The Competition

Are you a classically trained violinist aged 18 to 35 years old and interested in embarking on an international career? Then apply to our 2023 International Violin Competition held in June and do not miss the opportunity to perform your concerto with the Dallas Chamber Symphony and compete amongst top talent in your field.

Eligibility

  • Violinists of all nationalities aged 18-35 (born on or after June 21, 1987, and on or before June 21, 2004) are eligible to apply.
  • Professional and pre-professional, formally trained violinists, including students and those with advanced degrees in music are encouraged to apply.
  • Previous prize-winners of the Dallas International Violin Competition are not eligible to participate.
  • International participants are responsible for obtaining a visa to enter the United States and participate in the competition.
  • Current students of competition jurors are not eligible to participate.

Repertoire

  • Contestants shall perform a complete violin concerto in Rounds 1 & 3, as applicable.
  • Those who advance to Round 2 shall perform a 20-minute solo recital program of their choosing. Solo recital programs shall be comprised of music written for unaccompanied solo violin, and may include works by more than one composer. Contestants are urged to design their recital program so that it displays the full range of their artistic ability. Contestants will perform their full recital program during Round 2, as applicable, without interruption.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: April 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm (central)
  • Candidates arrive in Dallas: June 13, 2023
  • Check-in / Rehearsal Day: June 14, 2023 at 10:00 am
  • Round 1: June 15, 2023
  • Round 2: June 16, 2023
  • Orchestral Rehearsals: June 19-20, 2023
  • Round 3: June 20, 2023

Rounds

Preliminary Audition Round

Violinists wishing to participate must submit an online application and recorded video audition in accordance with the requirements below. A selection committee will choose a maximum of eighteen candidates who will be invited to Dallas, Texas to participate in Round 1: Quarterfinals.

Round 1: Quarterfinals

Up to eighteen invited candidates will perform, from memory, their complete violin concerto (or similar work for violin & orchestra) with a collaborative pianist performing the orchestral piano reduction.

Round 2: Semifinals

Up to eight candidates advancing from Round 1 will perform, from memory, their entire 20-minute recital program of music written for unaccompanied solo violin, without interruption.

Round 3: Finals

Three candidates advancing from Round 2 will perform their entire violin concerto again, from memory, this time with the full Dallas Chamber Symphony orchestra at Moody Performance Hall in the downtown Dallas Arts District.

General

  • Participants are strongly encouraged to choose a violin concerto (or similar work for solo violin and orchestra) from the standard repertoire. There are no orchestral instrumentation limitations.
  • All repertoire must be performed from memory.
  • Repeats are left to the discretion of the candidates, but candidates must take them into account when working out the timing of their programs.
  • Candidates may not include in their program works that they themselves have composed or arranged.
  • Audition videos showing evidence of editing will result in disqualification. 
  • Candidates not ready to perform during their scheduled time will be disqualified.
  • While the competition is underway, jury members are not at liberty to interact with contenders beyond the scope of what is necessary and required by the competition.
  • All prizes will be awarded, and only one first prize winner will be announced.
  • Competition results submitted by the jury are final, and cannot be contested.
  • A jury member who has taught, or has immediate plans to teach, a contestant shall abstain from voting on that contestant’s performance in the competition. Abstentions shall be declared no later than one day prior to the start of the competition rounds.
  • All competition activities, including performances with the Dallas Chamber Symphony may be recorded, and participants of the competition agree to allow the Dallas Chamber Symphony unrestricted use of all video, audio, photographic and new media recordings for promotional purposes.
  • Although unlikely to occur, if unexpected circumstances arise in the execution of the competition rules and regulations, a resolution shall be decided by the competition director in consultation with the jury.
  • There are no registration or enrollment fees. Participation is free for those who are invited.

Apply

Deadline: April 30, 2023 11:59 pm (central)

To apply, submit the following via Acceptd before the deadline:

  • an unedited video recording of your performance, from memory, of your complete competition violin concerto (or similar work for violin and orchestra) with accompaniment. Accompaniment by full orchestra or a collaborative pianist performing the orchestral reduction are allowed.
  • textual details of your selected concerto repertoire (composer, title, movements, durations). This must be the same concerto as submitted for your video audition, above, and will be the concerto you will perform if invited to the live rounds in Dallas.
  • an unedited video audition, 10-15 minutes in duration, of your performance of repertoire written for unaccompanied solo violin. This can be anything you choose which best demonstrates the breadth of your artistic ability. You will not be required to perform this repertoire during your solo recital in Round 2, but you are welcome to if you wish. This audition may be a single work, or multiple works, and may include works by different composers. Multiple short recordings may be combined into one video or uploaded separately.
  • textual details of your 20-minute competition solo recital program of repertoire written for unaccompanied solo violin (composers, titles, movements, durations). This can be anything you choose which best demonstrates the breadth of your artistic ability, and need not be the same as your solo recital repertoire audition video, above. Works for accompanied solo violin are not allowed. Applicants are urged to choose their solo recital program carefully before applying, as it cannot be changed after submission.
  • contact information (name, title, email) for two references who we may contact if necessary. Your references need not submit recommendation letters and will not receive an automatic request to provide one from Acceptd. Competition staff will request references on a case by case basis, and only after audition videos have been reviewed.
  • JPG or PNG of your full color professional headshot, suitable for publicity.
  • your professional bio, up to 250 words, suitable for publicity
  • a PDF of your résumé or curriculum vitae.
  • an image of your government-issued ID, to verify age.
  • payment of the application fee in the amount of $125.
Click Here to Apply to the Competition

Accompanists & Rehearsals

  • Contestants are encouraged to secure their own accompanist for Round 1. However, the competition will provide a professional staff accompanist for a fee of $300. This fee covers a 1-hour rehearsal, and Round 1 performance.
  • Contestants will have an opportunity to request a staff accompanist upon acceptance of an invitation to participate in the competition.
  • Contestants will be provided one hour of practice time in a rehearsal room with one piano on the day prior to the start of Round 1. This is intended for concerto rehearsal with piano accompaniment. Staff accompanists will be scheduled by the competition to meet you at this session, if applicable.
  • A warm up room will be provided to each contestant during the 40 minutes prior to all scheduled performances.
  • A private dressing and warm-up room will be provided to candidates performing during Finals at Moody Performance Hall.
  • 30 minutes of rehearsal time on the competition’s main stage will be provided to all contestants on the day prior to Round 1. Staff accompanists will not be available during this time.
  • Limited access to practice rooms will be provided to all candidates on the day prior to Round 1, and throughout Round 1 and Round 2.

Check-in & Orientation

  • Invited contestants must arrive in Dallas with sufficient time to check in at the competition location at 10:00 am on the day prior to Round 1.
  • Immediately following check-in, contestants will participate in a drawing to determine performance order. At this time, contestants will receive an itinerary of their performance schedule and reserved rehearsal times.

Travel, Food & Lodging

  • Discounted rates for hotel lodging will be available to all candidates for the duration of the competition.
  • Candidates are responsible for their own food, transportation and lodging.

Awards & Concerts

  • The first prize winner will receive a subscription concert engagement to perform a concerto with the Dallas Chamber Symphony next season. Travel, lodging, and an artist’s fee will be provided, courtesy of the Dallas Chamber Symphony. Repertoire for the winner’s debut will be negotiated between the competition winner and the Dallas Chamber Symphony’s music director.
  • Additionally, cash prizes will be awarded as follows:
    • First Prize: $2,500
    • Second Prize: $1,500
    • Third Prize: $1,000
    • Audience Choice: $500
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