Instrumental Competition
Jr. Division
Saturday, Nov 15, 2025
Registrations Closed
Division 1 Grades 6 - 8
Division 2 Grades 9 - 12
The instrumental competition is open to soloists.
Each contestant is asked to perform two mature works of contrasting style by different composers for a total performance time not to exceed 10 minutes.
Please provide your own accompanist or you may perform with a piano-only accompaniment track. You may download a list of local Southern Illinois accompanists from the link above.
Submission Deadline: November 8, 2025.
Rules:
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Competitors must be in grades 6-8 for Division 1 and grades 9-12 for Division 2 on the date of the competition.
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All applications require a non-refundable application fee, which must be received two weeks prior to the contest.
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A competitor may change their music program, as long as it stays within all other rules and is completed two weeks prior to the competition.
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Instrumentalists will perform 2 pieces of contrasting style by different composers no longer than 10 minutes total.
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We attempt to make it such that contestants will be only known to the judges only by their contestant number.
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No personal information (name, photographs, biographical or any other information) may be given to the judges.
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Contestants should bring two additional clean copies of their music, one for each judge, to the competition. The music should have the measures clearly marked and have all other notations and comments removed. Photo copied scores are allowed on the understanding that they will be destroyed after the competition.
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Music should be given to the monitor at the door of the performance room as the contestant enters the competition room.
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Conversations with the judges, unless instigated by them, are forbidden by the contestant, their teacher, parent or any other person accompanying them.
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Contestants are responsible for providing their own accompanist. There will be no one at the competition venue that will be able to fill in at the last minute.
What to expect on competition day:
Arrival:
On the day of the competition, please arrive at First Presbyterian Church, Edwardsville 30 minutes prior to your scheduled performance time and enter through the office door. The doors will be clearly marked.
Registration:
At the registration table, please provide 2 copies of your music to give to the judges. A photo of you will be taken with your contestant number for our records. You will be given 2 folders, one for each judge, with your music, comment sheet and a performance number to provide to the monitor in the performance room.
Practice and Warm Up:
After check in, you will be escorted to a practice room. Family and teachers are welcome to accompany the contestant throughout the process.
Performance:
At your scheduled performance time, a monitor will escort you to the sanctuary. The monitor will submit your folders to the judges and you will proceed to the stage to the front for your performance. Please wait until the judges are ready before you begin. Family and teachers are welcome to listen in the back rows of the church.
Competition results will be posted November 15 by 9pm on our website.