Eligibility Guidelines

Participants must be:

• Students 19 years or younger as of February 25, 2023 whose grade level is not higher than 12.

• Residents of the following states: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

• Non-conducted string and wind ensembles of 3-6 musicians playing classical chamber music repertoire.

Ensembles are not required to have a coach, but students are strongly encouraged to work with a teacher or other qualified adult musician. 

Each ensemble, whether it is coached or not, must have a designated adult chaperone at the competition if they are chosen to compete in the final round.

Instrumentation

Ensembles with any combination of the following instruments are welcome:

• Strings: violin, viola, cello, string bass, guitar, harp and piano

• Winds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, brass and percussion

Mixed ensembles that include a wind instrument will compete in the Wind Division.

Entry Deadline

Videos must be uploaded no later than 11:59 pm Central time, Friday, January 20, 2023 (EXTENDED to Tuesday, January 31, 2023). Late entries will not be accepted.

Entry Rules

• An ensemble that placed first in its division last year may not compete again in that division, but individual members may participate in that division again with no more than one original member in the new ensemble.

• An ensemble that did not place first in its division may enter the competition again with the same membership.

• Ensembles must retain, through the final round, the members and repertoire submitted with their application.

Entry Fee

The non-refundable entry fees are as followings:

• $100/trio

• $125/quartet

• $150/quintet

• $180/sextet

Financial assistance is available for any ensemble to whom this presents a barrier to entry; please inquire at rena@thespcm.org

Repertoire Guidelines

Each ensemble should prepare a program of at least 5 minutes in length but not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time. Cuts in longer pieces are permitted; please omit repeats. Please contact us at rena@thespcm.org well in advance of recording your program if you are unsure of your repertoire choices.

Musical Scores

Digital scores must be sent to rena@thespcm.org by February 18, 2023.

Competition Timeline

11:59 pm, Friday, January 20, 2023 (EXTENDED to Tuesday, January 31, 2023) Video round submission deadline; videos must be uploaded.

Week of January 27, 2023: All entering ensembles will be notified whether they have been selected to perform in the finals. Critiques from preliminary round judges will be sent to each ensemble’s coach or contact person.

Saturday, February 25, 2023: Competition finals and award ceremony in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Divisions

Strings Senior Division
Students 19 and under may compete for First, Second or Third Prize

Strings Junior Division
Students age 15 and under may compete for First or Second Prize

Winds Division
Wind players ages 14-19 and enrolled in a high school may compete for First or Second Prize in the Winds Division

Prizes & Awards

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

Strings Junior Division
First Place: $750 & a public performance opportunity in the Twin Cities (date TBD, depending on covid protocol at the time)
Second Place: $500

Winds Division
First Place: $1,000 & a public performance opportunity in the Twin Cities (date TBD, depending on covid protocol at the time)
Second Place: $750

Other prizes include scholarships to the Saint Paul Chamber Music Institute (summer, strings only) or the Saint Paul Chamber Music Academy (school year).

Competition Rules

There will be a preliminary video round and a live final round.

The Video Round

• Each ensemble should submit a video recording of a program consisting of at least 5 minutes but not exceeding 10 minutes playing time. For works longer than 10 minutes, the video still must cut off at 10 minutes. Musicians may start at any point in their piece as long as the 10 minutes are not exceeded. Please do not play repeats.

• The video recording must show all ensemble members at all times.

• The picture must remain stationary (no panning, fade-in/fade-out or close-up techniques).

• The ensemble should fill the screen as much as possible.

• Each piece must be a complete take with no editing.

• Recordings must be uploaded to YouTube with visibility set to “Unlisted” (do not choose “Public” or “Private”). This will create a link for you to copy and paste into the online submission form. Only people with the link will have access to view your video. If you are not familiar with uploading videos to YouTube, please watch this tutorial.

• Label your video(s) in this manner: Ensemble name, composer last name, composition name and movement (if applicable). Example: The Diamond Trio; Beethoven Piano Trio in D Major, Opus 70; 1. Allegro vivace con brio.

The Final Round

• The Video Round judges will select the ensembles to compete in the Final Round on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

• Ensembles will perform the same repertoire prepared for the video round.

• As part of the day’s educational experience, each finalist ensemble will receive a short masterclass from a judge. The masterclass will not be considered part of the judging process and the judges’ comments and scores will be submitted prior to the masterclass. Audience members are welcome to observe if they wish.

• Please choose attire that best represents your group.

• The finals culminate in a performance for the prizewinners and an awards ceremony and reception which are free and open to the public.

Health & Safety

We will continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health. We regularly evaluate our policies and will update them when necessary, in accordance with the most current guidance from public health experts.