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Applications for the 2025 Frances Walton Competition will open November 1, 2024

For more than thirty years, the Frances Walton Competition has provided a unique opportunity for Classical musicians ages 20 to 35 to audition for an award package including finalist awards and $3500 to each winning musician and ensemble member; a live performance on Classical KING-FM 98.1, one of the premier Classical music stations in the U.S.; and a residency outreach and recital tour of locations throughout the State of Washington. The finals weekend will be held at Seattle Opera's Tagney Jones Hall.


2025 Frances Walton Competition

For Classical Musicians

Brass    |    Marimba    |    Piano    |    Recorder    |    Strings       Voice        Woodwinds
Chamber Music Ensemble

Application Deadline 
March 1, 2025
A maximum of 200 applications to the 2025 FWC will be accepted.
Soloist Application Fee: $125 (non-refundable)
Chamber Music Ensemble Application Fee: $250 (non-refundable)

Early Bird Special!
Applicants who apply by December 31, 2024 and are selected as finalists will receive an additional $50 travel voucher each upon attendance at the finals in Seattle, WA.

Finalists will be invited to:

Frances Walton Competition Finals
Saturday, May 31, 2025

AND

Frances Walton Competition Winners Concert

Sunday, June 1, 2025

At Seattle Opera's Tagney Jones Hall in Seattle, WA

 

Award Package

Finalists receive:

A Finalist Award of $250 for EACH musician, including each member of ensembles

Professional photography and video of their competition performance
Winners (two solo and one ensemble) receive:
$3,500 for each solo winner
$3,500 for EACH member of the winning ensemble ($7000 for duos; $10,500 for trios; $14,000 for quartets; $17,500 for quintets)

Professional photography and video of the Winners’ Concert

Week-long residency tours to be held in Washington State in September 2025,including outreach performances to public schools K-12 and public concerts

Chamber Music Ensemble winners tour: September 4-11, 2025
Solo winners tour: September 19-26, 2025


Live performance on Classical KING-FM 98.1, the Pacific Northwest’s premier Classical radio station.

________

Watch the stunning Classical KING videos of the 2023 FWC Small Ensemble Winners, Kodak Quartet plus solo winners Gracie Potter and Yvette Kraft.

Questions? Contact the FWC Committee at
awards@lmcseattle.org

Check out our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages!

For technical support, please refer to the Acceptd Applicant Support Help Desk.

Click the links to get FWC Finals Information and the FWC Tour Information

The FWC is presented by the Ladies Musical Club, a 501(c)3 organization based in Seattle, Washington. The LMC was formed in 1891 by a group of classically-trained women musicians who wanted to provide music to Seattle and continue developing their substantial musical skills. For over 130 years, the LMC has been successfully delivering on its mission of fostering classical music in the community through education, performance, and awards. 

To see videos of past FWC winners produced in the Classical KING-FM 98.1 studio by Sean MacLean and Matt Ogaz after their live performances, go to:

Kodak String Quartet, 2023
Yvette Kraft, violin, 2023
Gracie Potter, trombone, 2023
Caitlin Kelley, violin, 2022
Jichen Zhang, saxophone, 2022
Tallā Rouge, viola duo, 2022
Dana Jackson, bassoon, 2016
Aaron Conitz, viola, 2014 
Trio Brillante (now using the name Aristeia Trio), 2016
Meta Weiss, cello, 2012 
Equus Saxophone Quartet, 2015 
Sophie Baird-Daniel, harp, 2015