Washington International Competition for Composition

2025 Washington International Competition for Composition
Sponsored by the Friday Morning Music Club Foundation

The Washington International Competition for Composition is held every three years. The first and second prize winners of the 2025 Competition for Composition will be performed by professional musicians of the Washington, DC area at the Finals for the Washington International String Competition on May 25, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the Terrace Theater of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The Acceptd application link will be open as of October 1, 2024 and will close on February 15, 2025. Winners will be announced by April 1, 2025.

If you are applying to the Washington International Competition for Strings please click here.

Competition History and Purpose

Established in 1950, the Washington International Competition (WIC) supports outstanding young artists on the cusp of their careers by providing monetary awards and performance opportunities. Competition winners have a significant opportunity to rise from the ranks of talented students to recognition as professionals. The WIC occurs in a three-year rotation for piano, strings and voice. As of 1976, a competition for composition of a chamber work for strings or piano and strings is also held concurrently with the strings competition.

Cash Awards

First Prize - $5,000
Second Prize - $2,500

Requirements

- Entrants must be between 18 and 35 years old as of February 15, 2025.

- An entrance fee of $45 US must be submitted. Electronic payment through GetAcceptd is highly preferred. If contestant is unable to submit payment electronically, a check may be written payable to Friday Morning Music Club Foundation.

- Composition must be a chamber work for 3 to 5 players for the standard string trio, string quartet, piano trio, piano quartet or piano quintet (string quartet plus piano). No electronics or other instruments may be included.

- Composition must be a maximum of 8 minutes long.

- Composition must not have been commercially published or publicly performed.

• Amateur performances—such as by music students at a college campus—are acceptable and will not disqualify a work. Do not send a recording.

- Electronic entry via Acceptd is preferred. Scores must be accompanied by a cover letter including composer's name, contact information and curriculum vitae.

- Scores must be neat, legible, and adhere to accepted standards for instrumental score order: violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, piano.

- The composer's name must not appear anywhere on the score.

- The winning compositions will be announced by April 1, 2025.

- Winning composers must be prepared to supply a set of performance materials upon notification of their award.

- Contestants should use the following address to apply: https://wiccomposition.getacceptd.com.

- Contestants who are unable to submit their scores electronically may submit them in paper form. In this case, the contest administrator will convert the documents into .pdf format. Send all paper scores to the following address: Washington International Competition for Composition, 1536 Winding Waye Ln., Silver Spring, MD  20902

- The WIC provides local housing for the first and second prize winners.
- Local transportation and meals are also offered at the convenience of the hosts
- Housing is available for first and second prize winners from May 23 to May 27, 2025.

For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.