Competitions & Awards
The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) offers more than $750,000 in competition and award prizes on the local, state and national level. The Biennial Young Artist and Ellis Duo-Pianists competitions award a total of $92,000 in awards and two years of performance bookings. Additional competitions are sponsored by the Federation in a wide range of categories, including voice, instrumental music, composition, dance, conducting, handicapped and visually impaired, and music therapy. NFMC also sponsors more than 38 annual and biennial awards for students desiring to attend the 20 sponsored Summer Music Centers.
Click here to download a copy of the current Competitions & Awards Chart
Applicant Instructions:
- Carefully read the NFMC Entrance Rules. (listed below)
- Click here for instructions on printing application forms and additional information sheets for a specific competition/award.
- To see specific competitions/awards, click on a competition category.
- Print out, complete and mail the application form, following all instruction for the specific competition.
- Contact the chairman of the competition for additional information.
Rules:
Applicants MUST be native-born or naturalized American citizens. (EXCEPTION: Lynn Freeman Olson Composition, Lynn Freeman Olson Piano Pedagogy Award, Ruth Morse Wilson Handbell Award and International Music Camp—where at least 50% of recipients must be U.S. citizens.)
Applicants must be members or become members of NFMC either by individual or group affiliation before applications are accepted. (EXCEPTION: Young Artist Awards, Ellis Piano Duo Awards, Ruth Morse Wilson Handbell Award, Centennial Chamber Music Award, Summer Music Center Awards and the three Armed Forces Awards. Application forms include necessary information for membership.)
In competitions requiring NFMC membership applicants must hold membership in the division in which the competition is listed (Ex. Junior entrants must be members of the Junior Division, Student entrants of the Student/Collegiate Division, etc.) No individual may enter, in the same year, competitions in multiple divisions even if they hold membership in more than one division.
No First place winner of an NFMC award listed in the Competitions and Awards Chart is eligible to compete again for the same award with the exception of the NFMC Veterans Awards where entrants may win first place awards multiple times but not consecutively, and the Jr. Composers competition in which first place winners may compete in a different category but not the same category.