Department of Music Awards
Each year, the Department of Music recognizes exemplary student compositions, performances, and academic papers in Music.
2024-25 Award Auditions and Deadlines
- The application deadline for compositions, thesis papers, and performance is Sunday, February 9, 2025
- Final round for performance auditions will held live on Saturday, March 1, 2025
- Winners will be announced Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Award winners will be honored at the Department Awards Concert with reception to follow on Friday, May 9, 2025
- 12:30 – Program 1
- 2:00 – Light refreshments
- 2:30 – Program 2
- 4:00 – Reception
Awards
To compete in the Department of Music Awards, performance students must have enrolled in a course with a MUSIC subject code in the current academic year. Undergraduate composition students must have taken or be currently enrolled in at least one course with the MUSIC subject code.
Below is a list of the awards offered and further requirements for each prize:
Sudler Prize (Art, Creative Writing, Drama, Music, and Dance)
- For graduating seniors.
- The prize is based on nominations by department chairpersons.
- Prize is $2,500.
The Robert M. Golden Medals (Thesis Paper and Artistic Creation in Music)
- For graduating senior Music majors.
- The Artistic Creation award is decided by nomination of the faculty.
- Thesis papers are considered in a group by the School of Humanities and Sciences.
- Prize is an engraved bronze medal and $500.
Carol and Peter Polk Music Award (Instrumental or Vocal Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition
- Prize is $1,000.
The Blew-Culley-LaFollette Prize (Piano Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Prize is $500 or shared.
Dan Robinson Prize (Instrumental Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Prize is $500.
Rita Taylor Prize (Vocal Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500.
Patrick Butler Prize (Piano Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500 or shared.
Marie Gibson Prize (Vocal Performance):
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500 or shared.
Costanza Prize for Cello Performance:
- Given by Susan Larson in honor of Christopher Costanza.
- Open to all Stanford undergraduate and graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500.
Friends of Music Graduate Prize in Music (Vocal or Instrumental Performance):
- Open to all Stanford graduate students.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prizes is $500.
Glen & Barbara Smerage Violin Performance Prize
- Open to all Stanford undergraduate Stanford students who perform classical music on violin.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $2,500.
Glen & Barbara Smerage Chamber Music Performance Prize
- Open to a trio or larger group of Stanford students performing chamber music for diverse instruments. Examples are, but not limited to, string trio, quartet, and quintet; piano trio, quartet, and quintet; brass trio, quartet , and quintet; woodwind trio, quartet, and quintet.
- The majority of performers in an ensemble shall be undergraduates.
- An ensemble of which the majority of its members won this Competition previously shall not be eligible to compete again.
- Prize is $2,500.
Geoff Nuttall – Friends of Music Chamber Music Award (Chamber Performance)
- Open to all Stanford student ensembles coached by Department of Music faculty.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500 per ensemble.
Friends of Music Undergraduate Composition Award
- Open to all Stanford undergraduates.
- Awarded on the basis of competitive audition.
- Prize is $500.
Important note to undergraduates who receive financial aid:
When cash prizes are awarded, and a condition of the award is student status, the award may impact financial aid and/or athletic aid eligibility in the current or following enrollment period. The cash prizes given to winners of the various Department of Music Awards belong in this category. Undergraduate winners of these awards should be aware that this prize money is likely to impact any federal financial aid you receive. The Stanford Financial Aid Office suggest that students go to the Financial Aid tab in Axess and choose "View Financial Aid Notifications" to review changes to their aid, and contact them directly with questions.
Apply
Apply as an undergraduate composer
Apply as a solo instrumentalist (except piano)
Please direct any questions or concerns regarding the Department of Music Awards to Robin Sharp or rleigh [at] stanford.edu (subject: Department%20of%20Music%20Awards) (Rowen Leigh).