The Award

The winners of the 2025 Young Artist Competition will receive:

1. 1st Place:
2. A beautiful crystal award trophy,
3. A $1000 scholarship
4. A solo performance with the National Chamber Ensemble on December 20, 2025.
5. 2nd Place: A $500 scholarship
6. 3rd Place: A $250 scholarship
7. (Second and third place prize winners in addition to the first place winner may also be invited to perform at the December 20 concert.)

 

 

Rules and Procedures

1. ELIGIBILITY: Applicants between the ages of 12 - 18 years old and who are residents of Virginia, District of Columbia or Maryland can apply for the competition. Applicant must also provide two recommendations from teachers or professional musicians.  The National Chamber Ensemble reserves the right to accept or reject applications. Ensure applicants are available for the live performance on Dec 20. 

2. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Fill out and submit the application form and send allong with recommendation letters via email to ncecontact@yahoo.com, or via regular mail along with the application fee to Auditions Coordinator, National Chamber Ensemble, 2776 South Arlington Mill Dr, Suite 265, Arlington, VA 22206 U.S.A.

3. THE APPLICATION FEE: The application fee is $50 and must be received by November 11, 2025. This is not a postmark date.

The fee may be paid in one of the following forms: online using credit card or PayPal (see below), via a bank check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars; by enclosing U.S. dollars; or by VISA or MASTERCARD. No other form of payment can be accepted.

4. AUDITION VIDEO: YouTube videos are used in the preliminary rounds. Applicants must upload their videos, indicate their titles on the application and also email links to ncecontact@yahoo.com. Please put each movement of longer works on a separate video. Write your name, age, repertoire in the description on YouTube.

THE REQUIRED RECORDED REPERTOIRE IS:

Two COMPLETE contrasting works or one movement of a classical or romantic concerto not longer than 15 minutes in length. (A short work can be added to a movement of a concerto if the total does not exceed 15 minutes.)

5. DEADLINES: The final deadline for submitting an application for a live audition is Tuesday, November 11, 2024 (The application fee of $50 is non-refundable) Finalists will be notified by email or phone by Monday, November 17, 2025

6. LIVE COMPETITION: Finalists must be available Saturday, November 22, 2025 for a live competition finals between 10:30 am and and 3 pm. If playing a concerto, finalists must provide their own accompanist. The live competition will be held at Arlington Arts, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA. (Finals are open to the public)

7. MEMORIZATION: Solo repertoire on all instruments must be performed by memory.

8. Photography: The National Chamber Ensemble reserves the right to photograph and record the competition and performance for Public Relations purposes.

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Application Form:

 

Registration Fee: $50

We accept check/money order and Credit card. See application for details.

If you wish to pay Online by Credit Card or PayPal you can do it below.
 

 

Application Deadlines

Submission:
(Deadline for application and Youtube video submission): Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Finals (Live):
Saturday, November 22, 2025
(Finals are open to the public)
Finalists will be notified by Nov. 17, 2025

Winners Performance:
Saturday, December 20, 2025

Application Form:

 

Pay Application Fee:

Online:

or send payment by mail
(along with application)

Contact:
National Chamber Ensemble
2776 South Arlington Mill Dr
Suite 265
Arlington, VA 22206
Telephone: (703) 685-7590
ncecontact@yahoo.com

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Past 1st Place Recipients

2015: Avery Gagliano, 13 (piano)
2016: Brandon Du, 12 (violin)
2017: Junliang Li, 15 (piano)
2018: Runa Matsushita 13 (violin)
2019: Michael Chen, 13 (piano)
2020 Andrew Gray, 17 (violin)
2021 Viet Dao, 15 (piano)
2022 Yixuan Li, 13 (violin)
2023 William Hsieh, 13 (piano)
2024 Lilia Li, 15 (violin)


Pictures