Clareidoscope is a one-day virtual festival on Saturday, March 21st, 2026 from 12:00 noon – 6:00pm (eastern time zone) featuring performances, clinics, performance and composition contests and all sorts of clarinet fun! This event is free and open to anyone who loves the clarinet and wants to spend some quality time with the other clarinet advocates. Come and meet fellow clarinetists from around the United States and beyond! Clareidoscope is free to attend and enter any competition (all music for the performance competitions are in public domain with free access). This event is sponsored by the ICA United States State Chairs.
For more information look at details on the International Clarinet Association’s website at https://clarinet.org/event/clareidoscope-2026/
COMPETITION INFORMATION
Deadline for all competition submissions: February 22, 2026 @ 11:59pm (Eastern Time Zone)
There is no fee to enter any competition and ICA membership is NOT required. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories by age.
- Junior – Age: 11–14 as of January 1, 2026
- Senior – Age: 15–18 as of January 1, 2026
- Young Artist – Age: 19–26 as of January 1, 2026
- Adult Amateur
(Adult amateur competition is open to clarinetists of all ages who are not employed full-time as professional performers or collegiate educators.)
All competition entries can be submitted online at
2026 Clareidoscope Competition Registration
Performance Competition Information
Clareidoscope is excited to announce a performance competition opportunity for clarinetists of all ages. Competitions are meant to encourage the participation of students and amateur adult clarinetists.
Junior
Age: 11–14 as of January 1, 2026
Senior
Age: 15–18 as of January 1, 2026
Young Artist
Age: 19–26 as of January 1, 2026
Adult
Age: 26 and above as of January 1, 2026
(Adult competition is open to clarinetists of all ages who are not employed full-time as professional performers or collegiate educators.)
Submit your unedited video or audio file(s) of the repertoire listed below for your age group. Repertoire for performance competitions can be downloaded here.
Composition Competition Information
Submitted compositions should not be published.
Composers should select the level representing their own age as of January 1, 2026 – there will be one winner in each age category.
Junior
Age: 11–14 as of January 1, 2026
Senior
Age: 15–18 as of January 1, 2026
Young Artist
Age: 19–26 as of January 1, 2026
Adult
Age: 26 and above as of January 1, 2026
Judges for the competition:
Beth Wiemann, Chair, Joshua Mietz, Erin Cameron Teresa Martin, & Shannon Thompson
Restrictions:
We invite compositions for clarinet trio (all clarinets possible), 1-5 minutes long.
No preferred style for these pieces.
A PDF of the score and an audio file are required for submission. A recording of a live performance is preferred, but midi playback is acceptable.
Must attach PDF and a recording, live or Midi mp3
Deadline: February 22, 2026 @ 11:59pm Eastern
Collegiate Presenter Opportunity
For the 2025 Edition of Clareidoscope, the International Clarinet Association invites applications from current college students (at any degree level) to be featured as a guest performer or presenter during the virtual conference. We seek pre-recorded performances of no more than 10 minutes in length or presentations (on any subject related to the clarinet) less than 15 minutes. The deadline for application is February 22, 2026. Please email Leslie Moreau at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Two types of proposals will be accepted.
PERFORMANCE PROPOSALS:
No more than ten minutes in length, performance proposals will feature the primary applicant (and any collaborators) in a pre-recorded video performance (to be supplied by applicant). Performers will submit their proposal and a representative audio or performance link with their application by pasting a YOUTUBE or SOUNDCLOUD LINK into the form. Performers will also submit a **250-word narrative about their performance and why it matters to the clarinet community** alongside their recording. Final performance videos will be due on or before March 6, 2026 via file upload.
PRESENTATION PROPOSALS:
No more than fifteen minutes in length, this presentation may be on any topic you wish (historical, pedagogical, analytical, composer lecture, etc.) and will feature the presenter giving a **pre-recorded presentation** during Clareidoscope. Following the fifteen-minute presentation, the presenter will field five minutes of **LIVE** questions via video chat.
Presenters will submit **a 300-word abstract** outlining their presentation and explaining why it matters to the clarinet community. Final presentation videos will be due on or before March 1, 2026 via file upload.
ALL PROPOSALS WILL BE DUE on February 28, 2026 at MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME. All proposers must be active members of the International Clarinet Association. Proposers may submit only one (1) proposal in total (if multiple proposals are submitted, only the first one received will be reviewed. Click here to apply.
Questions about proposals may be directed to Leslie Moreau, [email protected].
Thanks to our sponsors of prizes for the competitions!
All our sponsors will be listed on the Clareidoscope webpage.
