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Young Artist Competition

The 42nd annual Young Artist Competition for outstanding flutists will include 15 qualifying round contestants competing at the 2020 NFA Convention. These contestants will perform an unaccompanied audition on Wednesday (the day prior to the start of the convention). 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. The NFA will provide a pianist for the semifinal and final rounds, although contestants may bring a pianist at their own expense.

Cash prizes of $6,000, $3,000, and $1,500 will be awarded to the finalists, as well as $100 to each semifinalist not chosen as a finalist. The NFA will present the first-prize winner in a performance at its 2021 convention and honor the winner in The Flutist Quarterly.

The first-prize winner will be awarded a grant up to $3,000 to fund a project developed by the winner to advance their flute playing/teaching career. The project may consist of a concert tour, debut recital, audio/video recording, or some other similar type of professional project.

All entrants must be 30 years of age or younger by the last day of the convention (born on or after August 10, 1989). Entrants will be required to show proof of age at the convention. Previous first-place winners of this competition are ineligible to compete.

 

HannahInvolvement in the National Flute Association is crucial to a young flutist’s life. I have greatly benefited as a flutist through my preparation for the four NFA competitions I’ve done. In addition to requiring intense practice on the required repertoire, applying to these competitions requires the skill to achieve high-quality recordings and excellent time-management and organization. Involvement in these competitions also provides an excellent opportunity to attend the annual convention, where you will learn, grow, and find incredible inspiration from the world’s finest flutists.

-Hannah Hammel, 2016 winner of the Young Artist Competition

Competition Requirements*

  • NFA membership - all flutists must be current NFA members at the time the entry is submitted (nfaonline.org/signup)
    Entrants chosen to perform or present at the convention must renew their membership (for the membership year beginning August 1, 2020) and register for the convention by July 1, 2020.
  • Uploaded files
  • Completed entry
  • $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. Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

 

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.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Flute Sonata in E Minor. BR WFB B17, I. Allegro ma non tanto (with both repeats) (any edition)
  • Katherine Hoover, To Greet the Sun (any edition)
  • Alfredo Casella, Sicilienne et Burlesque for flute and piano (any edition)

Accompanied repertoire must be recorded with piano accompaniment.

 

Quarterfinal Round Repertoire

This repertoire will be presented at the 2020 NFA Convention.

  • Marin Marais, Les Folies d’Espagne, Theme and four variations of your choice (Bärenreiter)
  • Valerie Coleman, Danza de la Mariposa (any edition)
  • Niccolò Paganini, Caprice No. 5 (International Edition)

 

Semifinal Round Repertoire

This repertoire will be presented at the 2020 NFA Convention.

  • NFA commissioned work to be sent to finalists no later than June 1
  • Robert Muczynski, Sonata, II. Scherzo, III. Andante, & IV. Allegro con moto (any edition)
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Rondo in D Major, K.184 (any edition)

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. Please time your program carefully, as all contestants will be stopped after 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. Works must be unaccompanied OR accompanied by piano (i.e. no works for flute and electronics or flute and harpsichord). 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.

* Competitions are subject to all rules and regulations on this page as well as the 2020 General Competition Information and Rules and Regulations. Incomplete entries will be subject to disqualification.

COORDINATOR

Daniel Velasco
dvelasco@ku.edu

Those entering this competition may also may also be eligible to apply for the Frances Blaisdell Scholarship, which provides $1000 toward NFA convention expenses.

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The Young Artist Competition is sponsored by Verne Q. Powell Flutes.