Emerging Artist Competition - West Virginia University

West Virginia University School of Music is pleased to announce the 2025 Emerging Artist Competition. The competition is open to students who will be high school seniors or juniors in academic year 2025-2026.

Application portal for preliminary audition videos is now open!
The application fee is $35. Applicants can submit a need-based fee waiver request to the Acceptd support team here.

Final round and awards ceremony will take place at the Canady Creative Arts Center at West Virginia University on Saturday, September 6, 2025, starting at 2:00 pm in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall. 

Prizes:

The top three contestants will receive a cash prize sponsored by the WVU School of Music as listed below. The first prize winner will receive in addition a full tuition scholarship(*) to attend West Virginia University School of Music as a music major.

First prize = $700 (plus full tuition scholarship* award)

Second prize = $500

Third prize = $300

(*Scholarship is awarded pending successful application and admission to West Virginia University and the School of Music. The scholarship will cover full WVU tuition and fees plus College of Creative Arts and Media tuition, renewable for 4 academic years, in pursuit of an undergraduate degree from the School of Music, as combined with academic scholarship offers from WVU and WV state funding, if applicable).

Judges:

Preliminary videos and the final round will be judged by WVU School of Music faculty.

Application Deadlines and Instructions:

All applicants must submit a preliminary video recording of their chosen repertoire in its entirety by May 22, 2025. Each individual work or movement must be recorded with one camera in a single, unedited take, with the applicant’s face and hands visible at all times. (See individual instrument repertoire guidelines for more information.) A list of format and other video instructions can be found on Acceptd’s HelpDesk.

Repertoire played in the preliminary round must be the same for the final round. The final round performance will be limited to 15 minutes per contestant. Contestants should prepare cuts if their repertoire exceeds 15 minutes.

All applicants will be notified of the results of the preliminary round by June 30, 2025. Selected finalists will be sent further instructions after the results of the preliminary round have been made public.

Repertoire Guidelines:

The repertoire suggested for each instrument is only a guideline for the level and kind of works appropriate (viewable after selecting your instrument in the left hand panel). Specific inquiries can be addressed to the WVU music faculty.

Piano accompaniment for accompanied works is encouraged, but not required.

Additional Information:

• WVU assumes no responsibility for actions of or injuries sustained by applicants or companions during their visit to WVU for the finals. 
• All applicants advanced to the finals are responsible for transportation (and lodging, if applicable) to and from Morgantown, WV.
• Decision of the judges is final and not to be disputed.
• WVU School of Music/College of Creative Arts and Media reserves the right to use any recordings or photographs originating from the final round in social media or advertising of the event.

If you have any general questions, please contact Dr. Rotem Weinberg at rotem.weinberg@mail.wvu.edu.
For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.