For more details on Musical Life Competition and to apply, please log into the portal below.

About Musical Life Competition

An International Competition for piano and strings (solo and ensemble) for serious aspiring musicians ages 18 and under. Winners may receive significant media exposure and the opportunity to perform at world famous concert halls in New York City. First Place Winners go on to performances at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Second Place winners get the chance to perform at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center. Third Place Winners receive recognition through our website and a pdf certificate however are not guaranteed a winners’ performance.  All Competition applicants will have the opportunity to audition LIVE in front of our distinguished jury and receive the jury’s written comments and input.

2025 Season Dates

• Musical Life Competition Applications are due on: February 10th, 2025
• If unable to audition live, a virtual audition is due by March 3rd, 2025.
• Live audition schedule is posted to the portal on: March 3rd, 2025
• Live auditions will be held at “PianoPiano Rehearsal Studios” on March 15th and 16th, 2025
• Competition Results and Comments are posted (in the portal) the week of March 31st –  April 4th, 2025
• Competition First Place Competition Winners Performance – Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 15th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
• Competition Second Place Competition Winners’ Performances; Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center on Saturday, May 31st, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
• Specific dates are listed in the calendar and in the portal upon logging into your account to register.
• Concerts may be added.

Eligibility and Requirements

1. One OR two pieces are allowed for the audition within the time restrictions based on age category.
2. At least one piece from the Baroque, Classical or Romantic periods is required.
3. An applicant cannot enter both the Musical Life Competition and Composers in Residence in one Season.
4. Selections from method books such as Faber and Faber and Bastien and simplifications are NOT accepted.

Additional Information

The application fee for Musical Life Competition is $150 per solo, $100 per ensemble member.

FIRST PLACE Competition Winners’ solo performance fee for (Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall) is $300, ensemble member is $170. The performance fee includes 4 tickets to the concert at Carnegie Hall for solo performer, (2 tickets per ensemble member), rehearsal time in the hall the day of the concert, a certificate or trophy, 2 digital photos, and recognition through the Musical Life Foundation website.

SECOND PLACE Competition Winners’ solo performance fee (for Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center) is $260, ensemble member is $140. The performance fee includes 4 tickets for solo, (2 per ensemble member), rehearsal time the day of the concert, and a certificate or trophy, 2 digital photos, and recognition through the Musical Life Foundation website, and an archival video recording of the concert.

THIRD PLACE WINNERS and HONORABLE MENTION RECIPIENTS receive the jury’s comments, a pdf certificate and recognition though the Musical Life Foundation website. A winner’s performance is no longer promised to 3rd Place winners due to the rising level of Musical Life Competition.

GENERAL RULES 

• Performers do NOT need a ticket to their own concerts.
• Musical Life Foundation will provide a complimentary ticket for the winner’s teacher to attend the concert.
• Solo applicants must perform for memory. (music is only allowed for ensembles and modern music).
• Age categories are based on the calendar year (December 31st), not the date of the auditions.
• Piano 4 hands are considered ensemble entrees.
• Sibling Performance Fee (discount) – siblings that are chosen to perform in the (same concert only) will receive a 20% discount deducted from the 2nd performance fee.
• The Musical Life Competition scholarship is granted to a special participant, who has trouble playing the fees. If you think you may qualify, please send us a short paragraph with a description of need to info@musicallife.org.
• The Musical Life Competition jury reserves all rights to decide who is chosen as Musical Life Competition winners, and which repertoire from the auditions is performed in the winners’ concerts.
• Jury members are precluded from judging their own students.
• Concerts may be added at the jury’s discretion.
• The jury’s decisions are final.

Musical Life Competition and Composers in Residence Pairing Program (Optional for Category 3 only)

Musical Life Competition Applicants in age category 3 have the (additional) option to partner with our Composers in Residence to premiere their works in Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center. Each Musical Life Competition applicant will indicate if they are interested in this partnership on their application form. Musical Life Competition winners that are chosen for this honor by the jury are agreeing to premiere the work of a Composer in Residence at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall or at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, and be featured on the Musical Life Foundation website. This program is for advanced players, and is offered in addition (not excluding) to your Musical Life Competition experience and does not have a performance fee for the performers.

For more details on Composers in Residence and to apply, please log into the portal below.

About Composers in Residence

Composers in Residence is a unique and special opportunity for rising composers selected by the jury to have their original works premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (no recording) or Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center (archival video recording), and may be selected for other performances. Composers in Residence are also featured on the Musical Life Foundation website and may receive additional media exposure. Up to FIVE rising composers will be selected for this honor by the jury. All applicants will receive the jury’s comments pertaining to the original work they submitted. Composers may perform their own work or have their work performed by a Competition winner (Category 3) or a professional musician hired by Musical Life Foundation.

• Composers in Residence Applications as well as all supporting materials (midi, pdf score, bios) are due on February 25th, 2025.
• Composers in Residence Results and Comments are posted in the portal the week of March 31st – April 4th, 2025
• Composers in Residence works are premiered at: Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on May 15th (no recording) OR at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center – May 31st, 2025 (includes an archival video recording).

Eligibility and Requirements

• Composers who wish to have their works premiered, 20 years old and under may apply.
• Instruments for the submitted works must be limited to: piano, violin, viola, cello. Solo or duet is preferred.
• Time limit: 7 minutes or less.

Additional Information

To apply for the Composers in Residence, please submit an application together with an application fee of $110, a fully realized digital score in PDF format (no handwritten submissions please), a midi audio recording of the original work, and the composer’s bio and headshot. If selected as a Composer in Residence, the participation fee is $260.

• The Performance Fee includes four tickets to the winners’ concert at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (no recording) OR Merkin Concert Hall at The Kaufman Center Concert (archival video recording).
• A certificate or trophy, 2 digital professional photos of the event, and exposure through the Musical Life Foundation website.
• Composers in Residence themselves do NOT need a ticket for themselves to attend or perform in the concerts.
• A complimentary ticket is provided by Musical Life Foundation for the teacher of each Composer’s in Residence.
• An applicant cannot cannot apply to the Composers in Residence AND Musical Life Competition in one year.
• The submissions are presented in an anonymous fashion to the jury, whose decisions are final.
• Composers in Residence Scholarship is reserved for a deserving applicant who has trouble playing the fees. If you think you may qualify, please send us a short paragraph with a description of need to info@musicallife.org.