Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition

Levine Music and Washington Performing Arts are proud to jointly present the thirteenth annual Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition. Open to instrumental chamber music ensembles, competitors can compete in one of three divisions: Junior, Senior, and Adult Amateur. The jury panel consists of prominent chamber musicians from the greater Washington music community.

The preliminaries of the competition will be a video submission due by Sunday, March 22, 2026.  

The competition’s finals will be held in person at Levine Music’s NW campus on Sunday, April 19, 2026, between 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM. The finalists will be assigned a specific performance schedule closer to the finals date.

 

This competition is made possible by the generous support of Dr. Robert Misbin.

Stay tuned for the 2026 application.

 

Applicants may compete in one of three divisions:

  • Junior (average age of ensemble is under 14 years old by March 22, 2026)
  • Senior (average age of ensemble is 14 or above and under 19 years old by March 22, 2026)
  • Adult amateur (all group members must be 19 years or older and not professional musicians or not currently in a music degree program)

Completed applications and video submissions will be due by Sunday, March 22, 2026.

A complete application consists of:
1) Completed application form, including payment of the appropriate application fee (please see list of application fees below).
2) A link to a video submission on YouTube with appropriate information included in the video description (please see below for video requirements).
3) A PDF of the score performed by the applicants, submitted to misbincompetition@levinemusic.org by March 22, 2026.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Please contact misbincompetition@levinemusic.org with any questions.

Application Fees

All application fees are per group. 

Before March 1, 2026: 
Duos: $50 per group 
Trios/Quartets: $75 per group 
Quintets, Sextets, Septets, and Octets: $100 per group 

After March 1, 2026: 
Duos: $60 per group 
Trios/Quartets: $90 per group 
Quintets, Sextets, Septets, and Octets: $120 per group 

Prizes and Awards

First Prize

  • Cash prize: $100 per group member
  • Certificate
  • Participation, free of charge, in the Play-In with the Pros workshop on Sunday, June 14, 2026, between 12 PM and 4:30 PM at Levine’s NW campus. Play-In with the Pros is a unique workshop, offering a chance for the winning groups to play in a side-by-side chamber coaching with professional musicians. The workshop also includes a roundtable discussion for all participants and an informal final performance.
  • Possible performance opportunities through Levine and WPA. 

Misbin Family Memorial Award

Awarded to the best group with piano (Junior and Senior divisions only)

  • Cash prize: $100 per group member
  • Certificate
  • Participation, free of charge, in the Play-In with the Pros workshop on Sunday, June 14, 2026, between 12 PM and 4:30 PM at Levine’s NW campus. Play-In with the Pros is a unique workshop, offering a chance for the winning groups to play in a side-by-side chamber coaching with professional musicians. The workshop also includes a roundtable discussion for all participants and an informal final performance.
  • Possible performance opportunities through Levine and WPA. 

Second Prize 

  • Certificate
  • Second prize winners could be considered for possible performance opportunities through Levine and WPA, as well as possible participation in the Play-In with the Pros workshop. 

Honorable Mention

  • Certificate

Competition Rules (All Divisions)

Categories 


The competition is open to instrumental chamber music ensembles (any string or wind instruments, with or without piano) in the following age categories:

  • Junior (average age of ensemble is under 14 years as of March 22, 2026) 
  • Senior (average age of ensemble is 14 or above and under 19 years as of March 22, 2026) 
  • Adult Amateurs (all members are 19 years and up and not professional musicians or in a music degree program) 

All divisions must have at least two participating groups to go forward. Under-enrolled divisions will be canceled.

Repertoire

One or two movements from a major instrumental chamber music work of any musical period. The total program must be no longer than 10 minutes per chamber group. 

Concertos and solo concert pieces with piano accompaniment will not be accepted.  

Baroque ensembles are encouraged to use standard baroque performance practices (e.g., well-researched editions, unrealized continuo parts, etc.). 

Application Process

Each group must complete one online application form per group (follow the link below). The application includes a secure link for the online payment of the application fee. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2026. 

  • The preliminary round will be conducted by video submission. All videos must be recorded straight through without interruption or editing. Preliminary application and video submission deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2026. 
    Applying by the application deadline does not guarantee admittance into the finalist competition.  
  • Applicants will be adjudicated based on their musicianship, technique, interpretation, stage presence, and overall presentation. 
  • Applications and videos will be reviewed by the judges, and the list of finalists will be announced by Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 
  • Groups admitted to the Final round of the Misbin Competition will be competing in person at Levine Music’s NW campus on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Performing in person at Levine Music’s NW campus on Sunday, April 19, 2026 is the only way to participate in the finals.  

Complete applications must include a YouTube video link. No incomplete applications will be considered for participation. The application fee is non-refundable.

Please email misbincompetition@levinemusic.org with any questions about the application process.

Preliminary Round:
YouTube Video Guidelines

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 122, 2026 (video must accompany application submission)

Please review the following guidelines for submitting Preliminary Round videos.

  • Time Limit: Video must include one or two movements from an instrumental chamber music work of any musical period. The total program must be no longer than 10 minutes per chamber group. Concertos and solo pieces with piano accompaniment will not be accepted.  
  • Video must include unedited, complete movements or pieces. 
  • Excerpts from movements/pieces are not accepted. 
  • The video repertoire must be the same pieces intended for the finalist competition. 
  • Video recordings must be made in the last 6 months. 
  • The video must clearly show all the performers (videos shot from far away will be disqualified). 
  • It is recommended that competitors submit recordings with high-quality sound. The use of phones or similar recording devices that reproduce good-quality sound is acceptable. 
  • Each competing group should create a group name to participate in the Misbin Competition (e.g., Trio con Brio, etc.). The group name must not reflect an affiliation with a teacher or institution and cannot reveal the names of the members of the group. Groups whose names do not adhere to this rule can be disqualified. The jury should not know the names of the competitors, their teachers, or the educational institution with which they are affiliated.  
  • Each group should enter the following information in the video description box: Category; Name of group; Name of Composer, Title of piece, key of piece, opus number of piece; number and title/ tempo indication of movement (I. Allegro con Brio) 
  • Video and audio editing are prohibited. Judges want to see continuous playing (examples: no straight cuts, dissolves, cross dissolving, fading in and out in the middle of the piece).; Videos with signs of editing will be disqualified. 
  • Please make sure that your video link is working properly before submitting. If the video link does not work by the application deadline, the group’s application will be disqualified. 
  • Recital recordings are acceptable as long as they meet the criteria mentioned above (editing between pieces is fine in this case, as long as the pieces are performed in the same recital). 

The competition applicant agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of Washington Performing Arts’ and Levine Music’s Misbin Family Memorial Competition. The applicants and parents/guardians must ensure that all information provided in the competition application is accurate.  

All competition results, as determined by the official competition judges, are final. 

YouTube Submission Information

Mandatory YouTube video submission is due with the completed application by Sunday, March 16, 2025.

  1. Upload Video to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/upload
    • VERY IMPORTANT- Create a name for your group. Please DO NOT identify players or coaches on video. Please choose a name for your group that DOES NOT identify players, coaches, or organizations. 
    • Change privacy setting from ‘PUBLIC’ to ‘UNLISTED’. This way, only people with the specific video URL can watch the video
  2. Complete the application and submit the appropriate payment.
  3. Email a PDF of the music score or a link to a music score to misbincompetition@levinemusic.org (this is an important part of your application, as the judges will need this to evaluate the preliminary round).