The Klein Competition is open to violinists, violists, cellists and bassists aged 15-23 at the time of the competition June 3-4, 2023. And, all prizes are intended for instrumental studies; therefore persons under professional management are not eligible.

Please visit https://www.californiamusiccenter.org/klein-competition-eligibility/ to learn about the requirements for their submission in some detail.  The entire process is digital and anonymous to the very end of screening, with all intake through Submittable.Once in the portal, you will answer a few simple questions - name/age/instrument/residence/country of origin/gender/school/teacher and are asked to upload proof of age.You will upload an audio-only file and fill out the track descriptions and timings, agree with terms of use and indicate how you plan to pay the application fee. That's it. The platform generates a thank you email with an external payment link.  The Executive Director (who has no part in selection of semifinalists) is the only person who knows the identity of the applicants until after the semifinalists are selected.  This allows the ED to support and correspond directly with applicants over the course of the review period. 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, 2023. 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.

Yes! You can view it HERE.

YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE:

A photocopy of proof of age (scan of valid driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate)
Your recording must have 3 separate works of approximately 30 minutes TOTAL represented in ONE AUDIO file, appearing in this order (please include complete movements, even if they are longer than 10 minutes).  Have clock timings for each one ready to input into your application. 
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. This can be unaccompanied or with piano accompaniment only.

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.

Please reach out to us at info@californiamusiccenter.org with your question. You can ask us about composer, the piece itself, length, whether cuts are acceptable, etc.  We will submit it to the jury panel and get back to you promptly.  We're here to help you make your submission as strong as possible.

No.  All submissions must be uploaded through the Submittable platform and be audio only.  You will not be able to upload a video.  We regret that we cannot accept a hard-copy recording.

Yes!

  • 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).

No.  But you must combine them into one file to upload.

A couple of pro tips:

  1. Check your file from start to finish for audio levels before you upload it - is each piece at approximately the same volume and EQ?  Listen for any distortion or drop-offs.
  2. Is each piece audible?  Don't be that applicant who uploads a blank file.

Files are spot-checked for quality when received.  If we discover a problem, we will reach out to you and give you an opportunity to fix it.  This is a great reason to apply early!

Generally, we reach out to those selected as semifinalists around the very end of March.  From the time of notification, you will have 72 hours to accept or decline.  If you decline, we will advance one of our two alternates. Once we have an accepted cohort, we will notify every applicant of their status.

Please don't ask about your application status prior to April 1st; we will be unable to respond to you. The screening process runs through the end of March.

Once applications are closed, a remote team of 7-8 screeners begin listening to the submissions. Screeners are selected for their expertise as players, conductors, or educators.  We strive for a balance of instruments among them.

All screening is blind; this is why we ask for no ID on the audio submissions.  Each submission is assigned a number, and at no time does a screener or listener know who they are listing to. This is to ensure complete anonymity of the applicants and eliminate any bias or favoritism.

  1. Screening Round 1: Each screener is assigned 15 - 20 applications in the first round, and completes a review that includes a simple numerical ranking and short comments, if desired.
  2. Screening Round 2: we swap the submissions among the screeners so they are heard 2x.  Again, they are reviewed.
  3. Ranking and first cut: After rounds 1 & 2, the rankings are compiled into groups. From these, the Artistic Director for the Klein brings forward approximately 25 submissions.
  4. Listening session: a second group of listeners reviews the final 25.  Listeners are asked to rank the applicants in order.  We compile this final vote and the final 8-9 are selected.  Only then is their identity revealed.

For the Semifinals: 
Assemble a no more than 25-minute program (actual playing time) including:

  1. An unaccompanied Bach work (at least one substantial movement)
  2. Movement from a  Classical, Romantic, or major 20th/21st century concerto (with cuts as necessary)
  3. The entire commissioned work (unaccompanied).  You will receive the score for your instrument shortly after your acceptance.
  4. Do not include the sonata movement in this program.

Cuts in tutti passages of the concerto are expected in both rounds.

For the Finals
Assemble a no more than 35-minute program (actual playing time) including:

  1. Additional movements of the concerto
  2. At least one substantial movement of a Classical, Romantic, or major 20th/21st century sonata with piano (unless the chosen sonata has only short movements, in which case more than one may be programmed)
  3. may also include more unaccompanied Bach and/or the commissioned work if time permits.

Again, cuts in tutti passages of the concerto are expected in both rounds.

Alll programs are submitted for approval and timing check in advance; the deadline for submission is fairly early; it is usually about two weeks after acceptance.

While semifinalists pay their own way to San Francisco, we make every effort to place them with home hosts, who house, feed, entertain, and chauffeur them around. We coordinate all airport pickups and departures with hosts or ground transport.If you choose to travel with a parent, we recommend that you opt to stay in a hotel together, as our hosts are generally unable to host parents.

We cannot predict what COVID vaccination/mask policy will be in place by June 2024, but will update semifinalists at the time of their offer, so they can make an informed decision as to whether they are able to accept.

Semifinalists should arrive in San Francisco no later than Thursday morning.  Many choose to arrive Wednesday evening to adjust to the time zone if flying.

You will check in on Thursday to our production office at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music between 2-4 PM before your piano rehearsal for orientation, information packet, and go over any questions or needs you may have. Light snacks, beverages and supplies will be on hand daily.

Semifinalists will receive a minute-by-minute master schedule for each day.

  • You will have a dedicated practice room Thu-Sun on the fifth floor open during the times on the schedule.
  • 45 minutes of rehearsal is scheduled on Thursday PM, with a 30-min dress rehearsal in the hall Friday. Finalist are provided one hour of additional rehearsal with the accompanists on Sunday.
  • Tessa Lark will serve as our contestant mentor.  She will be available to you for advice, and provide feedback on dress rehearsals/performances if requested. Take advantage of her expertise and counsel.
  • Semifinals take place on Saturday from 10AM - 4PM. Eight-nine semifinalists will perform 25 minute programs.  There is a 90-min lunch break midday.
  • Finals take place from 3-5PM on Sunday. Three to four finalists will perform 35 minute programs.
  • You are required to attend the entire Competition Sat and Sunday and be present in the concert hall for each Awards presentation, whether you advance to the Finals or not.

Yes. 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@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. Do not worry if your piece is not on the list; simply reach out and ask.

Yes!  We host a welcome dinner​ for semifinalists and their families at the home of a board director on Friday.  On Saturday evening, after the semifinals, we host a Chamber Reading Session and Dinner with Tthe Competition Mentor and guest players for semifinalists not advancing to the finals.

At the competition, we provide a box lunch for contestants, their parent and hosts on Saturday.  There is a reception for all after the Finals.

That depends on how much you want to rehearse!  Many of our hosts love to share our beautiful city with you, and often squeeze in a dinner out or a little sightseeing in-between practice times.

Please honor the Competition with appropriate dress onstage.  The preferred dress for the Semifinals and Finals is “afternoon concert dress”. Typically, for men this is a suit and tie; for women a knee-length or longer dress or a pants outfit. Stay classy!

All voting is by written, secret ballot.

SEMIFINALS VOTING
• Judges will vote for three Finalists. Votes are tallied by staff.
• If the first ballot does not clearly identify three Finalists, a second ballot will be held to determine remaining places in the Final round.
• Judges will then vote to award the Allen R. and Susan E. Weiss Memorial Prize, for best performance of the commissioned work; as well as the Pablo Casals Prize, for best performance of the Bach.
• Judges will then vote for the two Fourth Prizes.
• All of these prizes will be awarded and the Finalists will be announced at the end of the semifinals.

FINALS VOTING
• Judges begin by voting for first place, then proceed to vote for second and third, etc.
• The Jury will consider performances in all rounds in determining the prizes.
• The primary criterion for judging is a determination of the best total artistic/musical realization of the music performed through both rounds of the Competition.
• Prize awards may be determined by plurality vote, but should be ratified by a motion approved by a majority.
• Additional rounds of voting may be necessary to achieve a clear mandate for a particular prize. These votes are made between/among the top vote getters in the previous voting round.

Yes.

Judges whose students are competing in the Competition may not vote for their own students.  This is 100% enforced.  If a judge would otherwise have voted for his/her own student, that judge must abstain from voting for that particular prize level, to keep remaining votes properly weighted.

It is Competition policy that the judges make their decisions without regard to the age or career history of the performers: therefore, we give judges special programs without this information, and we ask them not to seek such information from any source either before or during the Competition.

  • First Prize: $13,000, includes a $5,000 cash prize as well as performances with the Peninsula and Santa Cruz Symphonies, Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series, Music in the Vineyards, and other appearances
  • Second Prize: The Elaine H. Klein Prize – $5,500, includes a $3,500 cash prize as well as a performance with the San José Chamber Orchestra, and other appearances
  • Third Prize: The Milton Preves Memorial Prize - $2,500 cash prize
  • Fourth Prizes: $1,500 cash each; two are awarded
  • Semifinals Round Prizes: The Allen R. and Susan E. Weiss Memorial Prize (best performance of the commissioned work) – $500 cash; The Pablo Casals Prize (best performance of the Bach) – $500 cash
  • All Semifinalists who do not win a named prize receive a Semifinalist Prize - $1,000 cash.

Each judge will have evaluation forms for each performer. We forward these evaluations to the performers after the Competition, unless the judge specifies otherwise.  Contestants ask for and find this feedback very valuable, so we encourage the jury to share their comments.

The judges will also have an opportunity to give in-person feedback to those competitors not advancing to the Finals prior to the finals.

Yes and yes.  You may request a high-resolution copy of a select still image.  The edited final video feed will be available mid to late June on our website and YouTube channel.