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

Application and Video Submission Deadline

• Application & Submissions Due: Saturday, March 20, 2022 at 11:59pm
• Optional Recording/Accompanist Session: February 26, 2022 (beginning at 10)

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.

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

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