Instrumental Competition

Dates and Deadlines:

Applications due by January 15th at 11:59PM 2026.

The Instrumental Division live round takes place in Chicago at PianoForte Concert Hall on March 7th 2026.

Competition rules:

Application Deadlines and Fees:

Application fees are 50$ payable by check or zelle. Fees are due at the time of application. Applications are due by January 15th 2026 at 11:59PM.

Eligibility:

  • Instrumentalists must be 16-30 years old to apply (age as of January 15th, 2026).

  • Residency status or school attendance in one of the following states:  IL, IN, MI, WI, MN, IA.

  • Past MCW award winners are ineligible to compete for an award the have already received but may compete for a different award if otherwise eligible (e.g., a 2023 Nerenberg Award winner cannot receive a 2024 Nerenberg Award, but may receive a Farwell award, applicants who applied and won in Junior previously may apply in Senior division)

  • Citizenship not required to apply, however, all applicants must have a U.S. Social Security Number. All awards are subject to US taxation; winners who are US citizens or resident aliens will be asked to complete a W-9. Non-resident aliens and others who are not US citizens may still acquire a SSN; please review https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf for more information about how to apply. Please anticipate that this process may take up to 2 months.

  • Farwell Award Eligibility: Farwell Awards are granted first and foremost based on merit, but are available only to women-identifying persons who have appropriately demonstrated financial need on their application. We encourage everyone to submit a demonstration of financial need as it will expand your chances of winning an award.

    Demonstration of Financial Need is NOT required to apply for awards, but is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. To prove financial need submit: a statement of need (write a letter describing your need for financial aid in detail. 500 word maximum). Include supporting documents that back up your statement. These may include: if you are self-supporting- your most recent federal tax returns, if you are supported by your family- your parents most recent tax returns (please blackout social security numbers), PDFs of documents from your current school’s financial aid office showing the need based financial aid provided to you this year, and any other documents that outline financial need.

Grounds for disqualification:

  • Inability to prove residency status or provide proof of age.

  • Has won an MCW award in the past in their intended division of competition.

  • Videos that appear to have been edited within the performance of any musical selection or that appear not to match the identity of the applicant.

  • Performances in which memorization requirements appear not to be met (i.e., evidence to suggest a candidate is reading music outside of camera view) or inability to perform without music where required in live round.

  • Performances that lack the accompaniment required by the repertoire.

  • “No-call no-show”s, or candidates who are late for their time slot, at the final in-person round.

  • Repertoire that does not meet the requirements as stipulated on division page.

  • Unpaid application fees at time of application.

  • Incomplete applications.

Disqualification is entirely at the discretion of MCW. All determinations regarding disqualification are final and cannot be appealed.

Materials needed to apply:

  • General application

  • Repertoire list- including what is performed on the audition video, and what is to be performed in the live round.

  • Audition Video

  • Headshot*

  • 250 word bio*

  • Application fee (50$ check or zelle)

OPTIONAL BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:

  • Demonstration of Financial Need

*to be used for announcement of winners

Awards

Senior Nerenberg Division

For women-identifying instrumentalists aged 23-30.

1st Prize:

  • $5,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

2nd Prize:

  • $3,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance required at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No additional remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Junior Nerenberg Division

For women-identifying instrumentalists aged 16-22.

1st Prize:

  • $2,500 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

2nd Prize:

  • $2,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • MCW-hosted public performance***

*** A short 15-20 min performance required at an MCW club concert (club concerts are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 11am-12pm) as recipient of award. No additional remuneration is provided for this performance, however the club will pay for your collaborative pianist.

Farwell Trust Award(s) 

Farwell awards are discretionary awards which may be given to instrumentalists in either division regardless of whether they are to receive other awards. Winners are determined as worthy of support by the judges as well as members of the Board of Directors. This award amount is flexible and will depend on the amount made available to MCW by the Farwell Trust. Winners will also receive 2 years of MCW membership and may be scheduled for an MCW-hosted public performance.

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Audition Repertoire Requirements

VIDEO ROUND:

  • Record at least one complete work from the repertoire guidelines for your instrument. (Percussionists: see special guidelines along with repertoire below)

  • Audition videos are to be a minimum of 5 minutes, with no upper limit. Applicants are advised to take advantage of the time to demonstrate as broad a range of artistry, variety, and technical skill as possible.

  • Repertoire for the video round does not need to be the same as the live round, as long as it meets the requirements.

LIVE ROUND

  • Applicants should determine a list of repertoire that satisfies the requirements for their instrument.

  • No changes to repertoire lists will be allowed after application is received.

  • Repertoire lists should be a minimum of 15 minutes in length. No maximum requirement.

  • Judges will choose from candidates’ repertoire list which selections they will hear during the audition window. Candidates will not be notified ahead of time which musical selections they will be asked to perform. However, you may choose your first selection.

  • All music shall be performed with accompaniment as applicable (orchestral reductions with cuts, etc. are acceptable), for all rounds of competition.

If applicants have any questions about whether their chosen repertoire satisfies the repertoire requirements, e-mail the Competition Director at scholarshipmcw@gmail.com well in advance of deadlines.


Classical Guitar

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  1. One movement from a composition by Bach OR One movement of a work from the Classical era

  2. One movement of a work in Impressionist, Romantic, or Neo-Romantic style

  3. Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

Harp

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  1. One movement of a work from the Baroque era

  2. Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty (memorization not required)

  3. One standard concert piece

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

Percussion

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  1. A 2-mallet solo of choice (ex. Bach on marimba, ragtime or modern xylophone)

  2. A contemporary 4-mallet marimba or vibraphone solo

  3. A snare drum solo of your choice

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

Please note: for the Video round, the 2 or 4-mallet solo must be submitted. The snare solo does not qualify for the video round.

MCW will provide rented instruments for the competition live round (rented instrument budget up to $500 per finalist, finalists pay difference on higher amounts of instruments needed)

Piano

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  1. Bach Prelude and Fugue OR the first movement of a Sonata from the Classical Era

  2. A work of Romantic, Impressionist, or Neo-Romantic style (pre-1950)

  3. Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

Strings

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  1. One movement of unaccompanied Bach

  2. Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty (composed between 1750 and 1950)

  3. Work composed after 1950 (memorization not required)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

Woodwinds/Brass

All works are to be memorized unless otherwise stated.

  • Complete movement of a concerto of advanced difficulty (from different era than sonata/sonatina/sonatine) 

  • First movement of a sonata/sonatina/sonatine of advanced difficulty (from different era than  concerto) (memorization not required)

  • Work composed after 1950 (NOT a sonata/sonatina/sonatine) (memorization not required)

In order to meet required minimum time limits, applicants are permitted to submit additional movements for the sonata/sonatina/sonatine requirement (as in the case of certain sonatas such as Hindemith, which would be too short on their own)

*At least one work must be by a composer who is woman-identifying and/or BIPOC

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Contact the Competition Director with any questions about fulfilling the repertoire requirements: scholarshipmcw@gmail.com