Instrumental Competition

Awards

Senior Nerenberg Division

For women instrumentalists aged 23-30, resident of (home or school address in) Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, or Indiana. Previous MCW award winners of the Senior Nerenberg division are not eligible to compete again. [Previous Farwell Trust Award winners are eligible to compete again for Nerenberg Awards.] Judges reserve the right to withhold awards.

1st Prize:

  • $5,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance

2nd Prize:

  • $3,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance

Junior Nerenberg Division

For women student instrumentalists aged 16-22, resident of (home or school address in) Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, or Indiana. Previous MCW award winners of the Junior Nerenberg division are not eligible to compete again in this age division. [Previous Farwell Trust Award winners are eligible to compete again for Nerenberg Awards.] Judges reserve the right to withhold awards.

1st Prize:

  • $2,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • Opportunity to perform for club membership

2nd Prize:

  • $2,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • Opportunity to perform for club membership

Farwell Trust Award(s) 

Farwell awards are discretionary awards which may be given to singers in either division not awarded a Harvey, Newfield or Nerenberg award. Winners are determined as worthy of support by the judges as well as members of the Board of Directors. This award amount is flexible and will depend on the amount made available to MCW by the Farwell Trust. Winners will also receive MCW membership and may be scheduled for an MCW-hosted public performance.

Carefully review the information about Demonstration of Financial Need in the Awards Information drop down. Submission of Demonstration of Financial need is required to win a Farwell award.

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Audition Repertoire Requirements

  • Applicants should determine one list of repertoire for the whole competition which satisfies all the requirements of their division. Applicants may select FROM THIS COMPLETE LIST those musical selections they wish to submit for the preliminary round audition video. 

  • Audition videos are to be a minimum of 10 minutes, to a maximum of 12 minutes total in length (not 12 minutes of music).  Applicants are advised to take advantage of the allotment to demonstrate as broad a range of artistry, variety, and technical skill as possible. Applicants may decide to perform portions of some repertoire to demonstrate more range, but at least one work must be performed in its entirety. Because of the length restriction, it is possible that not all rep requirements will be met within the video, but the repertoire submitted must be drawn from their list of repertoire which fulfills all the requirements, and which they would present at the finals.

  • At the final in-person round, judges will choose from candidates’ rep lists which selections they will hear during the 12 minute audition window. Candidates will not be notified ahead of time which musical selections they will be asked to perform.

  • All music shall be performed with accompaniment as applicable (orchestral reductions with cuts, etc. are acceptable), for all rounds of competition.

  • MCW has recently reviewed its repertoire requirements to reflect the values of our time; as such, candidates must include a composition by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color). 

  • We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that, if applicants have any questions about whether their chosen repertoire satisfies the repertoire requirements, they email the Awards Officer at scholarshipmcw@gmail.com to make sure, well in advance of materials being due.


Classical Guitar

Choose at least 3 of the following, to be memorized unless otherwise stated:

  • One movement from a composition by Bach

  • One movement of a work from the Classical era

  • One movement of a work in Impressionist, Romantic, or Neo-Romantic style

  • Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

Harp

Choose at least 3 of the following, to be memorized unless otherwise stated:

  • One movement of a work from the Baroque era

  • Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty 

  • (memorization not required)

  • One standard orchestra cadenza

  • One standard concert piece

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

Percussion

One of each of the following, to be memorized unless otherwise stated:

  • A movement from Bach Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin

  • 20th- or 21st-century mallet solo for marimba or vibraphone

  • Rudimental snare drum solo (memorization not required)

  • Delecluse or Tompkins snare drum solo (memorization not required))

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

Piano

One of each of the following, to be memorized unless otherwise stated:

  • Bach Prelude and Fugue 

  • Complete movement of a sonata of advanced difficulty (composed between 1750-1950)

  • Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

Strings

One of each of the following, to be memorized unless otherwise stated:

  • One movement of unaccompanied Bach

  • Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty (composed between 1750 and 1950)

  • Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

Woodwinds/Brass

One of each of the following (memorization not required):

  • Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty (from different era than sonata/sonatina/sonatine) 

  • Movement of a sonata/sonatina/sonatine of advanced difficulty (from different era than  concerto) 

  • Work composed after 1950 (NOT a sonata/sonatina/sonatine)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC (black/indigenous/person of color) 

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Contact Awards Officer Jean Joslyn with any questions: scholarshipmcw@gmail.com