Competitions › Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
The largest chamber music competition in the United States, held annually at the University of Notre Dame for amateur-pursuing and pre-professional ensembles of 3 to 6 players. Ensembles are accepted by video audition and compete in quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds over a weekend in May.
- Organiser
- Fischoff National Chamber Music Association
- Instruments
- Wind ensembles, String ensembles, Piano trio, Brass quintet, Mixed instrumental ensembles (3-6 players)
- Category
- Piano chamber music, Brass ensembles, Piano trio & quartet, Wind & brass ensembles, Other ensembles
- Age limits
- Senior Division (2023 rules): each member 35 or younger and ensemble average age under 31; separate Junior Division exists
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online entry form plus emailed video links; 2023 fees USD 125 (trio) to 245 (sextet); 2023 deadline 22 February.
Rounds & time limits
- Video audition
- Quarterfinal (up to 12 ensembles per division)
- Semifinal (up to 6)
- Final (top 3)
Repertoire
Video audition: at least two complete contrasting works totaling 40+ minutes; live rounds: at least two contrasting works totaling 60+ minutes, with a work of 8+ minutes by a Women, Black or Latino/a composer; jurors choose 17-20 minutes.
Jury & prizes
Jury
Not published on the official pages we could check.Prizes
- Per division: Gold USD 5,000, Silver USD 4,000, Bronze USD 3,000
- Grand Prize USD 15,000 including tours
- Special prizes (Lift Every Voice, American Brass Quintet, Horszowski Trio)
Past editions
- 2026 — University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN sourceSenior Division — Wind · members 35 or younger
- Gold — ZaRiah (wind quintet)
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source