29th Annual Hellam Competition
May 23, 2026
Competition Information
Missouri State University | Springfield, Missouri
First Prize $7,000** Second Prize $3,500 Third Prize $1,500Young artists who do not place into prizes will receive a stipend of $300.
**May be invited to perform with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in the 2026-27 season.
The first prize winner will receive $3,500 and a contract to perform with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. The remaining $3,500 will be awarded after the SSO performance. Failure to fulfill the SSO engagement would result in forfeiture of the $3,500.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be an instrumentalist between 18 and 26 years of age and enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies, or must have graduated within the last year. (Exceptions are at the discretion of the Hellam Committee.) We will not be accepting vocalists this year.
Audition Repertoire
- Submit repertoire on Acceptd and provide all information prompted on the website.
- Submit at least one complete movement of a multi-movement, large-scale work composed for solo instrument and orchestra. The submission is to be accompanied by piano reduction of the orchestral score, or live performance with orchestra.
- Accompanists are encouraged to make cuts in the orchestral introduction and following tutti sections.
- Submissions should include cadenzas of the soloist’s choice in works that fall into that performance practice tradition.
- Submissions of selected movement excerpts will not be considered. One complete movement will satisfy the repertoire requirement.
- Should the applicant advance to the semi-finals or finals, the work originally submitted to the competition must be performed.
Entry deadline is March 14, 2026.
Applicants should avoid selecting the following concertos as these works have been recently performed at the SSO subscription concerts:
- Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
- Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
- Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
To submit audition materials:
- Please go to https://app.getacceptd.com/hellamcompetition.
- Under “Start an Application,” select “2026 Hellam International Young Artists’ Competition.”
- Click the green “Apply to” button below to begin.
- Applicants will be directed to a page to create an Acceptd account or login to an existing account. A valid email is required (check spam folder).
- Applicants will be directed back to the Hellam International Young Artists’ Competition application page. Fill out all fields, upload your materials, and submit the $145 fee.
Additional Information
Top scored entrants will be notified by April 11, 2026, of their advancement to the semi-final round.
Repertoire must be the same as entered through Acceptd. Entrants must provide five (5) copies of their score—one for each adjudicator. Please be sure the scores are all the same.
Semi-final round will take place the morning of Saturday, May 23, 2026. Entrants will perform one movement, memorized, with piano accompaniment.
Final round will take place in the afternoon of Saturday, May 23, 2026. Finalists will perform the complete work, memorized, with piano accompaniment.
HOUSING:
Hosted housing may not be available. Finalists should plan on a hotel stay during the competition. Hotel stays are the responsibility of the finalist. Adjusted rates may be available.
ACCOMPANISTS:
A list of possible local accompanists will be provided if needed. All arrangements will be between the finalist and the local accompanist contacted.
Adjudicators will confer and award prizes immediately following the completion of the performances.
