Department of Music Awards Eligibility

Choose an award category to learn more and apply

Chamber Music

Application Deadline:

Applications for the Department of Music Awards are due Friday, March 13, 2026. Applications accepted through 11:59PM.

Video preparation:

Submissions should be in video format. Ensembles have 10 minutes maximum for the video and shorter pieces are welcome. Only unedited videos recorded after August 1, 2025 are eligible. Memorization is not required for chamber musicians in either audition round. The repertoire performed at the final round should be the same as that included on the video.

Ensembles should submit one work, a term that can apply to multiple movements from the same sonata, multiple movements of the same partita or suite, or a group of similar titled pieces by the same composer that are normally performed as a set. The group must not exceed ten minutes.

General Terms of Eligibility and Review Timeline:

To compete in the Department of Music Awards, chamber music students must have enrolled in a course with a MUSIC subject code in the current academic year.
Students submitting in multiple areas should submit one form per area only.
Except in unusual circumstances, previous winners will not be considered for the same award.
Performance applications with video links must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Finalists from the video audition round will be announced no later than Monday, March 30, 2026.
The final round of performance auditions will be held in Campbell Recital Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Chamber music students must be available for the following dates to be considered for an award.
- Live auditions: Saturday, April 11, Campbell Recital Hall.
- Awards Concert on the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2026.

Make a Video:

Time slots for creating a performance video have been reserved in Braun Rehearsal Hall March 10, 11, and 12. To choose a time, go to the video signup sheet.
Guidelines for creating a good video can be found on the Video Guidelines page.

Apply as a chamber ensemble

The application for the current academic year is now closed.

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.

Questions About This Page?

Questions or concerns can be addressed to rsharp [at] stanford.edu (Robin Sharp) or rleigh [at] stanford.edu (Rowen Leigh).

Undergraduate Composition

Application Due Date:

Applications for the Department of Music Awards are due by Friday, March 13, 2026. Applications accepted through 11:59PM.

Format for submitted works:

The submitted work may be written for acoustic instruments and/or electronic media, including web-audio projects. A score is only required for notated work. Digital playback of notated scores is accepted and encouraged, but not required. The duration of the submitted work cannot exceed 10 minutes. Entries are limited to one per student.

General Eligibility and Timeline:

Students submitting in multiple areas should submit one form per area.
Deadline for Composition applications including all media links: Friday, March 13, 2026.
This category is limited to undergraduates only.
To compete in the Department of Music Awards, students must have taken or be currently enrolled in at least one course with the MUSIC subject code.
Students can submit applications for a different area (performance, for example), but only one application per subject area.
Except in unusual circumstances, previous winners will not be considered for the same award.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Students must be available for the Awards Concert on Friday, April 24, 2026 to be eligible for an award.

Apply as an undergraduate composer

The application for the current academic year is now closed.

Important note to undergraduates who receive financial aid:

Questions or concerns can be addressed to rleigh [at] stanford.edu (Rowen Leigh).

Solo Piano

Application Due Date:

Applications for the Department of Music Awards are due by Friday, March 13, 2026. Applications accepted through 11:59PM.

Video Preparation:

Submissions should be in video format. Soloists have 10 minutes maximum for the video and shorter pieces are welcome. Only unedited videos recorded after August 1, 2025 are eligible. For the video round of auditions, memorization is not required. Memorization is required for the final, live auditions, with the exception of chamber musicians, harpsichordists, organists, and solo performers presenting works of such complexity that memorization would constitute an unreasonable burden. In the latter case, the applicant is to present to the committee a formal petition to this effect signed by the studio teacher. Works that are professionally performed with music (such as duo sonatas) also meet the exception and do not need to be memorized for the finals. Candidates must provide their own accompanists. The repertoire performed at the final round should be the same as that included on the video.

Instrumentalists should submit one work, a term that can apply to multiple movements from the same sonata, multiple movements of the same partita or suite, or a group of similar titled pieces by the same composer that are normally performed as a set. The group must not exceed ten minutes.

General Terms of Eligibility and Review Timeline:

To compete in the Department of Music Awards, chamber music students must have enrolled in a course with a MUSIC subject code in the current academic year.
Students submitting in multiple areas should submit one form per area only.
Except in unusual circumstances, previous winners will not be considered for the same award.
Performance applications with video links must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Finalists from the video audition round will be announced no later than Monday, March 30, 2026. The final round of performance auditions will be held in Campbell Recital Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Awards Concert on the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2026.

Make a Video:

Time slots for creating a performance video have been reserved in Campbell Recital Hall March 10 and 13. To choose a time, go to the video signup sheet.
Guidelines for creating a good video can be found on the Video Guidelines page.

Any questions or concerns can be addressed to rsharp [at] stanford.edu (Robin Sharp) or rleigh [at] stanford.edu (Rowen Leigh).

Apply as a solo pianist

The application for the current academic year is now closed.

Important note to undergraduates who receive financial aid:

Solo Instruments (other than Piano)

Application Deadline:

Applications for the Department of Music Awards are due by Friday, March 13, 2026. Applications accepted through 11:59PM.

Video Preparation:

Submissions should be in video format. Soloists have 10 minutes maximum for the video and shorter pieces are welcome. Only unedited videos recorded after August 1, 2025 are eligible. For the video round of auditions, memorization is not required. Memorization is required for the final, live auditions, with the exception of chamber musicians, harpsichordists, organists, and solo performers presenting works of such complexity that memorization would constitute an unreasonable burden. In the latter case, the applicant is to present to the committee a formal petition to this effect signed by the studio teacher. Works that are professionally performed with music (such as duo sonatas) are an exception and do not need to be memorized for the finals. Candidates must provide their own accompanists. The repertoire performed at the final round should be the same as that included on the video.

General Terms of Eligibility and Review Timeline:

To compete in the Department of Music Awards, chamber music students must have enrolled in a course with a MUSIC subject code in the current academic year.
Students submitting in multiple areas should submit one form per area only.
Except in unusual circumstances, previous winners will not be considered for the same award.
Performance applications with video links must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Finalists from the video audition round will be announced no later than Monday, March 30, 2026. The final round of performance auditions will be held in Campbell Recital Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Chamber music students must be available for the following dates to be considered for an award.
- Live auditions: Saturday, April 11, Campbell Recital Hall.
- Awards Concert on the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2026.

Make a Video:

Time slots for creating a performance video have been reserved in Braun Rehearsal Hall March 10, 11, and 12. To choose a time, go to the video signup sheet.
Guidelines for creating a good video can be found on the Video Guidelines page.

Apply as a solo instrumentalist (other than piano)

The application for the current academic year is now closed.

Important note to undergraduates who receive financial aid:

Questions About This Page?

Questions or concerns can be addressed to rsharp [at] stanford.edu (Robin Sharp) or rleigh [at] stanford.edu (Rowen Leigh).

Voice

Application Deadline:

Applications for the Department of Music Awards are due by Friday, March 13, 2026. Applications accepted through 11:59PM.

Video Preparation:

Submissions should be in video format. Soloists have 10 minutes maximum for the video and shorter pieces are welcome. Only unedited videos recorded after August 1, 2025 are eligible. For the video round of auditions, memorization is not required. Memorization is required for the final, live auditions, with the exception of chamber musicians, harpsichordists, organists, and solo performers presenting works of such complexity that memorization would constitute an unreasonable burden. In the latter case, the applicant is to present to the committee a formal petition to this effect signed by the studio teacher. Works that are professionally performed with music (such as duo sonatas) are an exception and do not need to be memorized for the finals. Candidates must provide their own accompanists. The repertoire performed at the final round should be the same as that included on the video.

Vocalists may submit up to three pieces so long as the total length is approximately 10 minutes.

General Terms of Eligibility and Review Timeline:

To compete in the Department of Music Awards, chamber music students must have enrolled in a course with a MUSIC subject code in the current academic year.
Students submitting in multiple areas should submit one form per area only.
Except in unusual circumstances, previous winners will not be considered for the same award.
Performance applications with video links must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Finalists from the video audition round will be announced no later than Monday, March 30, 2026. The final round of performance auditions will be held in Campbell Recital Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Chamber music students must be available for the following dates to be considered for an award.
- Live auditions: Saturday, April 11, Campbell Recital Hall.
- Awards Concert on the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2026.

Make a Video:

Time slots for creating a performance video have been reserved in Braun Rehearsal Hall March 10, 11, and 12. To choose a time, go to the video signup sheet.
Guidelines for creating a good video can be found on the Video Guidelines page.

Any questions or concerns can be addressed to rsharp [at] stanford.edu (Robin Sharp) or rleigh [at] stanford.edu (Rowen Leigh).

Apply as a vocalist

The application for the current academic year is now closed.