High School Music Competition | Civic Music Association of Milwaukee

2021 Results and more...

FAQs

The CIVIC MUSIC MKE High School Competition is a well-regarded Milwaukee competition for accomplished high school age musicians. Musicians compete for the opportunity to perform on the Showcase Recital and to be one of four musicians to receive a total of $1,500 in Young Artist Scholarships, and one to receive the Lee Guse Memorial Jazz Scholarship.

APPLY BY: December 15, 2021

AUDITION DAY: January 22, 2022

SHOWCASE RECITAL: Sunday, February 6, 2022 (Venue and details to follow.)

AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES

Showcase Recital Performance Opportunity
Up to ten top classical and one jazz performer from Audition Day are invited to
perform in recital. Each performer earns a $250 performance award. (Musicians
must perform in the recital to receive the award).
Additional Recital Performance Opportunity

Recital performers will have the opportunity to perform on another recital being
planned. Date, time and venue will be available soon.

Young Artist Scholarships: for classical instrumentalists and vocalists

$1,500 in scholarships is distributed to musicians at the judge's discretion
Lee Guse Memorial Jazz Scholarship: f or jazz instrumentalists and vocalists: $750 scholarship and $250 performance award for the top jazz musician

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility:

Open to high school vocal and instrumental students in grades 10-12 who live in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Washington or Racine County performing at or above WSMA Class A. While your piece must be at this level, it need not be on their actual list. Those who have received a Young Artist Scholarship in two consecutive years will be ineligible for a third scholarship. (They remain eligible to perform on the Showcase Recital if selected.)
Video Audition:

Four to six minutes of performance time is required. Any six minute portion of longer pieces may be chosen by cutting long introductions or accompaniment interludes. The timer will stop the performer at six minutes without penalty. Memorization is optional.
Repertoire:

Instrumentalists: One piece or one movement of a multi-movement piece.
Vocalists: Two contrasting classical pieces; one in a foreign language and one in English. A musical theater piece may be substituted in for the piece in English. For this Competition, the word "classical" refers to an art song or an aria from an opera, operetta or oratorio; and the words "musical theater" refer to a staged Broadway production.
Jazz Applicants: One ballad, one up-tempo rhythm changes tune and Ellington's “C Jam Blues” - - instrumentalists play the head and improvise to the chord changes; and vocalists sing the head with the text and then scat.
Click here for more details.
Accompanist:

All applicants are expected to perform with an accompanist and must provide their own (unless the piece is meant to be unaccompanied).
Attire:
Suitable performance attire. (No jeans, shorts or sneakers, please.)