Young Artist Competition

2021 competitions are now closed. Repertoire requirements for next year are scheduled to be announced in August.

All 2021 NFA competitions will be held virtually!

The 43rd annual Young Artist Competition for outstanding flutists will include 15 qualifying round contestants chosen from the first virtual round of the competition. A panel of judges will select six of these contestants to compete in the semifinal round and will then choose three finalists to appear in a recital.

Competition Requirements*

• All flutists must be current NFA members at the time the entry is submitted. If chosen to perform or present during the convention, flutists must also be current members at the time of the convention and register for the convention by July 1, 2021. To join or renew, go to nfaonline.org/signup.
• Completed entry
• Uploaded files
  
• $85 entry fee (paid during submission process)

All entrants must submit their entry, upload recordings/supplemental materials, and pay competition and membership fees by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time, Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Recorded Round Repertoire 

Each piece should be uploaded as a separate file in the following order. Movements may be uploaded separately if you choose. All uploaded files must be audio recordings. No videos are allowed.

• Anna Bon di Venezia, Sonata in D Major, Op. 1, No. 4, I. Allegro moderato (no repeats) and II. Andante (any edition)
• Philippe Gaubert, Sonata No. 3 (Troisieme Sonate), II. Interméde pastoral (Heugel/Alphonse Leduc)
• Walter Piston, Sonata for Flute and Piano, III. Allegro vivace (Hal Leonard) 
  

Due to the restrictions of COVID-19, all Recorded Round repertoire must be recorded without piano accompaniment.

Quarterfinal Round Repertoire

• Friedrich Kuhlau, Fantasie in D Major for Solo Flute, I. Adagio and II. Allegro agitato (Barenreiter)
• Philippe Hurel, Loops I for Flute Solo (Lemoine) 

Quarterfinalists will be asked to submit a video, due June 1. 

Semifinal Round Repertoire

• NFA commissioned work to be sent to finalists no later than June 1
• J.G. Müthel, Flute Sonata in D Major, I. Adagio and II. Allegro ma non troppo (any edition)
• Guillaume Connesson, Le rire de Saraï, I. La plainte d’Agar and II. Bénédiction de l’alliance (Billaudot)

Semifinalists will be asked to submit a video, due July 1. The Müthel and the Connesson will be performed with a virtual accompaniment that will be provided.

Final Round Repertoire

Each finalist shall create a program demonstrating artistic maturity, technical and tonal qualities, and knowledge of program design and balance, excluding any repetitions of recorded round, quarterfinal round, or semifinal round repertoire. Single-movement works originally written for flute with orchestra (e.g., Martin Ballade, Mozart Andante, Griffes Poem) may be performed, but all or part of multi-movement concerti (Ibert, Jolivet, or Nielsen concertos, for example) may not be included on the program. Each program should be a maximum of 25 minutes. Performers may omit repeats, long introductions or interludes in the piano score, or entire selected movements or variations. Otherwise, cuts are not permitted in the final round repertoire selection. Since the YAC is primarily a C flute competition, the vast majority of final round repertoire must be performed on C flute. Final round repertoire, including titles, movements, exact timings, composer’s dates, and publishers, must be included with your competition entry. Finalists will be bound by their original selections.

Finalists will be asked to submit a video of their program, due August 1. Virtual accompaniment will be provided for one piece of your choice, and the remaining works are to be played unaccompanied (or with electronics, if composed as such).