals). Concertos for more than one instrument are allowed, but are still subject to the memorization requirement and time limit. If any of the performers are a certificate or graduate student, the entry must be in the graduate division.

Vocalists

At least three arias or a substantial work with orchestra or band.

Composition Division

The Composition Division is coordinated by Dr. Christopher Dietz. For information about the guidelines and application procedure please click here.

General Rules of the Competition

• Memorization is required for all contestants in the competition as well as the performance (if selected as a winner). No applicant will be allowed to perform with music.
• Contestants must provide their own collaborative pianist. Please also note that the accompaniment must be a piano reduction of the orchestral score or band score.
• No changes in repertoire are permitted after applications are submitted without the written permission of the applied instructor, the appropriate ensemble director and the competitions coordinator.
• In the case that the submitted repertoire exceeds the allotted time of the preliminary round, the choice to either present a "cut version" or the complete movements/works must be made and communicated to the competition coordinator by the withdrawal deadline.
• Winners may not change their repertoire selection for the Spring Semester winners' concert. In the case of a multi-movement work, no change in selection of movements is permitted.
• Repertoire may not be changed between the preliminaries and the finals under any circumstances.
• Students must provide one copy of the score for the jury. Students who do not have a score for the jury will be disqualified and not permitted to audition.
• The deadline for withdrawing from the competition is 9 a.m. on TBA. Remaining participants’ performance times will move up accordingly. Therefore, soloists and collaborative pianists must be prepared to perform one hour prior to their scheduled times. Soloists and collaborative pianists will be required to sign-in with the competitions coordinator one hour prior to their scheduled time and must be in the Green Room ready to perform 20 minutes before their scheduled time. Participants, including collaborative pianists, will forfeit their audition if they are not present within the one-hour time frame.