PURPOSE:

To encourage the composition of chamber music in New York State, Chamber Music Rochester and the Hanson Institute for American Music of the Eastman School of Music sponsor competitions for young composers.

In 2026, our competition is a college-level competition. It carries an award of $1,500 and performance on a Chamber Music Rochester concert.

ELIGIBILITY:

Students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in music at a college or university located in New York State.

INSTRUMENTATION AND LENGTH:

Submissions for the 2026 college-level competition may be up to 15 minutes in duration for any combination of two to seven instruments drawn from the following list: flute (or piccolo), oboe (or English horn), clarinet (or bass clarinet), saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor, or bari), bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, percussion. Mixed ensembles are encouraged. More than one of an instrument may be used (e.g. two violins) but the total number of players must not exceed seven.