Vocal Application
Click here to view Vocal Competition Eligibility and Requirements.
Eligibility
Open to all woman-identifying musicians aged 18-30 (age as of date of application deadline, January 10th, 2024)
Must be able to provide proof of age (as of application deadline)
Must be able to prove residency or school attendance (by providing home or school address with proof of registration) in one of the following states:
IL, IN, MI, WI, MN, IA (as of date of application deadline, January 15th, 2022)
Must not have previously won an MCW award in their intended division of competition (i.e., Harvey, Newfield, and Nerenberg winners 2023 and prior are ineligible to compete for those awards again, but could compete for a different award if otherwise eligible)
All awards are subject to US taxation; winners who are US citizens or resident aliens will be asked to complete a W-9. Non-resident aliens are still eligible to compete, but the award amount will be reduced to meet the tax requirement.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of all materials is 11:59 pm Central Time on January 10th, 2024.
Applications received on January 11th onwards will not be accepted, no exceptions.
Award announcement mid-March, 2024.
Application
Eligible candidates will be asked to submit the following to participate in the competition:
General application (including list of repertoire performed on video)
Audition video (Youtube unlisted link; details outlined below)
Headshot*
250 word bio*
Optional: demonstration of financial need
Application Fee: The application fee is $100 BUT $50 for those also submitting a financial need application. This money helps defray the cost of marketing and hosting the competition, as well as carrying out MCW’s larger mission to support women in music. MCW is a non-profit organization run by a board of volunteers, and your support ensures the longevity of their efforts.
Application Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
*to be used for announcement of winners
Video Guidelines
Candidates must embed a link for an unlisted YouTube video in their application, titled: [first initial last name-2024 MCW Vocal/Instrumental Competition]
Tips for uploading a video to YouTube can be found here
Videos must be 10-12 minutes total in length, and should contain selections from your audition repertoire, including one work performed in its entirety, and with accompaniment as applicable (orchestral reductions with cuts, etc, are acceptable)
Each selection must be recorded in one take. Full takes may be edited together for final video submission.
Video submission must be uploaded as one video link, instead of separate links for each selection.
Videos may be recorded on any device available to the applicant (including cell phones, camcorders, computers/tablets, with or without external mics, etc.). Applicants will be asked on the application to disclose the technology used to make their recording.
Applicants are discouraged, but not strictly prohibited, from hiring recording professionals; applicants will be asked on the application to identify any recording engineers, etc, employed for the purpose of making the video.
In order to accurately reflect the applicant’s ability, videos should be recent (made within the last two years, April 2020 or newer)
Best practices for making an audition video:
Remember that video is a visual medium, and consider factors like lighting, clothing, venue, etc, to best represent yourself.
Record in a location with a neutral background; avoid institutional logos, or spaces with an excess of personal effects.
Make sure that the camera angle is such that every aspect of you operating on your instrument is within view (both hands, whole torso, bows, pedals, etc)
Conversely, make sure not to place the camera too far away to clearly see you.
Judges will make every reasonable effort not to discriminate based on visual factors of the video. However, deportment and “stage presence” are key elements of a performer’s craft; take this opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism.
Grounds for Disqualification
Unable to prove residency status
Unable to provide proof of age
Has won an MCW award in the past in their intended division of competition (Farwell winners, for example, are still eligible to compete for either Harvey, Newfield, Nerenberg awards)
Videos that appear to have been edited within the performance of any musical selection (including audio recorded separately and superimposed onto video)
Videos that appear not to match the identity of the applicant
Videos in which memorization requirements appear not to be met (i.e., evidence to suggest candidate is reading music outside of camera view)
Videos that do not include at least one complete work, are over 10 minutes in length, do not contain selections that fulfill repertoire criteria, or lack the accompaniment required by the repertoire.
“No-call no-show”s, or candidates who are late for their time slot, at the final in-person round.
Repertoire lists which do not meet criteria by the time of the final round.
MCW's determination regarding a candidate's disqualification is final and cannot be appealed. Disqualification is entirely at the discretion of MCW.
Adjudication Process and Disclaimer
All videos will be reviewed by 3 judges; no more than 1 current member of MCW may serve on the panel; no judges may serve who have students competing
12 applicants from each division will be invited to participate in the final, in-person round
Those applicants who are chosen to advance to the finals will be notified no later than February 12th, 2024.
Once finalists are notified, they must submit their complete audition repertoire list by February 20th, 2024.
Finals are held at PianoForte Studios in Chicago on Saturday, March 3, 2024.
In-person auditions are not blind, and are adjudicated by 3 judges meeting the same criteria as above
Judges will not have access to applicant bios or demonstrations of need
For the final round, judges will complete a rubric which may be made available to candidates after the competition, upon request
Judges reserve the right to withhold awards if no deserving candidate is identified (with the exception of the Harvey awards)
Judges’ decision is final
Results announced mid-March, 2024; winners will be notified via email
MCW reserves the right to post portions or all of a winning candidate’s video to the website or social media; in such cases, winners will be notified of MCW’s intended use of their video ahead of time.