The Friends of the SPCO founded the SPCO Youth Chamber Music Competition in 2012. The competition provided an educational opportunity for young instrumentalists living or studying in Minnesota and surrounding states to expand their knowledge of chamber music, improve their orchestral skills, polish repertoire, and enjoy playing with others. Past musicians have hailed from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

In 2021, the Friends of the SPCO formed a partnership with The Saint Paul Conservatory Music to establish the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition (SPCMC). A joint effort, this newly revamped competition, one of the only regional competitions of its kind, provides young musicians the opportunity to hone their chamber music skills, perform, and compete for monetary prizes, scholarships, and musical gifts.

Congratulations to the 2023 Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition Winners!

First prize: Purple Crayon Sextet
Pauline Lee, violin, Jasmine Palikhya. Rachel Wu, Elisabeth Meade, Nathan Evans & Heike Lowe

Second prize: Esterhàzy Quartet
Chloe Koch, Maggie Durant, Alexander Lenzmeier & Marcus Chen

Third prize: Bells Quartet
Isabel Li, Isabelle Ekstrom, Sonia Pillai & Hal Beatty

Special thanks to our 2023 sponsors!

Interested in sponsoring the 2023 Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition? Email info@thespcm.org for more information.

Competition

After a preliminary video round, competitors will compete for a live final round, open to the public, on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Enter to win in the Strings Senior Division, Strings Junior Division, or Winds Division and test your chamber music skills against the best that the Midwest has to offer! 

Application with video submission deadline: EXTENDED to January 31, 2023

Eligibility

Open to pre-college musicians who will be 19 years of age or younger as of February 25, 2023 whose grade level is not higher than 12. Musicians must be residents of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin to apply.

This competition is open to non-conducted string and wind ensembles of three to six musicians.

A non-refundable application fee is required, but financial assistance is available. Please contact the competition director for more details.

Prizes & Awards

Strings Senior Division
First Place: $1,500 & a performance at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts prior to a SPCO concert
Second Place: $1,000
Third Place: $750

Strings Junior Division
First Place: $750 & a public performance in the Twin Cities
Second Place: $500

Winds Division
First Place: $1,000 & a public performance in the Twin Cities
Second Place: $750

Congratulations to the 2022 Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition Winners!

Strings Division Winners: Alsephina Quartet
Kana Aihara, Brad Gibson, Eleanor Richards & Grace Weitzel

Winds Division Winners: MYS Woodwind Quintet
Greta Hulterstrum, Kalina Lee, Andrei Bancos, Lilabeth Swalley & Sam Geisler

Special thanks to our 2022 sponsors!

Honeysuckle Music, Friends of the SPCO, Claire Givens Violins, Inc., Midwest Musical Imports, and Cadenza Music