Competition Details and Application Instructions

Timeline

Application dates: November 1, 2026 – February 11, 2027

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 11

Live Competition: Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. in Timashev Recital Hall

• Winning ensembles will be announced at 6:30 p.m.

Winners’ concert: Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in Timashev Recital Hall

•  Following the competition

Prizes

• First Prize — $500
• Second Prize — $350
• Third Prize — $200

All prize-winning ensembles will perform in the Winners' Concert on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

Competition Repertoire

Each ensemble should prepare either:

• Two contrasting movements from the same chamber work, or 
• One complete single-movement work

The total performance time must be a minimum of 8 minutes and a maximum of 15 minutes.

The application must include:

• Title of the chamber work
• Composer’s full name
• Title of the movement(s), when applicable
• Total performance duration

Eligibility and Application Guidelines

• All applicants must be participating in an Ohio State School of Music small ensemble course during Autumn 2026 and/or Spring 2027.
• Ensembles must consist of 3–6 musicians. 
• The competition is open to instrumental ensembles featuring strings, woodwinds, brass, and/or piano.
• Ensembles may include no more than two of the same instrument. Different variants of the same instrument will be considered the same instrument for eligibility purposes.
• Each ensemble should select one member to serve as coordinator. The coordinator will submit the online application on behalf of the ensemble and will serve as the sole point of contact throughout the competition process.
• Each ensemble must receive approval from its chamber music coach before submitting an application.
• Application deadline: February 11, 2027

Application Fee

The application fee is $10 per ensemble member. Each member should submit the fee to the ensemble coordinator, who will collect and submit the ensemble’s payment.

Winners’ Announcement and Concert

The competition results will be announced on February 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Timashev Recital Hall.

The Winners’ Concert will follow at 7 p.m. in Timashev Recital Hall. Prize-winning ensembles may be invited to perform additional movements from their selected work at the Winners’ Concert. Concert repertoire will be determined following the competition.

All ensemble members must be available to participate in the Winners’ Concert on February 27 at 7 p.m. in order for the ensemble to participate in the competition.

Opus 88

As part of the competition award, prize-winning ensembles will be required to perform in an Opus 88 project. Performance details will be communicated to the selected ensembles.

Judging Criteria

Performances will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Ensemble coordination and cohesion
• Musical interpretation
• Technical execution
• Stylistic understanding
• Overall artistic presentation

The decisions of the jury are final.

Application

The ensemble coordinator must complete and submit one online application on behalf of all group members. Collect this information in advance, to aid the application process. 

• Ensemble name (recommended)
• Each member's name and instrument (for each of the 3–6 members):
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Ohio State email
  • Phone
  • Instrument
• Coordinator's Ohio State email
• Coordinator's phone number
• Repertoire details:
  • Title of chamber work
  • Composer's full name
  • Movement title(s), when applicable
  • Duration [00:00] (minutes:seconds)
• Coach's Information
  • Full name
  • Email

The application form will open here on November 1.

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2027

Questions? Email Andrii Isakov at isakov.18@osu.edu.