2012 Discover National Chamber Music Competition
There are only a few weeks left to sign up for the Midwest Young Artists 5th Annual Discover National Chamber Music Competition, which will be held on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Bennett-Gordon Hall in the Harza Building on the Campus of Ravinia Festival. The annual competition is designed to provide an educational as well as a competitive experience for young chamber ensembles. The competition is open to chamber ensembles in 12th grade and younger and is comprised of two divisions (Open and MYA). The competition is open to all instruments and is divided into the following two categories: Strings & Piano and Winds, Brass & Percussion. Contestants will be competing for over $5,000 in cash prizes and scholarships and the winner of each division will perform in a Winners Recital. The competition is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. The deadline for registration is: February 1, 2012. Please scroll down for registration information.
Thanks to our competition sponsors, Discover Financial Services.
Eligibility
Ensembles may consist of 3 to 8 musicians. Ensembles may use no more than one piano. Set-up and tear-down may take no longer than 2 minutes.
There are 2 Divisions :
1. Midwest Young Artists (MYA) Division
2. Open Division
Ensembles in the MYA Division must be active participants in the MYA Chamber Music Program. All other ensembles will be entered in the Open Division. The competition is for students in 12th grade and younger as of the 11-12 academic year.
There are 2 Categories in each Division:
1. Strings & Piano
2. Winds, Brass & Percussion
Venue
Bennett-Gordon Hall
John D. Harza Building, Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, 60035
Repertoire Requirements
Repertoire must include a minimum of 15 minutes total playing time and include at least two contrasting movements, not necessarily from the same work. Jurors will select 10 minutes of music from the submitted repertoire list. Ensembles will be informed of the selections upon entering the warm-up room. Warm-up time is 20 minutes in length with a 10 minute break before performance time. (Please note: The warm-up room will include a piano for pianists.)
No ensemble will be allowed to practice in the performance hall prior to the ensemble's performance time.
Two complete sets of the original scores will be required of each ensemble. Failure to meet score requirements will result in disqualification.
Application & Entry Fee
The deadline for the 2012 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition is February 1. Sign up for MYA e-Subscriptions to receive updates.
Applications and entry fees must be received by 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2012.
The competition entry fee is $50 for for ensembles presently enrolled in the MYA Chamber Music Program and $100 for other ensembles.
Discover National Chamber Music Competition Application
Complete Entry Fee Payment
After submitting the application, you can pay your entry fee via PayPal.
Hotel Reservations
Out-of-town participants are encouraged to stay at the Courtyard Marriott in Highland Park (1505 Lake Cook Rd.). The MYA rate is $80 per night. For reservations, please call (847) 831-3338.
Awards and Prizes
One Overall Winning Ensemble will be selected from the MYA Division.
One Overall Winning Ensemble will be selected from the Open Division.
Overall Winners
- Overall Winning Ensembles will perform on a Winners Recital at the Chicago Cultural Center on Sunday, March 4, 2012. (Additional performance opportunities to be arranged.)
- The Overall Winning Ensembles will each receive a Cash Award of $1,000.
Category Winners
- Category winners for each Division will receive a MYA Tuition Scholarship for each member of the ensemble (valued at $250 per member) to be used towards the 2011-12 academic year Chamber Program or 2012 Summer Music Festival.
More Great Chamber Music Experiences with MYA:
For a fun and intense chamber music experience, check out the Chicago Chamber Music Workshop! With great masterclasses, faculty, and performances this is an experience that you will not want to miss. APPLY TODAY!
