GGS Chamber Music Competition

We are pleased to return once again to Koerner Hall to experience the wonderful playing of the chamber ensembles of the Glenn Gould School.

The Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition is a free annual event and an outstanding opportunity to hear classical music performed by small ensembles comprised of the next generation of artists – students of The Glenn Gould School. The finals take place in the stunning acoustics of The Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall with over $11,000 in prizes available to be won!

Important Dates:

Eligibility:

The competition is open to all GGS students.

There are two entrance categories:
1) Duos
2) Chamber Groups of three or more

Individuals may be members in multiple groups.

• Orchestral Fellows are not eligible to receive a cash prize.
• Groups that include a faculty member or a Rebanks Fellow are not eligible.
• Groups of four or more may add one player for one of their two pieces (for example, a string quartet could add a pianist for a piano quintet).
• Vocalists may participate in the duo category with art song (Lieder, Melodie, art song, etc.). Arias are not permitted. Cantatas are permitted. Vocalists who wish to participate in the larger chamber category must have their repertoire approved by Associate Dean and Director of Chamber Music, Barry Shiffman.
• A group who won 1st prize previously is ineligible to compete again (A group is considered the same if more than 50 percent of the personnel are returning).
• Any member who has won first prize twice during their program is ineligible to compete.
• Groups do not have to be enrolled in the Chamber Music course to be eligible.

Regulations:

Preliminary Round

• Each group must prepare works from two contrasting composers.
• Groups should be prepared to perform 25-35 minutes of this repertoire in this round.
• Individual movements are accepted.
• Participants must provide a PDF copy of their music for the panel, submitted in advance, indicating the specific sections planned to be performed in this round.
• Please note that the jury may request to hear any part of either works and may ask you to stop and start at their discretion.

Final Round

• Ensembles will perform repertoire from their Preliminary Round list, at the discretion of the jury.
• The jury reserves the right not to award a prize in either category should a sufficient level of excellence not be demonstrated.
• Performing in this competition does not exempt students enrolled in Chamber Music from the end of semester performance.

Prizes

Cash awards have been made possible through generous support in honour of R.S. Williams & Sons Company Ltd.

Generous additional support has been provided from the late Claudia Krawchuk​.

Prizes may be awarded in each category as follows:

Chamber Groups (three or more):

• 1st prize: $3,500
• 2nd prize: $2,250
• 3rd prize:  $1,500

Duos:

• 1st prize:  $1,500
• 2nd prize: $1,000
• 3rd prize: $500

Grand Prize

• The Grand Prize winner will receive an additional $1,000 on top of the first prize award for their category (Duo vs. Chamber Groups).