2022 Washington International Competition for Strings

In Person in 2022!

We hope you will join the FMMC Foundation for the 2022 Washington International Competition for Violin, Viola, and Cello! In its 69th year, the WIC provides renowned jurors offering individual advice and feedback to all semifinalists. See below for important deadlines, details, and more.

To apply, visit app.getacceptd.com/wic. Getacceptd is currently being updated, but will be up-to-date shortly.

To access the shareable flyer, click here.

Prizes

• First prize for violin, viola, cello—$10,000 each
• Second prize for violin, viola, cello—$5,000 each
• Audience award—$1,000

Christophe Landon Rare Violins Grand Prize:

An instrument loan for 1 year of a Violin, Viola, and Cello, valued at up to $500,000 to each first place winner

Helen Elliott Violin Prize:

The heirs of Helen Mae Tomaski Elliott wish to honor their mother with the loan of her career violin, a fine Italian violin made by Giuseppe and Antonio Gagliano of Naples, circa 1790. Her passion for classical music and love for the well-being and development of her students was always foremost in her professional endeavors. The family would like to see her legacy continue to benefit others in their formative years. Helen’s violin was recently restored by Brobst Violin Shop and is made available, with their services and assistance, to the Washington International Competition. The Helen Elliott violin award will be offered to the second place violin winner for one year with the possibility of renewal by consent of the family.

Helen was a passionate and accomplished concert violinist and received her B.A. in music from DePaul University and her M.A. in Education from Ohio University. She performed with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, an experience that was a highlight of her musical education. Helen used her education and experience as a violinist to become an orchestra teacher at the City of Alexandria Schools in Virginia. She taught and mentored numerous students both in and out of the classroom, often at her own expense. Helen helped to organize the All-City Orchestras of Alexandria, a vibrant youth orchestra program that enriched the musical experience of thousands of students over many years.

Performance Awards

• Solo performance opportunities in Washington, DC including an appearance with the Avanti Orchestra.
• The Tennessee Cello Workshop 1st Place Cello Performance Prize: TCW invites the Cello Winner to give a solo concert and masterclass at the January 27-29, 2023 Tennessee Cello Workshop at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN. This includes a $1000 honorarium, hotel accommodations and flights within the continental USA.

Judges

Eligibility

• Applicants must not be under professional management.
• Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 28 (as of the date of the competition). Proof of age will be required.
• Previous first-prize winners of the competition and current students of the judges may not apply.

Housing and Transportation

The WIC provides local housing for participants, with local transportation and meals offered at the convenience of hosts. Housing is for all semifinalists.

Required Repertoire

All repertoire must be performed from memory except accompanied sonatas and the work in Category 5. Contestants must be prepared to perform works in their entirety. The required repertoire follows:

1. One unaccompanied sonata, partita, or suite for violin, viola (transcribed), or cello by J.S. Bach
2. One sonata with piano from the classical, romantic, impressionist, or contemporary period
3. One concerto or major piece with orchestra by a composer other than the ones chosen for category 1 or 2
4. One short work or movement from a longer work which shows virtuosity
5. One unaccompanied solo work by a 20th- or 21st-century composer

Application Video

Submit a maximum of 30 minutes, chosen from your required repertoire, for the audition video. The video must contain:

• 5 minutes or less from the Bach selection.
• 12 minutes or less from the sonata selection.
• 13 minutes or less from the concerto selection (include cadenza if applicable but no extensive tutti).

List of format and video instructions can be found at app.getacceptd.com/wic.

Regulations & Instructions

• No changes in repertoire permitted past the deadline date on February 1, 2022.
• A jury will review submissions and select approximately 30 semifinalists.
• All applicants will be notified of the results by March 1, 2022.
• Semifinalists will be sent further instructions as needed.

Additional Information

• FMMC Foundation assumes no responsibility for actions of or injuries sustained by applicants or their escorts during their course of stay in the Washington, DC area.
• All contestants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington, DC.
• The decision of the judges is final and not to be disputed. No contact with the judges is permitted until after the results have been announced.
• The WIC reserves the right to use any recordings or photographs originated during the competitions, or any photographs or recordings provided by the contestants.
• For further information, contact John Kaboff, WIC 2022 Strings Competition Chair: wicstrings2022@aol.com