The 2024 Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition October 27, 2024 at The University of Maryland
ELIGIBILITY
This competition is open to clarinetists, ages 14–22, in two divisions: high school and college. Details regarding the competition are listed below. Any previous First Place winners may not apply in the division they won until three years have passed from the competition date.
REPERTOIRE
The repertoire must be recorded in one take for the video round. No editing is allowed, and any editing will lead to disqualification.
Submit the YouTube link to your video in the online application.
High School Division: While you only need to perform a portion of the piece for the video round, it's recommended that you study the entire work. This preparation will be beneficial if you advance to the final round.
High School Division
Video Round: 5 Bagatelles, Op. 23 - No. 1-3 - Gerald Finzi
Final Round: 5 Bagatelles, Op. 23 - Complete - Gerald Finzi
College Division
Video Round: Concert Fantasia on Motives from 'Rigoletto' - Luigi Bassi
Final Round: Concert Fantasia on Motives from 'Rigoletto' - Luigi Bassi
Prizes
First Place: $750 cash prize
Second Place: Lohff & Pfeiffer Full Professional Overhaul
Third Place: TBA
ALL finalists will receive a 20% off coupon for a Lohff & Pfeiffer Pro Overhaul.
Judging
The preliminary video audition will be judged by a committee during the week following the application deadline. Applicants will be notified as to whether or not they have been selected as a finalist or not by one week following the deadline.
The selected finalists will be judged at the live competition by a committee of three guest judges.
All judges for the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition are professional clarinetists and experienced teachers with performance expertise as orchestral musicians, military band musicians, soloists, chamber musicians, and recording artists.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2024 judges.
Competition History
The Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition was established in 2016 by Paula Forrest, in memory of her father. Ms. Forrest lives in Ames, Iowa, and is active as a pianist, teacher, and artistic director of the Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association. Additional benefactors are Erika Saunders, granddaughter of Sidney Forrest, and her husband, Brian Saunders.
The competition is hosted by the University of Maryland’s Clarinet Professor, Robert DiLutis at the University of Maryland campus.
Sidney Forrest’s Collection
Sidney Forrest’s vast collection of music for clarinet has been donated to the archives of the International Clarinet Association, located in the Special Collections Department at the University of Maryland’s Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library.
Travel
The Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition does not fund any expenses for travel to and from the competition site, including transportation, food and beverages, lodging, or any extraneous costs. These costs must be provided for by the competition finalist and/or their family. Subway and bus transportation are available from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Dulles International Airport, and Reagan National Airport.