Applications Open Nov 1 for the 2024 Klein Competition

The Klein Competition is open to violinists, violists, cellists and bassists aged 15-23 at the time of the competition June 1-2, 2024. All prizes are intended for instrumental studies; therefore persons under professional management are not eligible.

Have questions? Read our FAQs.

Here is a copy of the full application you can see before you apply.

Ready to apply? For detailed instructions, review our guidelines below.

Questions about repertoire? Take a look at sample repertoire. Please note that it is not inclusive of all acceptable works.

Judges will have the final decision on all prize awards. Details of projected concert appearances are subject to change. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel performance contract fulfillment, depending upon the status of restrictions on public gathering in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Still have questions? Please reach out – we’ll respond to you promptly.


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HOW TO APPLY

ENTRIES OPEN Novmber 1, 2023. Entries must be submitted by 11:59PM PST February 3, 2024. There is a non-refundable entry fee of $125 payable securely by credit card at time of application, or a check or money order made payable to California Music Center to be received no later than February 8, 2024. To complete the online application, SIGN UP FOR A NEW SUBMITTABLE ACCOUNT OR SIGN INTO YOUR CURRENT ACCOUNT (signup link in application guidelines), and apply as below by the February 4, 2023 deadline. Note that to receive email notification of the status of your application, you must OPT-IN in your account settings.
A limited number of fee waivers are available for applicants whose adjusted household gross income is $60,000 or below.  While we do consider extenuating circumstances such as cost of living, medical expenses, dependents, etc., we do not encourage applicants with an annual household Adjusted Gross Income of over $100,000 to apply.
If you wish to apply for a fee scholarship (waiver of the $125 application fee) please submit the following:
Pre-College:
1. for ALL students – copy of parents’ most recent tax filing
2. Copy of needs-based award letter, if enrolled in a pre-college conservatory program, except for Curtis and Colburn students, who only need to submit parent tax filing.
College:
1. for ALL students except Curtis and Colburn – Copy of needs-based award letter.  Curtis and Colburn students will need to submit a copy of parents’ most recent tax filing.
Here is a copy of the full application form you can see before you apply.
YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE:
1. A high-quality AUDIO recording of three contrasting selections of approximately 30 minutes TOTAL in ONE file to upload. Have clock timings for each one ready to input into your application. Please read complete guidelines below.
2. A photocopy of proof of age (scan of valid driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate)
3. Payment: PAY $125 application fee at time of application online by credit card OR send a check or money order for $125 payable to the CALIFORNIA MUSIC CENTER to: 150 Sutter St Unit 262, San Francisco, CA 94104 to be received by February 8, 2024.

RECORDING REQUIREMENTS

Your application is the Jury’s first opportunity to experience you as an artist. While conforming to the requirements, you should also strive to give those who will hear it a comprehensive picture of your musical personality, in addition to demonstrating technical mastery of your instrument.
Your recording must have 3 separate works represented in ONE AUDIO file, appearing in this order (please include complete movements, even if they are longer than 10 minutes):
TRACK 1: Unaccompanied Bach (at least 5 minutes). Choose ONE or more movements of unaccompanied Bach appropriate to your instrument. Violists are welcome to choose from either the cello Suites or the violin Sonatas and Partitas. If you wish, you may submit movements from more than one work; be sure that this is clear when you submit the recording.
TRACK 2: Concerto ONE substantial movement of any Classical, Romantic, or major 20th-21st century concerto for your instrument with piano accompaniment only. Submissions of concertos with orchestral accompaniment will be disqualified.
TRACK 3: 20th-21st Century selection (approximately 10 minutes). This requirement is intended to demonstrate to the Jury how you handle the challenges presented by music of your own time, in a modern compositional language. Compositions by Debussy, Ravel, Ysaÿe, and Kreisler are specifically excluded and may not be used to fulfill this requirement. Additionally, works such as Franz Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie and the Sibelius Violin Concerto, while technically written after the beginning of the 20th century, do not meet the spirit of this requirement and are not acceptable.
If you have any questions as to the suitability of a particular work, you (or your teacher or other representative) may submit your question to info(at)kleincompetition.org and it will be passed on to the Jury anonymously for a determination. Movements from multiple 20th/21st C works are not acceptable; all movements must be from the same composition. Please review the repertoire list for guidance.

OTHER RECORDING GUIDELINES

  • Each work may fulfill only one category requirement. A Prokofiev Concerto, for example, can fulfill the concerto requirement, or the 20th-21st century requirement, but not both. Do not include anything other than these 3 works on your recording.
  • Your application will be best served by using the highest quality recording equipment, environment, and media that are available to you.
  • We accept the following formats: MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF, M4A, OGG, FLAC OR WMA.
  • You must include clock timings (e.g., 00:00 – 09:45) for each work or movement submitted.
  • All recordings submitted must have been made within the last 12 months. You may not perform on two instruments within a single application (e.g. both violin and viola).
DO NOT INCLUDE:
  • Works that do not fulfill one of the 3 specified requirements (e.g. encore pieces, sonata movements unless in fulfillment of the 20th-21st century requirement). The jury will not listen to them.
  • Recordings with orchestral accompaniment. Your entry will be disqualified.
  • Biographies, letters of recommendation, performance reviews, or photos.
  • Any identification (name, etc) in your uploaded audio file names. Contestants must remain anonymous to the jury during the review process.


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