2011 National Solo Competition Guidelines

These are the guidelines for the National Solo Competition. Please check with the state in which you reside or attend school to determine its specific competition dates and application deadlines.
Any applications sent directly to the National Office will be disqualified.  

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the National Solo Competition Guidelines

1)  Eligibility

1. Instrumental categories are Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Classical Guitar, and Harp.
   
2. Participants must be ASTA members or a student of a current professional ASTA member.  Proof of membership is required.
   
3. For the state competition, participants may enter in their state of residency or the state in which they are studying.  Under no circumstances will a participant be allowed to enter more than one state’s competition.
   
4. There are two levels, the Junior Division and the Senior Division.  The Junior Division is open to musicians under the age of 19 as of March 20, 2011 (born on or after March 20, 1992).  The Senior Division is open to musicians 19-25 as of March 20, 2011 (born on or after March 20, 1986 and before March 20, 1992).
   
5. A copy of an official document proving the entrant’s birth date (e.g. birth certificate, passport, license etc.)  MUST be submitted with the application.
   
6. Previous Winners:  All eligible previous entrants may enter the competition again, including previous National Finalists and Second Prize winners.  Previous Grand Prize and First Prize winners in the Junior Division may not compete again in that division; however, they may enter the Senior Division if they will have attained their 19^th birthday by March 20, 2011.  Previous Grand Prize and First Prize winners in the Senior Division are not eligible to compete further.

2)  Prizes will be announced on ASTA’s website www.astaweb.com and in the August edition of the AST journal

3) Timetable

A.  Alternate-Year State Competitions

1. Beginning with the 2011 National Competition cycle (which in some states may begin as early as spring of 2010), state competitions procedures must conform to the national rules/guidelines (including the memory and repertoire requirement) for competitors to be able to participate in the National Competition.
2. States are encouraged to hold solo competitions in off-years of the national competition cycle and may establish their own guidelines and procedures for these competitions independent of the national rules. These off-year competitions will not serve as preliminaries for the National Solo Competition.

B.  State Competitions (live or recorded)

November 1, 2010 is the deadline for all State Competitions to be completed.  This includes states holding either live competitions or recorded competitions. November 12, 2010 (POSTMARKED) states must have the results of the competition to the National Office Contact.

C.  States without formal competitions

Entrants in states without a formal competition or entrants whose instrument happens not to be part of a formal State Competition (for example, harp) must submit their recordings to their State Competition Chair before November 1, 2010 to allow for screening. 

D.  National Semi-Finals (recorded)

1. Entries MUST be submitted by the State Competition Chair.
2. Entries must be POSTMARKED by November 12, 2010 to qualify for the National Finals.
3. Entries MUST include a National Solo Competition Official Entry Form (enclosed in these Guidelines and also available on the ASTA website at www.astweb.com), proof of date of birth, student and/or teacher ASTA membership ID number, and the $75 National entrance fee.
4. Finalists will be selected and notified by January 16, 2011.
5. Finalists must notify the National Office by February 1, 2011 of their acceptance to participate in the Finals in Kansas City, Missouri.

E.  National Finals at 2011 ASTA National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri

1.  March 16, 2011 Rehearsal *

2.  March 17, 2011 Rehearsal and Competition*

3.  March 18, 2011 Competition*

4.  March 19, 2011 Winner’s Recital*

*Schedule subject to change.  All National Solo Competition events will take place March 16- 19, 2011 in Kansas City, MO.

4)  State Competition

A   All state chapters will hold a State Competition (live or recorded) which can be either a formal competition for awards or an informal screening of recordings.Each state will   determine its own competition procedure.

B.  In the absence of a formal competition, the State Competition Chair will arrange for the screening of recordings submitted by students from that state who desire to enter the Semi-Final round of the National Competition.

3. Students may choose to enter the State Competition of their state of residency or that in which they are studying to be eligible for the Semi-Final round of the National Competition.  No entrant may enter in more than one state.
   
4. For information regarding State Competitions, entrants should contact their ASTA State Competition Chairs.  A list of all State Competition Chairs is at http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Competitions/NationalSoloCompetition/default.htm.
   
5. Each state chapter will determine if there is a State Competition entrance fee.
   
6. State chapters should follow the National Guidelines in planning their competitions.  This includes age, eligibility, etc.  Chapters that do not comply with the National Guidelines may have their entrants disqualified from participation in the National Semi-Finals at the discretion of the ASTA National Board. 
   
7. Beginning with the 2011 National Competition cycle (which in some states may begin as early as spring of 2010), state competitions procedures must conform to the national rules/guidelines (including the memory and repertoire requirement) for competitors to be able to participate in the National Competition.

I.   Each state chapter is encouraged to submit as many entrants as it considers qualified to compete in the National Semi-Final round.It is not necessary that all instrumental categories be represented only that those entrants entered be the most qualified. (Note to prize-winning entrants from state chapters who send multiple entries for an instrument: the National Semi-Finals, being judged anonymously, are a level playing field; state competition prize winners are on an equal footing with other entrants from their state.)

5) Repertoire

A.  Junior Division

VIOLIN:         Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Sonatas or Partitas
Saint-Saëns:  Danse Macabre, op. 40- any edition transcribed by the composer
Any piece of the contestant’s choice 

VIOLA:          Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Cello Suites
Vaughan-Williams:  Prelude & Christmas Dance from the Suite for Viola & Orchestra, Group 1, movements 1 & 3
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

CELLO            Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Suites
Bartok, arr. Silva:  Roumanian Folk Dances (all movements)
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

DOUBLE BASS         Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Cello Suites
Bottesini:  Elegy in D
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

GUITAR        Bach:  Any movement from a solo work
Giuliani:  Six Variations on Folies d’Espagne, op. 45 (any edition)
Any piece or pieces of the contestant’s choice

HARP             Bach:  Any movement from a solo work
Handel, trans. Salzedo:  The Harmonious Blacksmith
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

B.  Senior Division

VIOLIN         Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Sonatas or Partitas
Wieniawski:  Souvenir de Moscou (Two Russian Airs), op. 6
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

VIOLA           Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Cello Suites
Brahms:  Sonata in F minor for Viola and Piano, op. 120, no.1, movements 2 & 4  
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

CELLO           Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Suites
Locatelli:  Sonata in D, Minuet
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

DOUBLE BASS         Bach:  Any movement from the Solo Cello Suites
Vanhal:  Concerto in D, 1st movement, Hoffmeister edition with the Gruber cadenza published by Doblinger
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

GUITAR        Bach:  Gigue and Double from Suite, BWV 997 (any edition)
Sainz de la Maza, Eduardo:  Campanas del alba
Any piece or pieces of the contestant’s choice

HARP             Bach:  Any movement from a solo work
Spohr:  Fantasie, op. 35
Any piece of the contestant’s choice

C.  Further repertoire guidelines and considerations:

1.  The total amount of performance time is:

a.  Junior Division 12-15 minutes including the required pieces and free choice.

b.  Senior Division 17-20 minutes including the required pieces and free choice.

2.    Time limits are suggestions.  Recordings and performances under the minimum will not be disqualified.  Nevertheless, it must be noted that it is in the entrants’ interest to perform as much as possible to show themselves in the best possible light.  Recordings or performances exceeding the maximum time will be stopped, but entrants will not be penalized.  The cutting of lengthy piano tutti sections is strongly encouraged.

3.   Complete works or complete single movements from works will be required of all entrants.

4.   No composer may be represented more than once in each entrant’s program.Entrants may not use required repertoire composers for free choice.Multiple movements of the same work are permitted but three composers MUST be represented.

5.   All works (including sonatas) performed in the National Finals must be played by memory.

6)    Semi- final Competition/Recording

1. Each Junior entrant should present between 12-15 minutes of music on recordings submitted to the State Competition and National Semi-Final rounds.  Each Senior entrant should present between 17-20 minutes of music on recordings submitted to the State and Semi-Final Rounds.  The required repertoire must be included. 
   
2. The repertoire stipulations stated in Section Four of these guidelines apply to all recordings.  Recordings or performances exceeding the maximum will be stopped, but entrants will not be penalized.
   
3. Recordings must be in CD format.  Each piece or movement must be recorded without editing. (Editing is permissible between movements/pieces but not within them.)  Edited performances will be disqualified.  Recording in a concert hall or recording studio with professional level equipment is suggested.  Concert hall recordings should place the microphone approximately six to eight feet in front and above the contestant.  Studio microphone placement will depend on the equipment available. Contestants should submit as high quality recording as possible.  Entrants must submit recordings that are clearly labeled with the entrant’s name, age, address, phone number, instrument, teacher’s name, and works performed.  (The labeling should be easy to cover and re-label to allow for anonymous judging.  No photos on CDs. For examples please see the ASTA website.)  It is strongly urged that entrants retain a copy of their submitted recording in case it is lost in transit.  Recordings will not be returned.
   
4. Recordings submitted to the National Semi-Finals will be judged blindly by a distinguished panel of musicians who will determine the finalists.
   
5. The repertoire stipulations stated in Section 5 of these guidelines apply to all semi-final recordings.
   
6. Semi-Final entries MUST be submitted by the State Competition Chair.  They must be POSTMARKED by November 12, 2010 to qualify for the Semi-Finals. Late entries or those submitted without the state competition chair’s list will automatically be disqualified.
   
7. National Finalists will be selected by January 16, 2011. Each state chapter is STRONGLY encouraged to help subsidize the expenses of its semi-finalists and finalists.

8)   Final Competition- Live

1. A panel of distinguished musicians will adjudicate the finals in Kansas City, Missouri, March 16-19, 2011.  All decisions of this panel will be final.  Prizes will be awarded only if there are outstanding entrants; the adjudicators are not obliged to award all prizes.
   
2. Actual performance time for the Junior Division must fall between 12-15 minutes, including the required work.  Actual performance time for the Senior Division must fall between 17-20 minutes including the required work. Contestants may submit a longer program and will be stopped without penalty when time limits run out.
   
3. The Finalistsselected by the national committee to participate in the finals of the National Solo Competition at the national conference, may not participate in the Eclectic Strings Festival or be part of a participating National Orchestra Festival group. This participation restriction is due to overlapping schedules which will cause disruption to the overall experience for all participants.

9)   Fees

1. All entries submitted to the National Semi-Finals must be accompanied by an entrance fee of $75 as well as the ASTA Solo Competition Entry Form.
   
2. All checks should be made payable to ASTA.
   
3. Any inquiries or questions should be addressed to your State Competition Chair (list found at www.astaweb.com) or to:

Libby Dietrich

ASTA Staff Contact

Email: libby@astaweb.com or 703-279-2113 x28

Marilyn Seelman

2011 National Solo Competition Chair

Email: mseelman@gsu.edu