Rosen-Schaffel Competition
The Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists is a prestigious annual event dedicated to discovering and nurturing the talents of the next generation of classical musicians. Hosted in partnership with the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, this competition invites promising young instrumentalists from across the nation to showcase their skills in a vibrant and supportive environment.
Participants compete for a chance to win generous cash prizes that support their musical careers. The competition features a panel of distinguished judges, including renowned musicians and educators, who provide invaluable feedback and mentorship to the contestants.
Named in honor of Mrs. Muriel Rosen and two of Mrs. Rosen’s family members, Nancy and Neil Schaffel, the Rosen-Schaffel Competition continues to uphold a legacy of excellence and artistic growth. This event is a cornerstone of Appalachian State University’s commitment to fostering the arts and providing exceptional opportunities for young musicians to achieve their dreams.
Join us each year in celebrating the extraordinary talent and dedication of these young artists as they embark on their musical journeys and inspire audiences with their performances. You can also view the winners and finalists from previous competitions.
13th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists
July 6, 2024
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Rosen Concert Hall, Broyhill Music Center
Prizes
First Place: $2,500 and invitation to perform during the festival season following the competition
Second Place: $2,000 (should the First Place Winner be unable to perform during the following festival season, the Second Place Winner will be invited to fulfill this engagement)
Third Place: $1,500
Audience Choice: $1,000
All other finalists: $500
Note: All prizewinners must complete appropriate IRS forms to receive disbursement of prize monies. Payments of $1,500 or more may be subject to North Carolina or Federal withholding. Prize award eligibility is conditional upon authorization for employment in the United States, or otherwise eligible to receive payment under state and federal laws.
Eligibility and application procedures
The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a music degree program (up to age 26) — during the application window time of the competition — at a college/university* located in the following Southeastern states: NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TN, KY and VA.
*Colleges/universities that are accredited by the SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges).
- All finalists competing in the final round must provide an accompanist for the competition. Both the applicant and the accompanist must be available to travel to Boone, NC, for the final round of competition, should they be selected as one of the finalists for the competition. Finalists are responsible for their own travel expenses.
- A First Place Winner from a previous Rosen-Schaffel Competition is not eligible to return for future competitions.
- Prize Award eligibility is conditional upon authorization for employment in the United States, or otherwise eligible to receive payment under state and federal laws.
Application materials
All materials listed below must be submitted as part of the application. If you have trouble accessing the application, please contact: rosen-schaffelcompetition@appstate.edu or call 828-262-6084 x101.
- Audio recording of the selection to be performed in the competition (mp3). Please name file with First and Last Name. Audio recordings only; no videos, please.
- Please note that for the preliminary round, recordings will be shared with jurors for a blind adjudication process; therefore, recordings must be anonymous to help protect the objectivity of the judging process. Submissions that identify the applicant in the audio recording will be disqualified.
Repertoire requirements for application
- The repertoire must be complete works, including concerto movements or other multi-movement works, totaling a minimum of 15 minutes of music; however, a single movement of a major concerto may be presented, as long as it meets the minimum time requirement of 15 minutes. Cuts of accompaniment material are acceptable.
- Instrumentalists should submit concertos or other comparable works for soloist and orchestra.
- Vocalists should submit two arias or other comparable works for voice and orchestra. Vocalists may add additional repertoire to reach the 15 minute minimum audition time limit.
- Please note that multi-movement works (or multiple works for vocalists) must be combined into one audio file (mp3).
Repertoire requirements for live performance
- Contestants must perform the same repertoire that is submitted with the application.
- Repertoire must be memorized.
- The final live round of the competition is a public event in which contestants will be allowed to perform for approximately 15-20 minutes (20 minutes, max). If the complete work exceeds 20 minutes, contestants may select single movements for the live performance.
Apply to participate in the competition
Applications and application materials must be submitted online no later than April 8, 2024.
Jury process
A panel of distinguished musicians, conductors, and collegiate educators serve as jurors for the preliminary round. Based on recordings submitted, jurors select the overall top six (6) applicants via a blind adjudication process to compete at a public event held as part of An Appalachian Summer Festival’s season. In the event that one of the finalists selected cannot compete in the final round, two (2) alternates are named.
In the final live round of the competition, a panel of prominent symphony conductors will select a First Place, Second Place and Third Place Winner. The decision of the judges is final. In addition, the competition audience will select an “Audience Choice Award Winner.”
Past live competition judges have included such acclaimed conductors as Gerard Schwarz with the Eastern Festival Orchestra, Palm Beach Symphony, and All-Star Orchestra; José-Louis Novo with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra; Roger Kalia with Symphony New Hampshire and Orchestra Santa Monica; Robert Moody with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Jacomo Bairos with the Nu Deco Ensemble.
History of the Rosen-Schaffel Competition
The Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists, established in July 2011, is a program of An Appalachian Summer Festival, the university’s annual summer festival of the performing and visual arts. The competition is co-presented with the university’s highly acclaimed Hayes School of Music, and is named in honor of Mrs. Muriel Rosen and two of Mrs. Rosen’s family members, Nancy and Neil Schaffel.
Arnold and Muriel Rosen’s vision and generosity led to the founding of An Appalachian Summer Festival in 1983. Central to the festival’s founding principles is a belief in the importance of supporting young American artists, and promoting the professional endeavors of young artists pursuing careers in the fine arts. This belief, championed by the Rosens and their family, remains an integral component of the festival’s mission and identity, and is clearly reflected in this remarkable program.
