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

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Competition! Details regarding the 2023 Competition will be posted in September 2022.

Application and Video Submission Deadline

• Deadline for Accompanist/Recording Request: Saturday, February 5, 2022 (Please have your scores ready to be sent to the accompanist.)
• Optional Accompanist/Recording Session: February 26, 2022 (beginning at 10)
  • Please note: Students must show their COVID-19 Vaccination Card in order to participate.
• Application and Submissions Deadline: Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 11:59pm

Virtual Competition

Our 2022 competition will be virtual due to the success of last year’s online competition. We are asking all participants to submit a video with their application to serve as their entry to be judged. Please see below for all video requirements and special instructions.

Winners will be announced no later than March 26, 2022.

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

Accompaniment and Repertoire

If you need it, we are happy to arrange for you to perform with our accompanist in a socially distant and safe setting and we will capture a recording for you. This recording session will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Lutheran Church of the Reformation, timing dependent on how many students need to use this option. If you need to take advantage of this option, please email highschoolwind@fmmc.org by February 5, 2022. We will then develop a schedule and email it to all participants. We only have space for a maximum of 10 students to record with our accompanist, so if you need this, please inform us as soon as possible.

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 (These may be transcriptions of music originally composed for another instrument):
  • 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 ahead of the deadline.
• 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. 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

2022 Winners

First Prize:
None

Second Prize:
Jackson Bernal (Alto Saxophone)

Third Prize:
Arturo Salvalaggio (Oboe) and Michael Wang (Clarinet)

Honorable Mentions:
Angela Shen (Clarinet)
Yunah Kwon (Oboe)