I. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

 

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

•  INSTRUMENTALISTS: all applicants must have reached age 16 or be a graduating high school senior, and not have reached age 26* on the date of the Final Audition.

•  VOCALISTS: all applicants must have reached age 18 or be a graduating high school senior, and not have reached age 32* on the date of the Final Audition.

 

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• FIRST TIME APPLICANTS: An applicant who is participating in the Preliminary Auditions must be a resident of San Diego County, Imperial County, or Baja California del Norte for a minimum of one year at the time of the Preliminary Auditions - OR - have been a full-time registered student (12 semester units) in a college or university in the above geographic area since the preceding September. Proof of full-time registration must be provided with the application.

• RETURNING APPLICANTS who did not pass through to the Final Audition: A returning applicant who is again participating in the Preliminary Auditions must be a resident of San Diego County, Imperial County, or Baja California del Norte for a minimum of one year at the time of the Preliminary Auditions - OR - have been a full-time registered student (12 semester units) in a college or university in the above geographic area since the preceding September. Proof of full-time registration must be provided with the application.

• FINALISTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: Residency requirements do not apply to participants who have previously competed in the Final Auditions.

 

II. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

All interested participants must complete the Application to Audition online at musicalmerit.wildapricot.org

The requirements to complete the online application include:

1. Create (or update) free membership at musicalmerit.wildapricot.org​

   • Upload bio and photo for profile

   • Upload proof of residency (finalists excluded)

2. Register for Auditions

• Input complete list of all repertoire to be performed including full title, opus, and composer

• Application Fee: $15.00 (nonrefundable)

• PRELIMINARY ROUND applicants need the additional following items:

1. Statement of Musical Goals*

2. Approval from your private music teacher. LINK: Instructor Approval Form

3. Transcript of credit from the school last attended (scanned copy is acceptable)

 

                    3.  Preliminary video submission regulations:

                               after proof of residency and repertoire have been approved, participants will be                                          sent a form to submit urls for preliminary round video submissions.                                                                    submissions must adhere to the following rules:

• PDFs of original scores must be submitted via email by april 15th, 2025

• repertoire selections must be recorded as one video per piece or movement.

• for return applicants, any repertoire used in the semi-final auditions of previous years may not be repeated.  (this does not impact prelim videos, as returning semi-finalists and finalists skip the preliminary round.)

• video recordings must be made with a single standing camera without zooming or panning.

• no edits of video or audio are allowed post-recording.

• video recordings must be made in the last 6 months.

• video recordings should be good quality, but do not need to be professionally produced.  recording with a smartphone is an acceptable mode of recording.

• in each video recording, the performer (and instrument if applicable) must be fully visible.

• video recordings must be uploaded to youtube and be set to "public" or "unlisted."

• performers must not introduce themselves in the recording.

• each video must be titled using the following format:  first initial and last name, instrument:  numbered audition selection - full title of piece, full name of composer.  example:  J. Smith, piano:  piece #1 - sonata no. 6 in f major, op. 10 no. 2, ii. allegretto, ludwig van beethoven

• for strings, winds, and voice auditions:  repertoire that requires piano accompaniment must be performed with live piano accompaniment visible in the video.  please be sure the performer's instrument or voice is heard over the accompaniment.

• for piano auditions:  performers will be evaluated based on their performance, not on the type/model of piano or keyboard used, or its condition.

 

 

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1 at 11:59pm

PRELIMINARY RECORDINGS DUE: April 15 at 11:59pm

RETURNING SEMI-FINALIST APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 15 at 11:59pm

 

III. GENERAL AUDITION RULES FOR APPLICANTS:

Accompanist:

You must provide your own accompanist, if needed. Your accompanist should arrive with you at the time of your audition.

Repertoire:

Audition repertoire should be from the appropriate, standard established repertoire. You are expected to present exactly the same repertoire program as in your Preliminary Auditions should you be chosen to compete in this year’s Final Auditions. Deadline to request changes to proposed audition repertoire is May 10 at 11:59PM.

Repetition of Repertoire:

No Final Auditions applicant may present compositions prepared for Musical Merit auditions in prior years (note exception regarding operatic arias listed under Required Vocal Repertoire.)

Original Scores:

Applicants must provide original, printed scores of all music to be performed for the use of the judges at each level of the competition. Copyright laws do not permit us to allow the use of photocopies, except as duplicate copies of your originals. If your music is downloaded, the pages must have the PERMISSION FOR USE designation, and if printing from a repertoire CD, you must provide the original CD. If you perform something that is no longer in print, you must provide acknowledgement from the publisher stating this fact.

Audition Times:

You will be notified of your audition times at least one week prior to the date of your audition. If you pass through the Preliminary Auditions, you will be notified of your Semi-Final Auditions time by phone or email on the evening of the Preliminary Auditions.

Schedule:

Participants selected for the Final Auditions are urged to keep their entire audition day free so the judges may call them back should they require a second hearing for final deliberation. Finalists also attend the Reception for Judges and Finalists on Saturday.

Awards Concert: It is MANDATORY for all winners to perform in the Awards Concert on Sunday, or forfeit their awards. All other participants are encouraged to attend this free concert.

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