28th Annual Hellam Competition
March 29, 2025
Competition Information
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri
First Prize $7,000** Second Prize $3,500 Third Prize $1,500Young artists who do not place into prizes will receive a stipend of $350.
**May be invited to perform with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in the 2025-26 season. (If the winning major work has already been programmed as part of the 2025-26 SSO season, the winner must perform another major work).
The first prize winner will receive $3,500 and a contract to perform with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. The remaining $3,500 will be awarded after the SSO performance. Failure to fulfill the SSO engagement would result in forfeiture of the $3,500.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be an instrumentalist between 18 and 26 years of age and enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies, or must have graduated within the last year. (Exceptions are at the discretion of the Hellam Committee.) We will not be accepting vocalists this year.
Audition Repertoire
Each entrant must submit at least one movement of a standard, multi-movement, or large-scale, major work, with piano accompaniment through Acceptd. Selections submitted through Acceptd must be from the major work entered on the application. Submissions with orchestral accompaniment will not be considered.
Entry deadline is November 30, 2024.
Applicants should avoid selecting the following concertos as these works have been recently performed at the SSO subscription concerts:
- Brahms, Violin Concerto
- Grieg, Piano Concerto
- Korngold, Violin Concerto
- Paganini, Violin Concerto
- Sibelius, Concerto
To submit audition materials:
- Please go to https://app.getacceptd.com/hellamcompetition.
- Under “Start an Application,” select “2025 Hellam International Young Artists’ Competition.”
- Click the green “Apply to” button below to begin.
- Applicants will be directed to a page to create an Acceptd account or login to an existing account. A valid email is required (check spam folder).
- Applicants will be directed back to the Hellam International Young Artists’ Competition application page. Fill out all fields, upload your materials, and submit the $145 fee.
Additional Information
Top scored entrants will be notified by January 13, 2025, of their advancement to the semi-final round.
Repertoire must be the same as entered through Acceptd. Entrants must provide five (5) copies of their score—one for each adjudicator. Please be sure the scores are all the same.
Semi-final round will take place the morning of Saturday, March 29, 2025. Entrants will perform one movement, memorized, with piano accompaniment.
Final round will take place in the afternoon of Saturday, March 29, 2025. Finalists will perform the complete work, memorized, with piano accompaniment.
Hosted housing is very limited. Finalists are strongly encouraged to plan on a hotel stay during the competition. Hotel stays are the responsibility of the finalist. Adjusted rates may be available. To be considered for host housing, please submit a request by February 1, 2025. Approval of requests cannot be guaranteed. Requests for host housing will be for entrants only.
A list of possible local accompanists will be provided if needed. All arrangements will be between the finalist and the local accompanist contacted.
Adjudicators will confer and award prizes immediately following the completion of the performances.
