To enter the 2022 Virtual Competition, please follow the guidelines below. ALL ENTRANTS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL RULES. For the sake of fairness, we will unfortunately find it necessary to disqualify any entries that do not comply fully with the rules laid out here.
- A $15 application fee is required to compete. Fees are non-refundable.
- You must be a member of MDRS to compete. If you are not already a member of MDRS, you must become one by registering online and paying the $15 student membership fee, separate from your application fee. Fees are non-refundable.
- The Competition has two separate divisions. They are the High School and Collegiate divisions.
- Entrants in the High School Division must be enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and must reside in the United States. Participants in the High School Division are to prepare a video of approximately 7 minutes in length that includes music written for their solo instrument.
- Entrants in the Collegiate Division must not have completed an undergraduate degree by April 1, 2022 and must reside in the United States. Participants in the Collegiate Division are to prepare a video of approximately 10-minutes in length that includes UNACCOMPANIED music written for their solo instrument.
- All entries must be VIDEO recordings. No audio only video recordings will be accepted. Videos must provide a clear and unobstructed view of the performers. Performers’ fingers and face must be clearly visible. Use one camera only. Videos with multiple camera angles will be disqualified. The audio must not be enhanced in any way. The video and audio should remain entirely unedited. In order to most closely correlate with a live performance, the video must run from beginning to end without stopping. You may not stop the video between pieces or movements.
- Performances must be UNACCOMPANIED. Video submissions with accompaniment will be immediately disqualified.
- Performances must be recent. Only recordings made within the last six months will be accepted.
- Videos may not be edited other than trimming the beginning and end of the video. Performances must be recorded live, in real time and in one take to emulate a live performance. Any evidence of editing will result in the immediate disqualification of the contestant.
- No reverb or other audio processing can be added to your video to enhance your sound.
- The first-place winner of the Collegiate Division will be ineligible from competing for one year. The winner of the High School Division will be ineligible for competing in the high school division for one year but may compete in the Collegiate Division when they are age eligible regardless of placement in the High School Division.
- Judges will be evaluating recordings based on performers’ expression, technical accuracy, intonation, tone, and stylistic correctness, and not based on quality of recording equipment.
- To enter, upload your completed video performance to YouTube as “unlisted”. Then, fill out and submit the application form at MDRS.org. On this form, you will also include the unlisted YouTube link to your video. DEADLINE EXTENDED: Complete this form by 11:59pm Central Time on May 1, 2022.
Please direct any questions to Midori Samson at [email protected]
Competition Judges
Bassoon Judges:
- Marissa Olegario
- Ben Roidl-Ward
- Brandon Rumsey
Oboe Judges:
- Nermis Mieses
- Robert Sorton
- Hassan Anderson
Winners will be awarded the following prizes:
Collegiate Oboe:
1st – $500
2nd – $300
3rd – $200
Collegiate Bassoon:
1st – $500
2nd – $300
3rd – $200
High School Oboe:
1st – $200
2nd – $150
3rd- $75
High School Bassoon:
1st – $200
2nd – $150
3rd- $75