The music community is full of passionate musicians who wish to provide opportunities for students and hobbyists to perform.

Competitions is one of the best ways to provide that as well as encouraging a community of musicians to come together.

Here is the ultimate list of music competitions for high schoolers!

By the way, Rishab Jain, a Harvard student who has achieved success in numerous international competitions has made his STEM Student Guide public with a a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions.

You should definitely check it out next.

No more having to search for top-quality programs. this guide has it all.

Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Competition A competition for numerous instruments and compositions, the Music Teachers National Association is a competitive program for students from middle school to high school.

Registration usually opens in August, before closing in winter, usually September.

When applying for this competition, registration is required from students and teachers for a $150 fee.

Eligibility: Aged 15-18 (11-18 for Piano duets) Entry fee is $11

0. Registration is separate from entry.

Musicians who play different instruments and are in a certain age group are divided into Junior and Senior divisions.

The following categories are available: Piano String (Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass) Woodwind (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone) National winners receive $2,000 and runner-ups receive from $100 up to $1,00

0. The award for best performance of a work written by a Black composer will be given a $750 cash prize, and the award for best performance of a work written by Chopin is $1,00

0. For more information and instructions, see the website.

All-State Orchestra, Band, Choir, etc.

If you're an involved musician in your high school, you are most likely aware of the All-State competitions throughout the year.

These competitions usually require district auditions before being eligible to audition for all-state, to which these performances are ranked from 1 to 4; 1 being the best.

Registration fees vary from state to state, and information in general is different.

For these competitions, it's best to ask your music director for more information, or to look up "(name of your state) all-state (music group). " National Student Auditions The National Student Auditions (NSA) are for singers to perform and receive feedback on their performances, with additional awards and prizes.

To compete in this program, students must study with a current member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

The categories that students are eligible to sing are determined by their experience, voice type, and age on September 1st.

Each district has its set audition schedule and is listed on the website.

NATS teachers can obtain more information on district auditions.

When students enter the competition, it begins with a preliminary round, before advancing to the quarterfinals and then the semifinals if needed.

The top 5 singers from each region's NSA categories advance to the national preliminary round.

From there, they must submit a video of their performance to be judged by a panel of international judges.

Eligibility: Must be a current NATS member to enter the NSA A nonrefundable $75 entry fee NSA National Award Levels Children & Youth Musical Theatre/Commercial Music/Classical Categories$800 – 1st place in each category$400 – 2nd place in each category$300 – 3rd place in each category High School & Lower Musical Theatre/Commercial Music/Spirituals/Classical Categories*$1,200

- 1st place in each category$700

- 2nd place in each category$450

- 3rd place in each category Upper & Advanced Musical Theatre/Commercial Music/Spirituals/Classical Categories*$1,600

- 1st place in each category$900

- 2nd place in each category$500

- 3rd place in each category American Negro Spiritual Categories (finals in odd-numbered years)$7,700 total of awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in three categories Hall Johnson American Negro Spiritual Competition (finals in even-numbered years)$3,400 total of awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in this competition The deadline for application is April 12th.

JS Bach Competition PlayLilian and Maurice Barbash J.

S Bach Competition

- See the finalists from previous years!

The JS Bach Competition is a competition for string players ages 16

- 30 geared toward compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Submissions for this competition opened up on April 1st, and close on June 15th, 202

4. With a $50 application fee, musicians will perform to contrasting movements of any piece by J.

S.

Bach for unaccompanied bow string instrument.

The performance must be videotaped within this year with a single stationary camera, with the musician's entire upper body and instrument being visible in the video.

Editing the tape is not permitted.

The 2024 Finals will be held at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center Recital Hall at 1:00 pm on Thursday, October 17, 2024, and will be streamed by The Violin Channel.

Finalists will perform, from memory, any entire eligible work, with all repeats.

The work performed at the Finals does not have to be the same work performed in the application.

However, the finalist must advise the Competition Coordinator what piece he/she/they will perform within 7 days of being notified that he/she/they have been selected as a finalist.

Upon winning, the grand prize is $5,000, while the runner-up's place prize is $1,00

0. Belvedere Singing Competition 2024 The International Hans Gabor Belvedere Signing Competition is one of the largest competitions for young opera singers in the world, only eligible for high school seniors and older.

This is of the prestigious opportunities to connect with high-quality opportunities.

Based in Vienna, the payment is translated into euros (Admission fee is 49 euros!) , and the location where finalists take place is in Europe.

The number of participants is limited, so we recommend early and complete registration.

For this competition, candidates have to prepare two opera arias of there choice, sung from memory in the original key and language.

There will be an official accompanist, but you are free to bring a coach of your choice at your own expense.

Those who have participated in qualifying rounds will be notified within 5 days of the audition if they have qualified to continue to finals round.

Holiday Carol Commission Competition The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir provides an annual Holiday Carol Commission Competition as part of its commitment to the future of choral music.

Submitted works must be original, unpublished, and have not been publicly performed; between 3 and 5 minutes long; written for SATB, mixed adult choir; and may be a cappella or utilize keyboard accompaniment.

Winners of the Commission Competition have been published by these and other publishers: EC Schirmer, Shawnee Press, Beckenhorst Press.

Composers 35 years of age or younger (as of December 1, 2024) who are United States citizens or legal residents may submit one composition via email (PDF) to the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir by 11:59 p. m. (EST), May 31, 202

4. There is no entry fee.

The winner will be notified by September 30, and the selected composition will be performed by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir at its annual Festival of Carols performances in Indianapolis.

A cash prize of $2,500 for the world premiere will be awarded to the winning composer.

The DSO Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition The DSO Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition is a program for string players and pianists to compete with the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to encourage students to play a musical interest.

Along with the opportunity to perform alongside the orchestra, winners receive a prize of $5,00

0. Applicants must be ages 8-18 years old, a current resident or student in the state of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, or Arkansas.

They must play a string instrument or piano, and pay an application fee of $3

5. See the 2023 finalists here!

Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition The Cooper International Competition alternates annually between piano and violin.

Open to the public and live-streamed, it is open to musicians ages 13 to 1

8. The piano/violin competition will culminate in a final round at Severance Hall, where the top three competitors perform a full concerto with The Cleveland Orchestra.

For more information, see the website!

Hilton Head International Piano Competition The Hilton Head International Piano competition provides performance opportunities to young pianists ages 13 -17 to encourage and support excellence in classical piano music.

Applications open in June, closing at the end of September.

With an application fee of $135, finalists will receive masterclasses and additional rewards.

The Hilton Head also provides a program with a similar purpose with the only difference being that those who are 18 and over are eligible for it.

The process and awards are similar.

Music International Grand Prix International Music Competition with a Winners Concert at Merkin Hall in New York, NY.

There is a $5,000 Grand Prix Award and thousands in other cash prizes and scholarships, along with an esteemed panel of Judges.

There will be video quarterfinals, live semifinals and finals (Zoom available).

There are three age categories (no age limit for adults) and disciplines are voice, piano, strings, winds/brass, composition, and ensembles.

As this competition has 3 different age categories starting with Youth at age 7, all the way up to Adult, we encourage all aspiring and professional musicians to apply.

Claudette Sorel Piano Competition and Fellows Program at Fredonia The Claudette Sorel Piano Competition and Fellows Program is for talented high school pianists of any nationalities.

Designed to support and nurture young artists, they support pianists with great artistic vision who are passionate about piano performance and repertoire.

Contestants choose their own repertoire.

Artists must be in high school at the time of the competition.

State University of New York at Fredonia students are ineligible to apply.

Previous Sorel Piano Competition First Prize Winners are ineligible.

Individuals with professional management and active performance careers, and those enrolled in university/conservatory are ineligible.

Klein Competition The Klein Competition is open to violinists, violists, cellists and bassists aged 15-23 at the time of the competition June 1-2, 202

4. All prizes are intended for instrumental studies; therefore persons under professional management are not eligible.

Have questions?

Read our FAQs.

Here is a copy of the full application you can see before you apply.

Ready to apply?

For detailed instructions, review our guidelines below.

Questions about repertoire?

Take a look at sample repertoire.

Please note that it is not inclusive of all acceptable works.

Judges will have the final decision on all prize awards.

Details of projected concert appearances are subject to change.

We reserve the right to postpone or cancel performance contract fulfillment, depending upon the status of restrictions on public gathering in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concluding Remarks Interested in seeing more content that is music-related?

Check out some of our other blogs: The Ultimate Guide to Music Internships for High School Students 10 Music Passion Project and Research Ideas for High School Students Ultimate List of Music Programs for High Schoolers By the way, Rishab Jain, a Harvard student who has achieved success in numerous international competitions has made his STEM Student Guide public with a a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions.

You should definitely check it out next.

No more having to search for top-quality programs. this guide has it all.