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Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition

Levine Music and Washington Performing Arts jointly present the 11th annual Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition. The competition is open to instrumental student and adult amateur chamber music ensembles. Applicants must currently reside in or study in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

The Misbin Competition is judged by a panel of members of the Greater Washington music community chosen jointly by Washington Performing Arts and Levine.

The preliminaries of the competition will be a video submission due by Sunday, March 24, 2024.

The finals of the competition will be held in person at Levine Music’s DC Campus: NW on Sunday, April 28, 2024 between 11:30 AM and 5 PM. Specific performance schedule will be assigned closer to the date of the finals.

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

Application

Applicants may compete in one of three divisions:

  • Junior (average age of ensemble is under 13 years old by March 24, 2024)
  • Senior (average age of ensemble is between 13 and 19 years old by March 24, 2024)
  • Adult amateur (all group members must be 19 years or older and not professional musicians or currently in a music degree program)

Completed applications and video submissions will be due by Sunday, March 24, 2024.

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 24, 2024.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Please contact misbincompetition@levinemusic.org with any questions.

Application Fees

All application fees are per group. 

“Early Bird” Before March 3, 2024:
Duos – $50 per group
Trios/Quartets – $75 per group
Quintets, Sextets, Septets, and Octets – $100 per group 

After March 3, 2024:
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
  • Invitation to the Play-In with the Pros workshop on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at Levine Music’s DC Campus: NW

Special Award

  • Misbin Family Memorial Award to the best group with piano (Junior and Senior divisions only) $100 cash prize per group member.

Second Prize

  • Certificate
  • Second prize winners could be considered for possible performance opportunities through Washington Performing Arts and Levine, as well as possible participation in the Play-In 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 13 years as of March 24, 2024)
    • Senior (average age of ensemble is above 13 and under 19 years as of March 24, 2024)
    • 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.

    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 concert pieces with piano accompaniment will not be accepted. Baroque ensembles are encouraged to use standard baroque performance practices (i.e. well-researched editions, unrealized continuo parts, etc.).

    Application Process

    Each group must complete one online application form (follow 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 24, 2024.

    • 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 24, 2024.
    • The application deadline does not guarantee admittance into the finalist competition.
    • Applicants will be adjudicated based on their musicianship, technical ability, interpretation, stage presence, and overall presentation.
    • Applications and videos will be reviewed by judges and the list of finalists will be announced by Monday, April 1, 2024.
    • The final round of the Misbin Competition will be held in person at Levine Music’s DC Campus: NW on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

    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 24, 2024 (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 a high quality of sound. The use of iPhones or similar recording devices that reproduce good quality sound are acceptable.
    • The following information must be provided in the video description:
      • Group name, which does not reveal the names of any of the group members, their instructors, or any organizational affiliation.
      • Repertoire information, including all of the following: full name of composer; full name of piece; key and number by which the piece is identified (i.e., opus, KV, D, BWV, etc.); tempo indication or title of the movement performed. Note: the names of the participants MUST NOT be announced. The competitors’ names, coaches, and affiliations should NOT be known to the jury. Videos in which any of these names are made known will be disqualified. Each group should instead choose a group name and identify themselves by the group name (i.e., The Trio con Brio). The group name must not indicate an affiliation with a teacher or institution.
    • 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.
    • If multiple movements are performed, they should be recorded continuously in one video.
    • If the video link does not work by the application deadline, then the video will be disqualified.
    • Recital recordings are acceptable as long as they meet the criteria mentioned above.

    The competition applicant agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of Washington Performing Arts and Levine Music’s Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition. The applicant and parent(s)/ guardian(s) understand that all information inserted in the competition application is accurate, and all results, as determined by the official competition judges, are final.

    YouTube Submission Information

    Mandatory YouTube submission is due with the completed application by Sunday, March 24, 2024.

    STEP 1: Upload Video to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/upload

    • VERY IMPORTANT- 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 are able to watch the video

    STEP 2: Complete the application and submit the appropriate payment.

    STEP 3: Email a PDF of the music/score to misbincompetition@levinemusic.org

    Application