Competition

Details for the 2024 competition are now below!

To apply, submit: one-page CV and two letters of recommendation to awards@starkerfoundation.org by April 1, 2024.

Applicants must be 30 or younger on the application deadline. (This means you are not 31 before APRIL 1ST)

Applicants will be notified by the Award Committee if they are accepted into the video round by June 1, 2024.

Video Submission Deadline: October 1, 2024.

You must submit an unedited, visual recording of one work from each of the following seven categories. The recordings should not be older than two years from the submission date.

Your selections must adhere to the following requirements:

  • No two works can be performed that were written by the same composer. 

  • Works must be performed in their entirety.

  • Bach may be recorded movement by movement but still no editing within the movements.

  • Concerto performances must be with orchestra or piano. 

  • One work from either category 6 or 7 must be with piano. 

  • All concertos, unaccompanied works, and virtuoso works must be performed from memory from their respective categories.

  • Well-known transcriptions are permitted. 

The winner of this year’s competition will receive a $35,000 prize.

Video Categories: 

  1. One unaccompanied cello suite by J.S. Bach (BWV1007-1012)

  2. Pre-Classical or Classical Concerto

    For example works by C.P.E. Bach, J.C. Bach, Boccherini, Josef Haydn, Monn, and Vivaldi.

  3. Romantic or 20th Century Concerto

    For example works by Barber, Bloch, Britten, Dutilleux, Dvorak, Elgar, Ginastera, Herbert, Hindemith, Kabalevsky, Khachaturian, Korngold, Lalo, Lutoslawski, Martin, Martinu, Myaskovsky, Penderecki, Prokofiev, Rozsa, Saint-Saens, Schnittke, Schumann, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Walton.

  4. Unaccompanied Work

    For example works by Bloch, Britten, Cassado, Carter, Dallapiccola, Dutilleux, Ginastera, Henze, Hindemith, Khachaturian, Krenek, Kodaly, Ligeti, Reger, Rozsa, Saariaho, Sessions, and Walton.

  5. Cello/Piano Work

    For example works by Barber, Bartok, Beethoven, Brahms, Britten, Carter, Chopin, Copland, Corelli, Debussy, Dohnanyi, Dvorak, de Falla, Faure, Francouer, Franck, Ginastera, Grieg, Hindemith, Janacek, Kabalevsky, Khachaturian, Lalo, Liszt, Locatelli, Lutoslawski, Martinu, Mendelssohn, Myaskovsky, Penderecki, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Reger, Roslavets, Saint-Saens, Sammartini, Schubert, Schulhoff, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tartini, Tchaikovsky, Tcherepnin, Villa-Lobos, Valentini, Vivaldi, Webern, and Weill.

  6. Virtuoso Work

    For example Chopin Polonaise (Feuermann or Rose version), Davidoff At the Fountain, Popper Concert Polonaises No. 1+2, Popper Dance of the Elves, Popper Spinning Song, Popper Tarantella, Rostropovich Humoresque, Servais Souvenir de Spa, Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso, and Weber Introduction and Rondo

  7. Post-1975 Work

    For example works by Carter, Dutilleux, Ginastera, Gubaidulina, Penderecki, Saariaho, Shchedrin, and Schnittke. Candidates are also encouraged to perform new works that incorporate non-Western and/or non-traditional musical influences. For Contemporary and/or lesser known works it is highly recommended that the candidate submits the musical score for the jury.