Competitions & Awards

Seniors and graduate students may be eligible to enter the School of Music’s 2023-24 BU at Carnegie Hall Competition!

The competition to perform in the “BU at Carnegie Hall” concert is open to BU School of Music Seniors (in their final two semesters of study) and Grad Students who are registered for lessons (both fall AND spring semesters 2023-24) AND enrolled in one of the following programs of study: BM, MM, PD, AD, or DMA in the Voice/OI, Keyboard (Pianists), String, or Brass/Wind/Percussion Depts.

Please be sure to download and read the 2023-2024 BU at Carnegie Hall Competition Rules & Guidelines here.

To apply, please use the official application form here.

Questions? Contact:
Prof. LaCourse at michevla@hotmail.com

ELIGIBILITY:

• The Soloists’ Competition for Performance with Orchestra is open to School of Music students who are registered for lessons AND enrolled full-time in one of the following programs of study: BM, MM, DMA, PD, AD, OI during both the semesters of application and of the competition.
• Previous winners of the Soloists’ Competition are not eligible to enter while still enrolled in the same degree or diploma program.
• Contestants must present a substantial work. Repertoire may not be a transcription or an arrangement unless authorized by the conductor of the ensemble.  Complete works must be presented. Participants must perform from memory – no exceptions will be made. Each contestant must provide their own collaborative pianist for all rounds of the competition. BU faculty may not perform in any role with student competitors  – no exceptions will be made.

ENTRY FORMS AND DEADLINES:

Part One (Application & Repertoire Approval):

• Students wishing to participate in the Competition must submit their proposed repertoire via the 2023-2024 Soloists’ Competition Repertoire Approval Form by Friday, November 10, 2023, by 11:59 PM ET. Repertoire is subject to approval and confirmation. Approval will be sent to applicants by Friday, November 17th, 2023.
•  If a student’s initial repertoire request is not approved, the student has until Friday, December 1, 2023, by 11:59 PM ET to submit an Alternate Request. Repertoire submission is again subject to approval. Confirmation of alternate repertoire approval will be sent to applicants by Friday, December 8, 2023.

Part Two (Competition):

• Timeline: Each department will hold its own preliminary round in late January and early February. Dates and times of the Preliminaries are due to the Chair of the Student Life and Honors Committee no later than December 13, 2023, by 11:59 PM ET.
• Finalists: From the Preliminary rounds, the Voice Department will select up to, and no more than, two vocalists, and the Keyboard Department will select up to, and no more than, two pianists for the competition Finals. The Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Department and the String Department may each advance up to three finalists, no more than two of whom may be from any one instrument/major. The lists of finalists from each Applied Department are due to the Chair of the Student Life and Honors Committee no later than Monday, February 5, 2024, by 11:59 PM ET.
• NO LATE/INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE STATED APPLICATION DEADLINE.

Download the 2023-2024 Soloists’ Competition Rules & Guidelines here for more details.

2023-24 SOLOISTS’ COMPETITION TIMELINE:

• Friday, November 10, 2023 – Preliminary Application and Repertoire Approval due (no later than 11:59 PM ET.)
• Friday, November 17th, 2023 – Repertoire approval or request for resubmission will be sent.
• Friday, December 1, 2023 – Repertoire resubmission due (if requested). (no later than 11:59 PM ET.)
• Friday, December 8, 2023 – Final repertoire approval.
• Friday, December 15, 2023 – Dates and times of the Preliminary Round for each Applied Department are due to the Chair of the Student Life and Honors Committee.
• Monday, February 5, 2024 – The lists of finalists from each Applied Department are due to the Chair of the Student Life and Honors Committee.
• Tuesday, February 13, 2024 – Competition at Tsai Center for the Performing Arts

To apply, please use 2023-2024 Soloists’ Competition Repertoire Approval Form.

Questions? Contact:
Prof. Debrot at rdebrot@bu.edu

ELIGIBILITY:

• Open to B.U. String Department Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass Majors who are enrolled in one of the School of Music’s degree/diploma programs (BM, MM, DMA, Performance Diploma or Artist Diploma) AND are currently registered for lessons on their Major Instrument for credit. 
• All entrants must be available for the entirety of the competition evening Thursday, November 16th, 2023 (for scheduling purposes).
• All entrants must be available to potentially perform on the Winners’ Concert, Thursday evening November 30th, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall. 

COMPETITION & CONCERT:

• The competition will take place on Thursday, November 16th 2023, between 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall, with faculty judges. 
• There will be multiple winners chosen to perform on the Winners’ Concert.
• Some winners may be featured on the concert in selected movements of their entire piece.  However, all entrants must be prepared with the full Sonata, Partita, or Suite.
• The Winners’ Concert will take place Thursday, November 30th 2023, at 8:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall.

REPERTOIRE:

• One complete J. S. Bach (unaccompanied) Sonata, Partita, or Suite, from BWV 1001 through BWV 1012
• MEMORIZATION REQUIRED: All competition entrants and all performers in the Winners’ Concert must perform from memory.
  No exceptions.

Please be sure to download and read the full list of guidelines here.

To apply, please fill out the official application form here.

Questions? Contact:
Prof. LaCourse at michevla@hotmail.com

Each year the Harvard Musical Association presents the Arthur W. Foote Award to a soloist or chamber ensemble enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a major conservatory or university music department in the Northeast.  Each institution is limited to no more than two candidates. Completed applications along with a document containing a list of links to a selection of performance videos (annotated as to whether the performance is edited), a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s institutional nominator or applied faculty member, and a CV should be submitted to the Student Life and Honors Committee for review. Members of the Student Life and Honors Committee will review the applications and select two performers or ensembles to represent the SoM.

The Award concert will take place on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvard Musical Association, 57A Chestnut Street, Boston.

Please see the following document for more information: 2023 Foote Award Criteria

Applications are due to Professor Ruth Debrot no later than November 7, 2023.

Questions? Contact Ruth Debrot.

The Clare Hodgson Meeker Fellowships were established in 2019 with a generous commitment from Clare Hodgson Meeker (CFA ’75) to provide financial support for Summer travel opportunities that will contribute to transformative experiences within undergraduate education*. The Clare Hodgson Meeker Fellowships will encourage students to think aspirationally, support ancillary studies outside of Boston, and foster a culture of creativity outside the curriculum within the School of Music.

*Graduating seniors are not eligible.

This year, fellowships of up to $2,000.00 will be considered by the Student Life and Honors Committee. Applicants must provide a financial proposal, a letter of endorsement from a SoM Faculty member, and a personal statement regarding career goals along with their application. Funds received from the Clare Hodgson Meeker Fellowship can only be used to support Summer travel experiences, not those done during the academic year. Notifications will go out in February 2024. Recipients will be expected to submit a thank you note to Clare Meeker. Thank you notes should be sent to rdebrot@bu.edu no later than September 15, 2024.

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 22, 2024. No applications will be considered after the deadline.

To apply, please fill out the official application form here.

Questions? Contact Ruth Debrot.

The purpose of this fund is to provide School of Music graduate students with the opportunity to participate in competitions, conferences, and engage in off-campus directed research, through the partial coverage of associated costs. Funds are limited and will be awarded by vote of the Student Life and Honors Committee. Reimbursements per individual will not exceed $500.00. The dates of travel must be between August 31, 2023, and August 31, 2024.

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 22, 2024. Students may apply for retroactive funding for activities that occurred between August 31, 2023 and the application deadline. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Students will be notified of funding via e-mail.

• Examples of Supported Trips: Presentation of a paper, composition, or ensemble performance at a conference; Solo or Chamber Music competition (Coleman, Fischoff, etc.); Off-campus directed research (i.e., fieldwork, document consultation, etc.); Active participation in festivals.
• Examples of Non-Supported Trips: Non-presenting attendance at a conference; Auditions of any kind.

To apply, please fill out the official application form here.

Questions? Contact Ruth Debrot.

The Composition Competition for Performance with Orchestra is open to all full-time School of Music students majoring in Composition. Students who have had a work performed previously by the Boston University Symphony or Chamber Orchestra as part of this competition are not eligible to apply. The piece submitted for consideration must have been composed at Boston University and pieces that have had only a reading/recording session with the orchestra are eligible to be considered.

Students wishing to participate in the Competition must submit a composition for orchestra to the School of Music Curriculum Library by 12:00 noon on Monday, January 22, 2024.

Before applying, please read and review the full list of Guidelines here.

Questions? Contact Martin Amlin or Ruth Debrot.

The Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn Career Entry Award was established to provide funds to assist talented students who complete undergraduate or graduate programs at Boston University College of Fine Arts at the beginning of their careers. Boston University College of Fine Arts undergraduate or graduate students in the performing and visual arts completing their last semester of study prior to graduation (and not continuing in other programs of study) are eligible to compete for the Kahn Career Entry Award.

Six final candidates (2 per school) will be chosen and will each receive $2,500. The final award winner will be chosen from the final candidate pool and will receive an additional $17,500 for a total of $20,000. The awards are based on a combination of talent, artistic accomplishments, and strength of application and presentation.

Before applying, please read and review the full list of Guidelines here.

To apply, please use the online application form here.

Questions? Contact Ruth Debrot.

The Richmond Piano Competition is a long-standing feature of the piano department and boasts many winners who have gone on to very fine careers.

Guidelines can be viewed here.

• Open to current BU piano majors enrolled in ML applied lessons.
• To apply, please complete and submit the Declaration of Intent form. This completed form should be sent directly to Professor Shiela Kibbe via email.
• First Prize winner receives $10,000 and Award Recital at Tsai Performance Center.
• Second Prize winner receives $5,000.

Applications are DUE no later than 5 pm Friday, February 23, 2024.

Questions? Contact Shiela Kibbe

UROP connects BU undergraduate students with funded, faculty-mentored research projects. The program is flexible, allowing research study in any academic area university-wide, for any full-time undergraduate student at BU. Projects may be undertaken at either the Charles River or Medical Campus, on a volunteer basis, for a stipend, or for academic credit. UROP project guidelines encompass a wide range of scientific or scholarly topics that lead to:

• Production of new knowledge
• Increased problem-solving capabilities (including research project design/analysis)
• Original critical or historical theory and interpretation

Read about recent CFA winners of arts research awards here and how to get started here.