Applying to the National Music Festival is easy! Just fill out the application form, pay your application fee, and have your recommendation letter(s) sent to info@nationalmusic.us. Be sure to read the guidelines below before applying, especially the specific requirements listed below for your instrument/discipline.
For the 2021 season: Things are a little different this year, due to the pandemic. We are currently inviting applicants who were accepted in 2020. We will accept new applications for 2021 only when we know we have a spot open. Please check this page regularly to see if we are accepting applications for your instrument. There will be no application deadline, and the application fee will be $40 no matter when you apply. Please only submit an application if your instrument is listed below. Any questions? Email info@nationalmusic.us.
As of April 12, 2021, we are currently accepting applications only for the following instruments/disciplines: Horn, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Recording Engineering.
To Apply:
- APPLICATION FORM: Click here to access the application form. Please be sure to have your resume available as a PDF document as you will need to upload it.
- APPLICATION FEE: $40. Click here to pay application fees online.
- VIDEO RECORDINGS: Please submit a video recording with your application; recordings should be posted to YouTube for easy listening/viewing by mentors. If you have any questions about submitting a video or repertoire, please email info@nationalmusic.us.
- RECOMMENDATIONS: Each applicant must have one letter of recommendation submitted directly to info@nationalmusic.us no more than one week after submitting their application.
- RETURNING APPLICANTS: Please note that if you have attended the Festival previously and wish to reapply, you do not need to submit recordings or a letter of recommendation. You may submit new video recordings if you feel that your playing has changed significantly, but they are not required. You do need to fill out the application form and pay the appropriate application fee.
Important Notes:
- Applications are evaluated solely on merit.
- Applications may only be submitted through the online form. The Festival will not respond to applications submitted by post.
- Participants for the entire duration of the Festival will receive full scholarships plus housing.
- Participants must arrive in Chestertown in time for the noon orientation meeting on July 31 and remain until the conclusion of the final concert on August 14. Housing is provided from July 30th through the morning of August 15. (Conductors arrive by July 27, arts administrators arrive on or around July 24 and depart on or around August 17; housing is provided for the duration).
- Apprentices are responsible for their own transportation and meals. Many local restaurants will have musician-friendly menus available. (Emmanuel Church offers free lunches to musicians on weekdays.)
- Apprentices must be at least 18 years of age or provide a chaperone.
Orchestral Application Requirements (by instrument)
Flute
Two contrasting orchestral excerpts and Mozart, Concerto in G, First Movement: exposition, without accompaniment.
Oboe
Include a selection of two standard orchestral excerpts of your choice, plus two contrasting solo selections such as movement of a standard concerto or sonata, or a chamber work that showcases the oboe. An etude may be substituted in lieu of any one selection above. Quality is preferred over quantity.
Clarinet
Three contrasting orchestral excerpts and Mozart Concerto, First Movement: exposition, without accompaniment.
Auditionees may also submit recordings on auxiliary instruments. Please submit two solo excerpts of your choice on Eb and/or Bass clarinet. Note that those who play an auxiliary instrument will be given preference.
Bassoon
Three of the following four excerpts – Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, II, long solo to end; Ravel, Bolero, solo; Mozart, Marriage of Figaro, Overture, measures 1-8 and measures 156-171; Beethoven, Symphony No. 4, IV, fast solo; A solo piece, concerto or sonata movement of applicant’s choice.
Horn
Solo: 1st movement of either Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 or Mozart Horn Concerti No. 2 or No. 4.
Excerpts: Strauss, “Ein Heldenleben,” Horn 1 – Beginning to measure 17; Shostakovich, “Symphony No. 5,” Mvmt. I, Horn 1 – third measure after Rehearsal No.17 to 1st measure of Rehearsal No. 21; Mendelssohn “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Nocturne, Horn 1 – measures 1 through 34; Wagner, “Siegfried’s Rhine Journey,” Horn 1-Short Call.
Trumpet
Video recordings only.
Solo work:
Honegger, Intrada, beginning to Allegro OR
Haydn, Trumpet Concerto, opening exposition
Orchestral Excerpts:
Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, Opening Promenade
Mahler, Symphony No. 5, opening solo
Stravinsky, Petrushka, Ballerina’s Dance, pick-up to mm. 135-139
Respighi, Pines of Rome, offstage solo
Provide one continuous, unedited video. No separate tracks, do not stop and start the camera between selections.
Trombone
Mozart – Requiem – Tuba mirum – 2nd trombone solo
Berlioz – Hungarian March – 2nd trombone part (beginning 6 measures before rehearsal 4 through the 2nd measure of rehearsal 5)
Ravel – Bolero – 1st trombone solo (3rd measure of rehearsal 10 to rehearsal 11)
Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (major only)
Bass Trombone
Bach – Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 5 (no repeats)
Berlioz – Hungarian March (beginning 6 measures before rehearsal 4 through the 2nd measure of rehearsal 5)
Kodaly – Hary Janos Suite, mvt. 4 (beginning in the 5th measure of the poco meno mosso to the fermata)
Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (2nd major section only)
Tuba
Wagner – “Die Meistersinger” (letter J to end)
Berlioz – Hungarian March (beginning 6 measures before rehearsal 4 through the 2nd measure of rehearsal 5)
Prokofiev – Symphony No. 5, mvt. 1 (rehearsal 3 to rehearsal 6)
Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (2nd major section only)
Percussion
Include three xylophone excerpts, three snare drum excerpts, two glockenspiel excerpts, three timpani excerpts, one Bach marimba solo.
**Please note: Percussion applicants are required to submit a video of them playing their excerpts.**
Collaborative Piano
Include:
• 1 Solo Work less than 5 minutes (may be a movement from a sonata, a character piece, an etude)
• 2 Art Songs* with singer OR 2 movements* of a chamber work with instrument(s)
*Select works by different composers in contrasting styles, tempi, etc.
Harp
Two representative etudes (one fast/one slow) OR two contrasting pieces AND two orchestral excerpts.
Please note: The National Music Festival does not have harps available for apprentices to borrow or rent. Harpists must bring a harp to the Festival. Harp apprentices are also asked to bring a car for harp moving, if possible.
Guitar
A composition (sonata or suite of movements) from the first half of the 19th century (ie. Sor, Giuliani, Legnani, Diabelli, Coste, Mertz, Regondi, etc.), maximum 10 minutesA composition of the 20th century, maximum length, 6 minutes.
Violin
First or last movement of a standard concerto including cadenza if applicable, a movement of unaccompanied Bach, and a short piece or etude.
Viola
Two movements from the Bach Suites (transcribed for viola), a movement of a standard concerto, and two standard orchestral excerpts of contrasting styles.
Violoncello
Two movements of solo Bach, and one additional substantial example of your playing: EITHER a movement of a concerto, a work for cello & piano (a short work or movement of a sonata), OR a short solo contemporary piece. Concerto and sonata recordings should include piano. Optionally, you may include a movement of chamber music (in addition to solo Bach and one other work.
Double Bass
One or two (i.e. minuets) movements from the Bach Suites for Cello, the first movement of a standard concerto, Beethoven Sym.No.5, 3rd movement (Scherzo & Trio), and choose two of the following excerpts: Mozart Sym. No.40, 1st movement theme, etc. (meas.114-138), Brahms Sym.No.1 or No.2 letter E, or Strauss Ein Heldenleben, No. 9.
Non-Orchestra Program Application Requirements
Conducting Institute
In addition to the completed application, a high-quality video recording of a recent working rehearsal (15-minute maximum, including some spoken direction) and performance (15-minute maximum) viewed from a close, front-view perspective. Links to YouTube videos are preferred. A full orchestra is not required; a small ensemble will suffice. Repertoire on the video should include a variety of styles. The candidate should also include a short video in which s/he introduces her/himself.
Arts Administration
You may, optionally, submit up to three work samples, such as press releases, grant applications, etc. If you would like to submit work samples, please email them to info@nationalmusic.us after submitting your application.
Concert Production
Application form (with attachments) only. There is no application fee for concert production apprenticeships.
Music Library
Piano Technology
Recording Engineering
Voice
PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE A VOICE PROGRAM FOR 2021. At least 3 video recordings, at least one of which should be an aria. The other selections may come from art song repertoire. Additional video recordings are encouraged but not necessary.