Ross-Roberts Competition for High School Woodwind, Brass & Percussion Players

The 2021 Competition has passed. Congratulations to the winners and participants!

Application and Video Submission Deadline

• 2021 Application Opens: Friday, January 28, 2021 at 12:00pm
• 2021 Application Closes: Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11:59pm

Dates for the 2022 competition will be posted here in August 2021. This competition traditionally takes place in mid-March.

Virtual Competition

Our 2021 competition will be virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic and we are asking all participants to submit a video with their application to serve as their entry to be judged. Because of that, we do not have an in-person date and time for the competition. Please see below for all video requirements and special instructions.

Winners will be announced no later than March 26, 2021.

Fees

A $35 non-refundable application fee is required by the deadline. Apply online using a credit card.

Eligibility

Students currently enrolled in grades 9 – 12 who play woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments and live within 50 miles of Washington, DC. First-place winners from previous years are ineligible.

Awards

• First Prize: $1,500
• Second Prize: $1,000
• Third Prize: $700

Repertoire and Accompaniment

We recognize that the coronavirus pandemic complicates the use of an accompanist for your recordings. Normally we provide an accompanist free of charge for your use on the day of the competition. To adapt that service for a virtual competition, we are happy to arrange for you to perform with our accompanist in a socially distant and safe setting if you need it and we will make your recording for you. This recording session will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Lutheran Church of the Reformation, timing dependent on how many students need to use this service. If you need to take advantage of this option, please email highschoolwind@fmmc.org by March 1, 2021. We will then develop a schedule and email it to all participants.

Woodwind & Brass Requirements

• All works must be currently published.
• Any selection written to be accompanied must be performed with accompanist.
• Choose a 15–20 minute program of 3 works, each from contrasting periods (transcriptions acceptable):
  • One must be from either the 20th or 21st century.
  • One must be unaccompanied, 2–5 minutes duration (an etude is acceptable).
  • One must be a fast movement of a major concerto.
  • At least one work must be memorized.

Percussion Requirements

• The performer must provide all percussion equipment.
• Any selection written to be accompanied must be performed with accompanist.
• Choose a 15–20 minute program of 3 solo works:
  • 1 each on Snare, Mallets (original or transcribed) using 2 or 4 mallets, and Timpani using 4 drums
  • OR a Snare solo and 2 Mallet solos in contrasting styles/periods, using 4 mallets on at least one solo.

Video Requirements

• Your video must be submitted with your application as a link, either uploaded to YouTube (unlisted) or as a Google Drive Link. You will not be able to upload the file itself, or email us the file. It should be included with your Application Form. If you participate in our recording session, we will send the video for you to include with your application.
• If you opt to submit your video via Google Drive instead of YouTube, please ensure that you use a readily accessible and high quality file type, such as MP4.
• The video cannot include ANY editing other than transitions between pieces. It should be a single video with multiple pieces. These may be recorded separately and combined into a single video.
• The recording should not contain any breaks within a piece. Introduce yourself at the beginning, and before playing each piece, please state the title of the work and the composer. Do this for the start of each piece.
• You can record these videos at home using your own setup or at a recording studio such as Blue House Studios. For some tips and tricks, check out these videos here, here, here, here, and here!
• If you would like assistance on how to record these videos, technical advice (particularly on microphones, etc.), please email highschoolwind@fmmc.org.
• For each work, you must also submit a PDF of the full score, including accompaniment, if any. You may download the PDF from IMSLP.org, or scan your paper score into a PDF on your computer. There will be a place to upload and submit these files in the application itself.

Contact

John Hoven and Carole Falvo
Woodwind, Brass, & Percussion Competition Co-Chairs
highschoolwind@fmmc.org

2021 Winners

First Prize:
Krystal Wu (Clarinet)
Centennial High School, 11th grade

Second Prize:
Joshua Kucharski (Trumpet)
DeMatha Catholic High School, 11th grade

Third Prize:
Jackson Bernal (Alto Saxophone)
Thomas S. Wootton High School, 10th grade

Honorable Mentions:
Arthur Hu (Bassoon)
Montgomery Blair High School,  12th grade
Hyun Jun Cho (Tenor Trombone)
Winston Churchill High School, 10th grade