Competitions › ISB Double Bass Solo Competition

ISB Double Bass Solo Competition

Albuquerque, USA

Next edition

Edition: 2027
Dates: June 7-8, 2027
Location: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA
Registration deadline: January 15, 2027 (Solo Division)

Overview

The ISB Double Bass Competition is held in conjunction with the biennial convention of the International Society of Bassists and has divisions for solo, jazz and orchestral playing. The Solo Division is open to bassists aged 19-30 who are ISB members and awards the Gary Karr Prize.

Organiser: International Society of Bassists
Instruments: Double bass (Solo Division)
Category: Solo double bass
Age limits: Solo Division: ages 19-30 (youth divisions 15-18, 14 & under, 10 & under)

Rules & repertoire

Registration & fee

Apply by 15 January 2027, 23:59 US Central, via Acceptd, US$60. Applicants must be 19–30 on 7 June, hold current ISB membership, and have no prior first prize in this Solo Division. Submit the preliminary repertoire list, audio and CV listing all private teachers chronologically, education, honors and awards. The public rules do not list letters. Any tuning accepted.

Rounds & time limits

Audio preliminary · up to 30 min

Include at least one work with another musician, one unaccompanied work, and three periods from pre-1750, 1750–1827, 1827–1880, 1880–1945 and 1945 to today. Excerpts or single movements are permitted. One unedited audio file per selection, no processing or time stamps, piece title only, never your name. MP3 preferred; MP4 or WAV accepted as audio. Studio or live.

Live semifinal · 30 min from entrance to exit

Apply the same three-period, partnered and unaccompanied requirements. Excerpts allowed. Repertoire may differ from the recording. Add the 3–5-minute David Heyes commission, issued on selection by 15 February, outside those counts. Immediately submit both live programmes and any original compositions’ scores or official pianist’s tuning-correct parts. No speaking or vocalizing except where required by a work.

Live final · 50 min recital

Again meet the three-period, partnered and unaccompanied requirements and add the Heyes work. Perform every multi-movement work in full. Chamber music (including sonatas) and contemporary works may be read from music. Staff pianists are US$75 per hour.

Source: Official Solo Division rules · Official application via Acceptd

Jury & prizes

Jury

Not published on the official pages we could check.

Prizes

1st: Gary Karr Prize, $5,000 (2025)
2nd: $2,500
3rd: $1,000

Past editions

To protect minors, we do not show the names of winners in categories open to under-18s, or of winners whose category the official source does not state (this competition also has under-18 categories). Category, age range and prize are always shown.

2025 — Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA source
Category not stated by the source
- 1st prize (Gary Karr Prize) — name not shown (category not stated) — Solo Division 19–30 or a youth division
- 2nd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 3rd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
2023 source
Category not stated by the source
- 1st prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 2nd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 3rd prize (2 winners) — name not shown (category not stated)
2021 source
Category not stated by the source
- Gary Karr Prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- Scott Haigh Prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 3rd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
2019 source
Category not stated by the source
- Gary Karr Prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- Scott Haigh Prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 3rd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
2017 source
Category not stated by the source
- 1st prize (Gary Karr Prize) — name not shown (category not stated)
- 2nd prize — name not shown (category not stated)
- 3rd prize — name not shown (category not stated)

Summarised from official sources, last checked 14 Nov 2026. Main source