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How to Apply

Click below to complete online application.

Rules and Regulations

Rules

Application

  • When applying for more than one competition, category or instrument, each requires a separate application form and fee.

  • It is your responsibility to check the deadlines for application forms and YouTube link submissions.

  • Applications or submissions will not be accepted after late deadline.

  • The age is determined by the day of the audition.

  • All fees are non-refundable.

  • Application Deadline: DECEMBER 31, 2024 for both Live & YouTube auditions

  • Late application deadline: January 7, 2025 (Fee $50)

  • Applicants may choose the YouTube audition if unavailable to attend a Live Audition.

  • YouTube audition participants: You MUST apply with or without the video by the deadline of DECEMBER 31st.

  • YouTube link submission: 

  1. WITH the application form by DECEMBER 31, 2024. 

  2. May send the link separately by EMAILING to info@caicompetition.org by January 22, 2025. 

 

Audition

  • Bring one original copy of your music.

  • Time limitation is 10 minutes for both audition and performance. Due to time constraints, contestants may be asked to stop at any time during the audition

  • Contestants should arrive 15 minutes before the audition time. Please do not be earlier than 15 minutes due to lack of warm-up space.

 

Recital

  • No recital fee for the 1st place winners but mandatory Live Performance Copyright Fee will be required ($200). 

  • The first-place concerto competition winners are obligated to maintain their availability on February 28th, Friday, from 6 to 10 pm for orchestra rehearsal and on March 1st, Saturday, from 5 to 10 pm for the dress rehearsal and concert. No excuses will be permitted.

  • Rehearsal schedules with CNJ orchestra for the concerto competition winners will be announced individually through e-mail.

  • Recital fee for 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention Winners is $350.

  • Under any circumstances, there is NO CHANGING of piece from the live audition/Video file/YouTube to the recital(s).

  • Any form of recording is prohibited at Merkin Hall and the DiMenna Center in New York City. Copyright © 2024 by Camerata New Jersey. All rights reserved. Photos and videos are protected by copyright and distributed under licenses restricting copying, distribution and decompilation.

  • Performance time limit is 10 minutes. There is an extended performance time fee of $120 per minute.

 

Repertoire Requirements

 

Concerto

  • One movement only (for audition & recital).

  • All auditions must be performed from memory with no exception.

  • Contact us  (info@caicompetition.org) for approval of repertoire before submitting your application.

  • Vocalists may choose ONE song from the following repertoire categories:  Opera aria/Classical repertoire 

  • Under any circumstances, there is NO CHANGING of piece from the live audition/Video file/YouTube to the recital(s).

 

Solo

  • No arranged music.

  • Applicant may choose one piece from the standard repertoire (baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary) for the live audition or Video file/YouTube.

  • One movement of a sonata could be accepted as one piece.

  • Vocalists may choose ONE song from the following repertoire categories:  Opera aria/Classical repertoire 

  • All auditions must be performed from memory with the exception of contemporary pieces (post 1960 - present), chamber music and sonata pieces (except piano sonata)

  • No repeats should be taken at either audition or recital.

  • Under any circumstances, there is NO CHANGING of piece from the live audition/Video file/YouTube to the recital(s).

 

Ensemble

  • Ensemble category: Limit of 8 people per group.

  • Concerto two or more category: Limit of 4 people per group.

  • Under any circumstances, there is NO CHANGING of piece from the live audition/Video file/YouTube to the recital(s).

 

Accompanist

  • REQUIRED: Contestants must bring their own accompanist to both audition and recital.

  • A hire list of local accompanists will be provided via e-mail once requested.

 

Travel Expenses

  • Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.

 

Awards

Prizes

OVER $15,000 IN PRIZES

  • The following CASH PRIZES are awarded to three individuals/ensembles within the entire competition.

    Grand Prize       $3,000 sponsored by CNJ Foundation

    Gold Prize          $2,000 sponsored by Main Violin

    Silver Prize        $1,000 sponsored by NV Factory

  • 1st place Winners from all categories who perform at the Winners' Concert will receive certificate, medal and $100 NV Recording Studio Voucher.

  • 1st place Winners from the Concerto category will have the opportunity to perform with the CNJ orchestra at Winners' Concert at Merkin Hall in NYC. 

  • 1st place Winners from the Solo and Ensemble categories will have the opportunity to perform at Winners' Concert at Merkin Hall in NYC.

  • 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention Winners will receive certificate & medal and have the opportunity to perform at Winners' Recital at the Dimmena Center in NYC.

  • 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention Winners from the Concerto category will perform with their own piano accompanist at Winners' Recital at the Dimmena Center in NYC.

  • Certificates & Medals will be awarded to those who perform at the Winners' Recitals ONLY. 

  • Non-participants who cannot perform at the recital may request for a Competition Winner's Package with a non-refundable $100 fee. (For non-US address: additional $45 shipping & handling will be charged) The Package includes Winner’s Certificate & Medal. For Ensemble applicants: Additional charge of $25 per each member will apply.

Winners Recitals

1st place Winners Recital - SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025 at 7:30PM

 

Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center in New York City

129 W 67th St, New York, NY 10023
(212) 501-3330

 

  • There is NO RECITAL FEE for all 1st place Winners but mandatory Live Performance Copyright Fee will be required ($200). 

  • The first-place concerto competition winners are obligated to maintain their availability on February 28th, Friday, from 6 to 10 pm for orchestra rehearsal and on March 1st, Saturday, from 5 to 10 pm for the dress rehearsal and concert. No excuses will be permitted.

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2nd, 3rd & Honorable Mention Winners Recital – SAUTRDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025 at 5:30 & 7:30 PM

  • Recital fee for 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention Winners is $350.

 

The DiMenna Center in New York City

450 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
(212) 594-6100

Grand Prize YouTube voting!

To determine the Grand, Gold and Silver Prize winners:

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  • Each performance of the 1st place winners at the Winners Recital will be video recorded and uploaded on MARCH 8, 2025 to our YouTube channel.

  • The online YouTube voting will then last for one week (MARCH 8-13). All voting will take place on our competition website.

  • The final winners will be decided based on 70% of the judges' scores from the audition, 15% of the YouTube "like" counts, and 15% of the on-site audience votes.

  • Final results will be announced through our website on MARCH 15, 2025.

Recitals

Advisory Board

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BOAZ SHARON

Professor of Piano and Chair of Piano at Boston University and Director of the Young Artists Piano Program at the Boston Univerisy Tanglewood Institute.

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SOO-KYUNG PARK

Founding member and artistic director of the Musicians of Lenox Hill. Faculty of New York University.

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HAE JEON LEE

Professor at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul.

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PETER VINOGRADE

Faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and Lehman College (CUNY).

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WEIGANG Li

Founding member and first violinist of the Shanghai Quartet. Faculty at the Bard College Conservatory of Music in New York and Montclair State University in New Jersey.

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