2025 ICA High School Low Clarinet Solo Competition

2025 HIGH SCHOOL LOW CLARINET SOLO COMPETITION

Eligibility: Competition participants must be 18 years old or younger as of January 31, 2025.

Application: Deadline for the submission of application and other application materials is: July 1, 2024.

High School Low Clarinet Solo Competition Coordinator:  Andy Hudson – [email protected]

Contest Rules

To submit a proposal, send the following:

  1. Application Fee: FREE. All applicants must be members of the ICA and submit the Competition Application. Non-members wishing to apply may join the ICA and become a member. Join now!
  2. Recording Instructions: Please provide a high-quality audio recording (no video allowed) containing the repertoire as listed in the competition announcement.

Any published edition is acceptable. Each selection or movement of a larger work should be listed as a single track and should not contain your name. Please be aware that the quality of the audio recording will influence the judges. Recordings should not be edited and only continuous performances of entire works or movements are allowed.

Preliminary Round Repertoire: (recording due July 1, 2024):

Choose one selection from the following list and may be played on any low clarinet (alto, basset horn, bass, contra-alto, and contrabass)

2nd Round (live at Low ClarinetFest® January 8-11, 2025 in Glendale, AZ): Finalists will be invited to perform in masterclass at the Low ClarinetFest® 2025.

  • Michael Lowenstern: TBA (available to finalists August 2024)
  1. A photocopy of the contestant’s driver’s license, passport or birth certificate as proof of age.
  2. Both the private teacher, if any, and the contestant attest, in a separate written and signed statement that the recording is the playing of the contestant and has not been edited.
  3. A summer address, telephone number and e-mail address should be provided. E-mail is the preferred means of communication. Please check your email regularly as this is how you will be contacted.

Judging

Judging of recordings will be conducted with no knowledge of the contestant. Do not include any identification on your audio files. There should be no speaking on the recording such as announcing of compositions.

Preliminary judging will be by recorded audition. Finalists will be chosen by the committee. Notification will be sent by Sept 1, 2024. The final round will be held at Low ClarinetFest® 2025, in Glendale, AZ, January 8-11 2025. Finalists will receive a waiver of registration fees for Low ClarinetFest® 2025. Travel and other expenses will be the responsibility of the contestant. Visa and travel arrangements are solely the responsibility of the contestant.

Repertoire for the final round of competition will consist of selections from the works listed above. A pianist will be provided for competitors in the final round. Memorization is not required. All contestants will accept the decision of the judges as final. 

All recordings will become the property of the ICA.

Prizes 

First Prize: $1,000 U.S.
Second Prize: $750 U.S.
Third Prize: $250 U.S.

All prizes generously donated by Gardner Clarinets.

The International Clarinet Association assumes no tax liability that competition winners may incur through receiving prize money. Individuals are responsible for investigating applicable tax laws and reporting prize winnings to requisite government agencies. In accordance with U.S. tax law, a 30% tax on the total amount of prize winnings will be withheld and submitted to the United States Internal Revenue Service if the winner is a non-U.S. resident. Prize money will be given in the form of a U.S. check or an electronic PayPal transfer. PayPal transfers must be requested prior to the final awards ceremony on the final evening of Low ClarinetFest®.

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