Awards and Competitions

The Conservatory Concerto Divisional Competitions (string, wind/percussion, keyboard, voice) are held during the fall semester at the beginning of B quad. Carefully observe the posted due date for the application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted to the Conservatory office with the appropriate signatures.

1. The jury for each Division will consist of outside jurors and, in some areas, the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra.
2. Four divisional winners will appear with the Symphony Orchestra at the Concerto Competition Honors Concert during A Quad of Spring Semester.
3. At the Concerto Competition Honors Concert, all Conservatory faculty will vote to select a Grand Prize Winner, who will in turn perform with the Symphony Orchestra at the Festival of Faith Concert in May. This individual receives a cash award and is the designated recipient of the Ben Heppner Prize.
4. Eligibility
   1. Instrumental Divisions (Strings, Wind/Percussion)—Bachelor of Music, Music Education or Bachelor of Arts instrumental music students enrolled in private lessons the semester prior to and during the competition, and who are:
      1. Sophomores or above, and
      2. active members of a large instrumental ensemble, and
      3. competing on their large ensemble instrument.
   2. Voice Division—Bachelor of Music, Music Education or Bachelor of Arts voice students who are enrolled in private lessons the semester prior to and during the competition, and who are:
      1. Juniors or above, and
      2. active members of a choral ensemble.
   3. Keyboard Division—Bachelor of Music, Music Education or Bachelor of Arts keyboard students who are enrolled in private lessons the semester prior to and during the competition, who are Sophomores or above, and who have contributed to a large ensemble..
   4. Final entrance into the Concerto Competition is subject to the approval of principal private lesson teachers and the director of the Symphony Orchestra.
5. Time limits will be strictly observed, and the length of the work, including any cuts, must be determined prior to submission of the application. PLEASE NOTE: Winners must perform the same cuts for Concerto Competition Honors Concert. The time limits for each area vary from year-to-year, but are normally from 10 to 15 minutes in length. Check with the appropriate faculty chairs for details.
6. For instrumental divisions, standard repertoire with orchestra involving chamber ensembles is permissible.

Chamber Music Competition

A Chamber Music competition is normally held each year. Observe carefully the posted deadline due date for application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted to the Conservatory office with the appropriate signatures.

1. Each competing chamber ensemble must prepare a minimum of 10 minutes of music. Repertoire for the competition must be approved by the Chamber Music Committee.
2. Members must be available to perform the competition piece(s) on the Festival of Faith concert. In some circumstances the selection to be performed may be modified to fit programming needs.
3. Non-conducted ensembles whose members are registered for brass, woodwind or string chamber music (MUIP 371) during the academic year of the competition are eligible to participate.
4. An  Individuals may compete in more than one ensemble. Previous year winners must skip a year before competing in the same configuration. If the ensemble changes by adding or subtracting members (i.e. a quartet becomes a quintet) they are eligible.
5. The jury will consist of two or three outside jurors. The jury may elect to stop an ensemble after the ten-minute requirement has been satisfied. It is the prerogative of the jury not to choose a winner if they judge that no entrants are qualified.

Alumni Composition Prize

Student composers are invited to compete for the Alumni Composition Prize. Contact the Chair of Theory and Composition for details.

Other Awards

Music majors are eligible for numerous other awards as follows: 1) Awards based on financial need are administered by the Financial Aid Office, subject to federal standards established by the Financial Aid Form (FAF) submitted by parents; 2) Merit based awards for incoming freshmen and transfers; 3) Merit based awards for continuing students.