The Jacqueline Avent Summer Music Scholarship Fund was established by Walter E. Nance, M.D., C’54, and Mayna Avent Nance, in memory of her sister, Jacqueline Avent. The purpose of the competition is to award scholarships to outstanding concerto competition winners, and celebrate the artistic excellence of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
All instrumental students of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival are invited to enter the Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition.
Early rounds of the concerto competition will be held online. Applications must be received by February 15th 2027 to be eligible. Finalists will be invited to perform their entire submission live during the first week of the festival. From that round, three winners will be selected to perform with the Cumberland Orchestra or Sewanee Symphony during the Festival. Up to eight additional students will be selected to perform their work in the Concerto Showcase during the final week of SSMF.
Eligibility
All instrumental festival participants in the full (4-week) program are eligible to compete in the concerto competition. Applications must be received by February 15th 2027 via Acceptd. Applications must include a complete video recording of the movement you wish to enter, with piano. Piano score must be uploaded as an attachment with your application.
Repertoire
General guidelines for all participants
Please verify the availability of your concerto in advance of entering the competition. Orchestral parts that are difficult or expensive to source, or who’s rental may be delayed may not be selected for final performance, and will be a factor in determining your final selection as a performer. In addition, you should factor in the difficulty of your orchestral parts, as that will inform final selection. Works that require extensive rehearsal time will not be considered.
As an example, the Schwanter percussion concerto is an extensive orchestral work, with significant instrumentation challenges, and would not be a good selection for this competition.
Your entire selection should not exceed 12 minutes. If necessary, you can make cuts in your piece, or select a single movement of a multi movement work.
Concerto Competition FAQ
Who can participate in the Concerto Competition?
All instrumental students currently enrolled in the full (4-weeks) Sewanee Summer Music Festival are eligible. All ages are welcome. The Concerto Competition is open to individual students playing concertos. Duos or trios are not eligible.
Can vocalists compete in the Concerto Competition?
Vocal students have their own competition; the SSMF Vocal Chamber Music Competition.
Is there a repertoire list, or can I play anything?
There is no set repertoire list, but selections must have an available orchestral accompaniment by rental or purchase at a reasonable rate. Works may be a single movement of a multi-movement work (such as a Mozart Violin Concerto movement) or a stand-alone work (without movements, such as Carnival of Venice for trumpet) of no more than 12 minutes duration. Careful consideration should be put into choosing a piece. For example, a work requiring extensive orchestra rehearsal time, or one with limited audience appeal, might hinder a candidate’s chances. In addition, expensive or hard to find rental works should be avoided if possible, and will be a determining factor when final selections are made.
How many rounds are there?
There are a total of 3 rounds; a pre-screening video round by the instrumental faculty of your instrument, a video semi-final round (using the same audition video) by a panel of different instrumentalists, and one in-person live round during the first week of the festival by a new panel of Festival Faculty judges.
How are applications judged?
Students are judged on their artistry and mastery, and the judges’ assessment of which performances will best represent the Festival.
Do I have to let the SSMF Staff know that I want to apply before the Festival begins?
Yes. To enter, check the box indicating that you wish to participate in the Jacqueline Avant Concerto Competition on your Acceptd application AND upload a scanned copy of the piano accompaniment with your application.
May I use music?
All performers in the Concerto Competition must play from memory in the final round, as well as in performance with the Orchestras.
What do I do about an accompanist?
The Festival will supply an accompanist for the final round. You will have a short rehearsal; it is highly recommended that you arrive feeling comfortable with the piano accompaniment to make this rehearsal run smoothly. You must provide an original copy of the piano accompaniment music for the competition.
When do I audition?
Preliminary & semi-final rounds will happen via video audition, and the final round will be held during the first week of the Festival, so come prepared to audition!
What happens if I win?
You will perform as a featured soloist on one of the Cumberland Orchestra or Sewanee Symphony concerts in weeks 3 & 4 of the Festival. Competition winners are eligible for the Jacqueline Avent Music Scholarship awards for the following summer, as well as other potential opportunities.
Up to eight additional participants will be selected to perform in a Concerto Showcase concert in the final week of SSMF.
How do I enter?
Students who have indicated they want to participate in the Concerto Competition with their Acceptd Applications, have included a full video recording of their concerto movement and uploaded a scanned copy of the piano score to their piece are entered! Participants selected to proceed to the in-person finals will be notified by May 15, 2027.
Registration for the 2027 Competition will be sent to admitted participants closer to the start of the festival.
Photos by David Andrews