Irving M. Klein International String Competition

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

• Open to violinists, violists, cellists and double bassists aged 15–23 on 6 June 2027. Players under professional management are ineligible. Apply by 29 January 2027 at 20:59 PST / 23:59 EST, equivalent to 30 January at 05:59 CET.
• Upload one audio file with three selections and enter timings for each. Submit a passport, birth certificate or valid driving licence as proof of age. Pay the $145 non-refundable fee or submit a fee-waiver request. The instructions explicitly ask applicants to omit recommendations, biographies, press reviews and photos.
• Fee waivers are limited and assessed in order received, generally for adjusted household gross income up to $100,000. Pre-college applicants provide their latest household tax filing and, where applicable, proof of need-based conservatory aid. College applicants provide their need-based award letter. Curtis or Colburn students provide the household tax filing only.

Rounds & time limits

Anonymous online screening · three selections in one audio file

• Record all selections within the last 12 months in this order. First, one or more complete movements of unaccompanied Bach for your instrument, at least 5 min, aiming for about 10. Violists may choose from the cello suites or violin sonatas and partitas. Bach movements may come from different works if clearly identified.
• Second, a substantial movement from a Classical, Romantic or major 20th/21st-century concerto, 10–15 min, with piano accompaniment only. If a movement is very short, add another movement from the same concerto. Orchestral accompaniment disqualifies the entry.
• Third, one 20th/21st-century work in a modern musical language, at least 5 min, aiming for about 10. Multiple movements must come from the same work. Debussy, Ravel, Ysaÿe, Kreisler, Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie and the Sibelius Violin Concerto cannot meet this requirement. Do not use one work to fill two requirements. The jury can still consider shorter entries.

Semifinal · up to 25 minutes of music

• Play at least one substantial movement of unaccompanied Bach, a movement from an eligible concerto, and the entire unaccompanied commissioned piece sent after acceptance. Save the sonata for the final and cut concerto tuttis as needed.

Final · up to 35 minutes of music

• Play additional movements of the same concerto and at least one substantial movement of a Classical, Romantic or major 20th/21st-century sonata with piano. If the sonata movements are short, use more than one. Further unaccompanied Bach and/or the commission are optional if time allows.

Repertoire

• Live repertoire may differ from the screening. Submit both proposed live programmes for timing and approval about two weeks after acceptance. The organizer typically contacts semifinalists in early April and allows 48 hours to accept. Semifinalists arrange travel, and the organizer attempts to place them with hosts. Fee-waiver recipients who advance get travel and housing covered.

Source: Application rules and sample accepted repertoire by instrument · Live programme rules and travel details · Submittable application · Official live dates and venue