Application Procedure

Elite International Music Competition will take place in two separate categories in the 2023-2024 season: Music Performance and Music Composition.

Applications for the live auditions must be submitted by November 10, 2023. Applications for the video auditions are accepted by November 20, 2023. In-person auditions are highly encouraged for the contestants in the Music Performance category. The applicants in the Music Composition category will only be evaluated based on their audition video recordings available on YouTube. Applicants in the Music Performance category who are unable to attend a live audition have the option to audition via video and may send a YouTube link to their audition video recording to Elite Music Competition Corp. through our website. All applicants who have chosen to be audited through audition video recordings must ensure their YouTube video is set to public or unlisted and the performer's full name and title of the musical piece are stated in the title. The video should be recorded in the spirit of a live audition or recital performance and the full image of the performer is shown in the video. Edited video recordings (video shots that have been manipulated and rearranged in order to create a new work) are not accepted.

Your application for the audition, either online or in-person, must be accompanied by a non-refundable audition fee according to the fee schedule below:

• Solo Performances: $94
• Duet Performances: $140
• Trio Performances: $185
• Ensemble of four or more members: $55 per each performer

In order to apply for participation in the audition for the Winners Recitals, please fill out the Application Form and either:

• Submit the completed application form online and pay the required application fee via Zelle® (for individuals with a U.S.-based bank account only) or PayPal; OR
• Submit the completed application form online, print out a confirmation page that is displayed right after you click the Submit button, and mail a copy of the confirmation page along with your personal check, or certified check, or money order in the amount according to the fee schedule above to Elite Music Competition Corp. Please do not use certified mail. Your personal check, or certified check, or money order must be in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank, and made payable to Elite Music Competition Corp.

NOTE: In order to send your payment via Zelle® or PayPal it is critical that our email address info@elitemusiccompetition.org is entered correctly as the recipient. If there is a typo, Elite Music Competition Corp. will not receive your payment. Please ensure that the performer’s name is entered in the Memo Field. Payment will not be processed without the performer’s name. We recommend confirming with your bank or credit union Zelle® availability and that there are no additional fees or transaction limits.

After we receive the application information along with the payments from the applicants, an audition schedule with specific details and instructions, including the audition center location and audition time, will be emailed out to all the applicants at the email address provided by them in their application forms, no later than 5 days prior to the scheduled in-person audition. A blank evaluation form will be attached to the email. Please fill out the section of the evaluation form named to be filled out by the applicant with some general information, such as, applicant's full name, age, and the piece to be performed and bring it with you along with the original music score to the audition.

Applicants who have successfully passed the audition participate in the Winners Recitals. The Winners Recitals of the first and second place winners will take place at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as well as may take place at Marc A. Scorca Hall at National OPERA America, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, and live online via Zoom from February through June 2024.

The recital venue, date, and time will be offered to the qualified winners based upon the competition results.

The Winners Recitals of the third place winners will be held live online via Zoom.

In the United States and Canada auditions will be held at the following dates and locations:

For the audition center locations and dates in other countries please contact the Regional Director in your respective area.

Music Performance Category Repertoire: Applicants in this category must perform one composition from the Baroque, or Classical, or Romantic, or Contemporary periods from standard repertoire under 6 minutes. One movement of Sonatina, or Sonata, or Concerto is considered as one piece. Arrangements, simplified or modified editions, popular music, or non-classical music are not accepted. Repeats are not allowed. All repertoire must be performed from memory and the participants may not change the chosen repertoire once the application has been submitted.

The judges reserve the right to stop a performance at their sole discretion at any time during the performance.

Music Composition Category: Composer's own unpublished original compositions written for solo, duet, trio, or quartet are acceptable/eligible. Acoustic works that utilize electronic or computer accompaniment are not acceptable/eligible. Legible full score of the composed musical piece in PDF format must be emailed to Elite Music Competition Corp. within 2 calendar days after the audition application has been submitted. The score must have clear markings of title, composer’s name, tempo, dynamics, and expressions. If music is not notated it is considered to be an improvisation, not composition. Either hand-written scores or those notated in a music software program, such as Finale, Sibelius, MusicNote, etc. are acceptable. Each composition is considered as a separate entry. The repertoire for both the audition and recital must be performed from memory by the applicant. The applicant's and composer's full names must match in the application for this category.

The score given by the judges is final and will become available to either the contestants or to their respective teachers within 10 days after the audition date.

The competition in the Music Performance category is divided into the following age categories:

• Elementary: 6-8 years old
• Intermediate: 9-12 years old
• Senior: 13 years and older

Participants must be of qualifying age as of November 10, 2023 for the upcoming competition.

Multiple winners will be chosen in each age category.

*Application fee and some audition terms may vary outside of the U.S