2025 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition

The 2024 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition was conducted both in-person and virtually.

-Applications were due February 1, 2024-

This annual event is designed to provide an educational and competitive experience for young chamber ensembles. The competition is open to chamber ensembles in 12th grade and younger and consists of two divisions (Open and MYAC). The competition is open to all instruments and is divided into the following two instrument categories:

• Strings and Piano

• All Other Instruments (brass, percussion, voice, winds).

Contestants compete for over $5,000 in cash prizes and scholarships and the winner of each category in each division will perform in a Winners Recital.

Eligibility Requirements

Ensembles may consist of 3 to 8 musicians. Ensembles may use no more than one piano.

There are 2 divisions:

• Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Division*

• Open Division

*Ensembles in the MYAC Division must be active participants in the MYAC Chamber Music Program. All other ensembles will be entered in the Open Division which is open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents provided the age of each musician in the ensemble is not more than 19 years on February 1, 2024.

There are 2 categories in each division:

• Strings and Piano

• All other instruments (brass, percussion, voice, winds)

Repertoire Requirements

Repertoire must include at least 15 minutes of total playing time, of which 10 minutes will be selected to be performed. Groups competing live will be notified about which selections they are expected to perform prior to the day of the competition.

Repertoire must also include at least two contrasting movements, not necessarily from the same work.

One complete set of original scores will be required of each ensemble. Failure to meet score requirements will result in disqualification. 

Virtual Submissions

Groups must send an unlisted Youtube playlist and scores to jeanmilew@mya.org by February 1, 2024. This playlist must include all 15+ minutes of repertoire that meets the guidelines above.

Awards and Prizes

One Overall Winning Ensemble each will be selected from the MYAC Division and the Open Division.

Overall Winners

• The winner of each division will perform on a Winners Recital at the MYAC Center. (Additional performance opportunities may also be arranged.)

• The Overall Winning Ensembles will each receive a Cash Award of $1,000.

Category Winners

• Category winners for each Division receive an MYAC Tuition Scholarship for each member of the ensemble (valued at $250 per member) to be used towards the 2024-25 academic year Chamber Music Program or 2024 Summer Music Festival.

Application and Entry Fee

The competition entry fee is $75 for ensembles presently enrolled in the MYAC Chamber Music Program (no charge for MYAC Intensive Chamber Music groups) and $150 for other ensembles.

Email jeanmilew@mya.org with any questions you may have about this competition.

Registration for 2024 competition has closed.