Competition Rules & Regulations
The Competition is exclusively for String Quartets (comprising 2 violins, viola, and cello).
The Competition is open to all United States residents provided the age of each musician in the quartet is not more than 19 years on April 28, 2012 and whose grade level is not beyond grade 12 on April 28, 2012. No individual may enter/compete in more than one ensemble. Quartets invited to perform in the Final Round must retain original membership.
The application form, documents and tapes must be returned to the Competition Administrator on or before
Thursday, March 1, 2012.
Applicants must send the official application form, or a photocopy, to the Administrator (see address below) together with the following:
- Proof of date of birth for each quartet member.
- A recent high quality photo (Color or BxW).
- Four copies of an audio recording (CD only) of the quartet performing:
a: one movement from any of Haydn's string quartets.
b: one movement from the Romantic Period, OR one movement by Beethoven.
c: one movement from the standard 20th Century repertoire.
- Application fee of $120 per quartet.
CD recording preparation: The audio recordings being submitted to the Competition should be recorded in one complete “take” and must not be edited or altered in any way. The Competition reserves the right to disqualify applicants entering enhanced or modified recordings. <<IMPORTANT>> Label each CD only with the names of the three movements recorded to the disc. The Haydn movement must be the first work on the CD.
Submitted recordings are not returnable.
Quartets selected to take part in the Competition will be informed on or before March 31, 2012. Subject to the advice of the Invitation Jury, six string quartets will be selected to compete.
The Competition will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012 beginning with the Haydn Round at (TBD) and finishing up with the Final Round at (TBD) in Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University.
For directions, see below.
Musical Program
Preliminary Round: All three recorded movements are submitted by March 1, 2012. A preliminary jury of three prominent musicians from across the U.S. will listen separately to unidentified copies of audio recordings submitted by candidates for the Competition. Using a uniform marking system to rank the ensembles, a minimum of six quartets receiving the highest aggregate scores will be invited to the Final Round.
Haydn Round: Quartets invited to the Final Round of the Competition on April 28, 2012, will have an opportunity to perform a Haydn movement in a special round event. The best performance will be announced at the Final Round and a prize medal will be awarded.
Final Round: Quartets invited to the Final Round of the Competition on April 28, 2012, will be required to perform two movements from their submitted repertory. Ensembles will be asked to choose order of play prior to event date. Each ensemble must provide scores (originals - no photocopies) for the jury (2 copies).
After the Final Round, there will be a Prize-awarding Ceremony on stage directed by the Master of Ceremonies. All prizewinners must be at this ceremony to receive their award/s.
The works chosen by the ensembles and stated on the application form will only be considered "approved and accepted" after confirmation by the Competition Administrator. Any works deemed inappropriate or not meeting the stated criterion for entering the SPSQC will be excluded from the competition and the quartet will be notified immediately.
Contact the Administrator immediately if you have any questions
about repertoire or tape requirements.
Judging Procedure
The Competition Jury will be directed to make their judgments taking into account only the Final Round performance of the Competition. They will not have listened to any of the submitted recordings.
Each Competition Jury member will be asked to vote for quartets in their own order of preference with no prior discussion, and therefore with no need of a chairman. Prize winners will be decided by majority vote. In case of deadlock, the Administrator will appoint a neutral party to cast a vote.
An Audience Prize will be chosen by the attending audience members at the Final Round.
The decision of the Jury is Final. Contestants shall not communicate with Jury members before or during the Competition, nor shall any other person communicate with Jury members on behalf of any contestant. Violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification.
Practical Information
The Haydn & Final Rounds of the Competition will take place at Hamline University's Sundin Music Hall and the performances will be open to the public.
The Saint Paul String Quartet Competition will not be providing lodging for contestants. Under extreme circumstances we will attempt to locate a host family if overnight lodging is necessary.
Separate and dedicated rehearsal rooms for each quartet, including the provision of music stands, will be available at Hamline University.
The organizers of the Competition can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to candidates' instruments or any other property at any time. Candidates are advised to effect their own insurance arrangements.
Previous winners of the First Prize of the Competition are excluded from further participation in any subsequent Competition.
All contestants shall agree to have their performances recorded, filmed, or broadcast on radio or television anywhere in the world. No payment will be made to contestants for the recording or broadcasting of Competition performances.
All correspondence should be directed to:
SPSQC
Ray Shows, Administrator
980 Bellows Street
Saint Paul, MN 55118
651-587-7595
email the Administrator
