About Musical Life Competition

An International Competition for piano and strings (solo and ensemble) for serious aspiring musicians ages 18 and under. Winners receive significant recognition and performance opportunities at world famous concert halls in New York City: First Place winners are invited to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Second Place Winners at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center, and Third Place winners receive recognition through the Musical Life Foundation website and a digital certificate. All participants get the opportunity to audition live before a distinguished jury and receive written constructive feedback – providing valuable guidance for artistic growth, regardless of placement. For young committed musicians, the experience offers both written insight from accomplished music professionals and the opportunity to perform at the highest level.

2026 Season Dates

Application Deadline

• February 2nd, 2026

Auditions

• Live audition schedule is posted to the portal on: Week of February 23rd, 2026
• Virtual audition submission deadline (YouTube): February 23rd, 2026
• Live auditions: March 7 – 8, 2026 at Opera America

Results

• Competition results and comments are posted to the portal: March 27th, 2026

Winners’ Performances

• First Place Winners’ Performance:
  Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 28th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

• Second Place Winner’s Performance:
  Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Specific dates are listed in the calendar and your portal upon registration, concert dates 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, Fur Elise, and simplifications are not accepted.

Details and Fees

Application Fees: The application fee is $150 per solo, $100 per ensemble member.

First Place Winners Recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall

The performance fee is $330 for solo performers and $170 per ensemble member. This includes four 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, two digital photos, and recognition through the Musical Life Foundation website.

Second Place Winners Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center

The performance fee is $270 for solo performers, $140 per ensemble member. This includes four tickets for solo (2 tickets per ensemble member), rehearsal time the day of the concert, a certificate or trophy, two digital photos, and recognition through the Musical Life Foundation website.

Third Place Winners

Third place winners receive the jury’s constructive comments and feedback, and a digital certificate, and are recognized on the Musical Life Foundation website.

Competition 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 where their student is performing.
• Solo applicants must perform from memory: music is only allowed for ensembles and modern music. Age categories are based on the calendar year (December 31st). Piano four hands should apply as ensemble.
• Musical Life Competition offers a scholarship to a very special participant who needs financial assistance with performance fees. Please send a short statement of need to: info@musicallife.org
• The jury reserves all rights to decide who is chosen as a competition winner and which repertoire from the auditions is performed in the winners’ concerts. Jury members are precluded from judging their own students, and the jury’s decisions are final. Concerts may be added at the jury’s discretion.
• If a student is chosen as a first place winner two seasons in a row, please allow for a gap year before reapplying.
• YouTube virtual auditions must adhere to live audition standards, good audio and video. The jury reserves the right to ask for a live streamed audition if necessary. Digital piano or keyboard entrees are not accepted.

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 at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall or Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center. Each applicant will indicate if they are interested in this partnership on their application form. This program is for advanced players and does not require 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 or Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center 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 supporting materials (MIDI, PDF score, bios and headshot) are due on February 23rd, 2026. Results and comments are posted in the portal on March 27th, 2026. Composers in Residence works are premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, or at Merkin Concert Hall on Thursday, June 11th, 2026, based on the jury’s decision.

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 $120, 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 OR Merkin Concert Hall at The Kaufman Center, a certificate or trophy, two digital professional photos of the event, and exposure through the Musical Life Foundation website.
• Composers in Residence do NOT need a ticket to attend or perform in the concerts, a complimentary ticket is provided by Musical Life Foundation to the Composer in Residence an their teacher.
• An applicant cannot apply to the Composers in Residence AND Musical Life Competition in one year.
• The current year’s Composer in Residence is not eligible to apply in the immediately following 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.