Competitions › Saint Paul String Quartet Competition
Saint Paul String Quartet Competition
Next edition
- Edition
- 2027
- Dates
- Senior final 10 April 2027; Junior final 17 April 2027
- Location
- Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, Saint Paul
- Registration deadline
- 24 February 2027, 11:59 pm
- Fee
- USD 160 per application
Source: app.getacceptd.com
Overview
Annual string quartet competition in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with a Senior Division for young professional quartets and a Junior Division for pre-college quartets; open to US and non-US residents. Video applications are screened and finalists perform live at Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University.
- Organiser
- Saint Paul String Quartet Competition (SPSQC)
- Instruments
- String quartet
- Category
- String quartet
- Age limits
- Senior Division: all members no older than 32 on 10 April 2027; Junior Division: no older than 19 on 17 April 2027 and not enrolled in a college degree programme
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online via Acceptd (opens 1 January 2027) with two unedited videos, proof of age and photo; application fee USD 160.
Rounds & time limits
- Selection round: two unedited complete-work videos
- Composer Spotlight Round: set contemporary work
- Recital Round: programme of up to 30 minutes
Repertoire
Senior 2027: two complete contrasting works from the standard quartet repertoire (submitted on video); finalists also play Brian Raphael Nabors, String Quartet (2024). Junior 2027 spotlight piece: Jessie Montgomery, Voodoo Dolls.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Viano Quartet (Senior Division 2027)
- Esmé Quartet (Junior Division 2027)
Prizes
- Senior 1st prize: USD 2,000 and gold medals
- Senior 2nd prize: USD 1,600 and silver medals
- Composer Spotlight Prize: USD 1,000
- Audience Prize: USD 400
Past editions
- 2025 — Saint Paul sourceSenior Division · members up to 32
- 1st prize — Hesper Quartet
- 2nd prize — DragonBoot Quartet
Junior Division · members up to 19 (ensemble names only)- Gold — Seal Quartet
- Silver — Caspian Quartet
- Bronze — Porphyrion Quartet
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source