Frances Walton Competition

Applications for the 2025 Frances Walton Competition are now closed! Applications for the 2026 FWC will open on November 1st, 2025.
Please use the dropdown menu to your left to select and view the application requirements for each category.

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)


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

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

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