FSMTA Senior and Collegiate String Competitions
Rules and Regulations
Eligibility:
The FSMTA Senior and Collegiate String Competitions are open to students of violin, viola, cello, double bass, and guitar.
Applicants may enter in one of the following age categories:
Pre-college Level application procedures:
Collegiate Level application procedures:
Teacher’s fee:
Repertoire Requirements:
All repertoire must be performed by memory. Accompanied and solo repertoire is accepted, however no concerto movements or unpublished scores are allowed. No changes are allowed after submitting an application.
Accompaniment requirements:
Accompanied repertoire must be performed with live or pre-recorded accompaniment. Accompanists may use acoustic or electronic piano. Pre-recorded accompaniment may come from your own accompanist or from an online platform.
Video Requirements:
Other rules:
The first-place winner in each age category receives a cash award from the Florida State Music Teachers Foundation.
All videos are randomly numbered and made anonymous to the judges. All decisions of the judges are final and will not be subject to further review. Judges have the right to declare no winner.
Incomplete applications or video submissions that are not in accordance with the rules may result in the participant’s disqualification without refund.
The winners will be required to submit a short, 250 words or less, biography with a digital photo as an attachment via email to FSMTAcompetitions@gmail.com one week after winning.
Any questions should be emailed to FSMTAcompetitions@gmail.com prior to submitting an application.
Important:
Eligibility:
The FSMTA Senior and Collegiate String Competitions are open to students of violin, viola, cello, double bass, and guitar.
Applicants may enter in one of the following age categories:
- Senior level (high school): ages 16–19 as of June 1 of the competition year. Applicant must not have graduated or taken the GED. Applicant must be enrolled in a high school program in Florida at the time the application is submitted. Dual enrollment students are eligible. If questions arise, proof of age and enrollment may be necessary.
- Collegiate level: age of 26 or under as of June 1 of the competition year. Applicant must be a student registered in music study at a private or public College/University/Conservatory in the State of Florida.(Note: Because the competition usually takes place in May or June, the student must have been registered in the semester during or prior to the competition.)
Pre-college Level application procedures:
- Submit a completed electronic application found at this link by April 1st.
- Application must be accompanied by a $40 application fee (and teacher’s fee, if applicable). It should be paid by using the online payment button on the FSMTA Competitive Events page (select “String Competition $40:00 USD”) by April 1st.
Collegiate Level application procedures:
- Submit a completed electronic application found at this link by April 1st.
- Application must be accompanied by a $40 application fee. It should be paid by using the online payment button on the FSMTA Competitive Events page (select “String Competition $40:00 USD”) by April 1st.
- When application/fee(s) are received, a confirmation email will be sent with instructions for uploading your video.
- Upload your video to be available for viewing no later than May 10th (by 11:59pm EST).
Teacher’s fee:
- Teachers who are members of FSMTA pay no fee for their students to enter the competition. Membership must be renewed before November 30.
- Non-member teachers and those who renewed their membership after November 30 are required to pay an $80 non-member teacher fee. This fee must be paid at the time of the application and should be paid by using the online payment button on the FSMTA Competitive Events page (select “Non-teacher member $80 USD”). Deadline for payment of Teacher’s Fees is April 1st.
Repertoire Requirements:
- Senior category: Contestants must perform two or more memorized pieces or movements with a total length of 7 to 12 minutes.
- Collegiate category: Contestants must perform two or more memorized pieces or movements with a total length of 12 to 17 minutes.
All repertoire must be performed by memory. Accompanied and solo repertoire is accepted, however no concerto movements or unpublished scores are allowed. No changes are allowed after submitting an application.
Accompaniment requirements:
Accompanied repertoire must be performed with live or pre-recorded accompaniment. Accompanists may use acoustic or electronic piano. Pre-recorded accompaniment may come from your own accompanist or from an online platform.
Video Requirements:
- Video audition must be recorded in one continuous unedited take. The camera angle must be fixed (no multiple angles, no zooming, no panning). No added effects, no text or speech are allowed. The video may not contain any clues as to identity of the performer.
- The applicant’s hands and face must be clearly visible.
- The recording must be recent, made no earlier than October 1.
- Recordings from public performances are allowed.
- If recording with an accompanist, make sure both performers can be seen in the recording.
- Video formats admitted may be only the following: .WMV, .AVI, .MOV, MPG, .MP4.
- Video quality must be of 720P and 24FPS or higher.
- An audio of high fidelity is strongly recommended for collegiate applicants. You may record audio from a dedicated sound recording device or use a higher-grade camera with external microphones and dedicated sound capturing capability.
Other rules:
The first-place winner in each age category receives a cash award from the Florida State Music Teachers Foundation.
All videos are randomly numbered and made anonymous to the judges. All decisions of the judges are final and will not be subject to further review. Judges have the right to declare no winner.
Incomplete applications or video submissions that are not in accordance with the rules may result in the participant’s disqualification without refund.
The winners will be required to submit a short, 250 words or less, biography with a digital photo as an attachment via email to FSMTAcompetitions@gmail.com one week after winning.
Any questions should be emailed to FSMTAcompetitions@gmail.com prior to submitting an application.
Important:
- Deadline for submission of application and fee(s) is April 1st.
- Pre-college competition takes place in-person. For date and place, please refer to the main FSMTA Competitive Events page.
- Deadline for Collegiate participants to upload a video audition is May 10th.