For scholarships, please click here.

Competitions


The Music School holds two annual music competitions; the Delaware Concerto Competition for Young Musicians for piano, harp, strings, brass, woodwinds or percussion, held in March, and The Music School of Delaware Piano Competition, held in the summer.

Delaware Concerto Competition for Young Musicians

Marcus Sander, winner of the 16-18 age bracket in 2013, plays an alto saxophone solo with the Festival Orchestra. The Music School invites young musicians through age 18 performing on piano, harp, strings, brass, woodwinds or percussion to enter the annual Delaware Concerto Competition for Young Musicians. A maximum of three winners will be selected to perform with the Wilmington Community Orchestra in concert at the Music School. The concert is held is usually held in May at the Music School Concert Hall in Wilmington. Download the fillable application form.

ELIGIBILITY
  • Contestants must be no older than 18 years of age as of the May concert;
  • Student must: a) reside in or study his/her instrument in Delaware; or b) reside within 15 miles of the Delaware border;
  • There are three age categories for consideration by the panel of judges: ages 12 and under, ages 13 to 15 and ages 16 to 18 (as of May concert);
  • A maximum of three winners will be selected. In the event a winner is not chosen in a category, an additional winner from another category may be chosen. The judges determine the number of winners and their decision is final;
  • Audition repertoire should be a movement from a standard concerto, a standard single-movement piece for solo instrument and orchestra, or a standard multi-movement work for soloist and orchestra with total length not to exceed 15 minutes.
  • Orchestral score and parts must be available;
  • All repertoire must be approved by the conductor;
  • Memorization is required;
  • Auditions will be held at the Wilmington Branch of the Music School;
  • Contestants must provide their own accompanists, teachers may not accompany their own students;
  • A student is eligible to compete in a given age category as long as he/she has not won in the same age category on the same instrument. Students may compete again in a successive year on a different instrument or in a new age category. For purposes of the competition rules, a double or triple concerto shall be considered a different instrument from a solo work;
  • It is understood that contestants selected as winners will be prepared to perform their audition selection for the WCO’s concert in May and will be required to attend two Monday evening rehearsals and a dress rehearsal prior to the concert;
  • Failure to meet deadlines will disqualify applicants.
APPLICATION DUE DATE
Applications are due January 20, 2024 by 5pm. Application must include a $25 nonrefundable application fee. Download fillable form.

AUDITION DATE
In-person auditions are held March 2, 2024 at the Music School Concert Hall in Wilmington. Students will be notified of their audition times the week before the audition.

ACCOMPANIST
The Music School does not supply an accompanist for the Delaware Concerto Competition for Young Musicians. Teachers may not accompany their own students.

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Estella Hillersohn Frankel Violin Scholarship Competition


The Estella Hillersohn Frankel Scholarship Fund was established in 1982 to promote and advance the study of violin. A grant or grants will be made annually to the recipient(s) chosen by the panel of judges. The grant(s) will be made for an enrichment program or opportunity for a violinist or violinists. Opportunities such as (but not limited to) the following will be considered: workshops, master classes, music camps, chamber music, large ensemble, music theory, etc. The scholarship is for an enrichment opportunity and, for this reason, private lessons and instrument purchases or maintenance are not eligible for funding. The competition is open to both students of the Music School and outside students.

  • Download the competition rules and details
  • Download the fillable application form



    The Music School of Delaware Piano Competition (In-Person)

    A competitive performance experience for serious, advancing piano students. Prizes are awarded for outstanding performances of solo piano repertoire based on technical fluency, accuracy, and musical interpretation, in up to four age categories (ages 7–9, 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18). Cash prizes will be awarded, in addition to the Janet Cohen Piano Scholarship (for Music School private study).

    IMPORTANT DATES

    Application Deadline (including application fee & pdf of music): July 13, 2024
    Audition Date (in person): July 29, 2024 beginning at 9am

    AGE CATEGORIES (as of date of competition):
    I:     ages 7–9, 4-minute max.
    II:    ages 10–12, 6-minute max.
    III:   ages 13–15, 8-minute max.
    IV:   ages 16–18, 10-minute max.

    RULES
    • Students must complete the online registration form and pay the application fee to enter.
    • Students must submit a PDF copy of their music with the online registration form or via email.
    • Student must: a) permanently reside in or study his/her instrument in Delaware; or b) permanently reside within 15 miles of the Delaware border.
    • Students are eligible to compete in a given category if they have not previously received first prize in the same age category.
    • Student must perform one piece from the standard solo piano repertoire. Complete performance time cannot exceed time limit of entrant’s age category.
    • All music must be memorized.
    • Winners will be selected based on an audition before judge(s). Criteria include technical fluency, accuracy and musical interpretation.
    • If only one contestant applies in a category or if there is not a qualified contestant, the judge(s) may decide not to select a winner.
    • Cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winners in each category. The number of prizes awarded is at the discretion of the judge(s).
    • The decision of the judge(s) is final.
    • First prize winners are expected to perform in a master class given by Henry Kramer, Summer Piano Institute Guest Artist, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 10am.
    • All winners’ will be announced on the Music School website, Facebook, and Instagram.
    • Certificates and Awards will be mailed to contestants and winners.
    Entrants must own a legal copy or original for each scan that they provide for the judge. If using any reproduced music, you declare under penalty of perjury, represent and warrant to The Music School of Delaware that (a) you/your parent or guardian are least 18 years of age (b) your intended use of the reproduced music will not confuse or mislead the public in any way and (c) at least one of the following is true: (i) you own the copyright of the music; (ii) you have been authorized as the agent of the owner of the copyright to have the music copied; (iii) you have been granted a license by the owner of the copyright to reproduce the music; (iv) you are a teacher or student (or parent or guardian of a student) and are using the copies for educational purposes in a not-for-profit educational setting or (v) the reproduced music is in the public domain. All copies/scans will be destroyed/deleted at the end of the competition.

    REPRODUCTION OF THIRD-PARTY WORKS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION CONSTITUTES COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT UNLESS A LICENSE TO REPRODUCE SUCH WORK HAS BEEN OBTAINED OR ANOTHER EXCEPTION TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT EXISTS.

    You also shall indemnify, defend and hold The Music School of Delaware and its agents harmless from any suit, demand, claim or liability arising from a breach of the foregoing warranty or any other basis arising from the use of copies, including without limitation copyright infringement and unfair competition. You agree to pay any judgment or reasonable settlement offer and The Music School of Delaware's costs and fees (including without limitation attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with any such suit, demand, claim or liability, or in collecting upon this indemnification.

    APPLICATION FEE
    $55 (waived for Summer Piano Institute participants); no Summer Processing Fee

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    This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.

    The Music School of Delaware is proud to be an active partner in the IN Wilmington Arts Campaign.
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