Ensemble 212 - Competition

Category:	Voice (Bass-Baritone), age 20 to 40
Pieces:	Mozart Un bacio di mano K. 541 & Per questa bella mano K. 612
Preliminary Round:	Submit Audio CD and application materials by Friday, September 12, 2008
Final Round:	Monday, September 15, 2008 4 – 5 PM
Performance:	Saturday, September 20, 2008 8 PM

Eligibility - Applicants must be:
•	between age 20 and 40 on September 15, 2008. Ensemble 212 reserves the right to request proof of age if needed.
•	a resident of the greater New York metropolitan area OR
•	perform frequently in the New York metropolitan area as to consider it their artistic home.
The greater New York Metropolitan area is defined as the 5 boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange counties of New York State, Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth counties of New Jersey, Fairfield county of Connecticut

Application

Please download the application form . (PDF file)

Complete the application form, signed by the applicant along with:

•	a pre-screening audio CD of the applicant containing 2 or 3 contrasting selections that is no longer than 12 minutes total. It is preferable to include at least 1 work by Mozart (see below for CD guidelines)
•	letter of receommedation from a professional musician (may be sent via email to ensemble212@gmail.com)
•	current resumé that lists your musical accomplishments
•	artist biography [include headshot (optional) under here]
•	a non-refundable $20.00 application fee payable to Ensemble 212. Please send a personal check or money order and write the name of applicant in the note section. We regret we cannot accept electronic payments at this time.

Mail the complete application along with all materials to:

Ensemble 212 Young Artist Competition
c/o Yoon Jae Lee
301 W 45th St #7J
New York, NY 10036

Please submit all materials together. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please do not send any additional materials not asked for in the application as they bear no consideration to the competition. We regret we cannot accept applications electronically at this time. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday September 12, 2008. All materials must received in our office by this date.

CD Guidelines
1.	The applicant’s CD will serve as the pre-screening round. Recordings must be genuinely performed by the applicants.
2.	The CD must be clearly labeled with the applicant’s name.
3.	Please include only the 2 or 3 selections asked for. Do not include any other piece(s) or make any speeches or statements on the CD.
4.	Orchestral accompaniment is not required for the pre-screening CD. Use only live piano/orchestral accompaniment. Pre-recorded accompaniments such as Music Minus One are NOT acceptable.
5.	Please submit audio CDs only. DO NOT submit recordings in any other format such as cassette tape, Mini disc, DAT, VHS, 8mm, Hi-8, DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray, WAV, or compressed audio formats (such as mp3 or wma).
6.	Please make sure that your CD is of the highest audio quality possible which best demonstrates your abilities, but do not edit the recording or add any digital effects such as reverb. Splicing is acceptable.
7.	Applicants should review their pre-screening CD before mailing to ensure that they are playable in a standard CD player.
8.	All CDs submitted become the property of Ensemble 212 and will not be returned.
Please note: failure to comply with CD guidelines will result in disqualification.

Competition Procedure

Ensemble 212 will review all applicants and select the finalists based of their qualifications. After all applicants have been pre-screened, selected applicants will advance to the final round and perform both arias in front of live judges. No audience members shall be present.

If selected for the final round, you will be notified by email with your time slot no later than Saturday September 13, 2008. For the final round, both arias must be performed in its entirety with piano accompaniment. Memorization is optional. Each finalist will make provisions for his own accompanist. A contrabass player will be present for the "Per questa bella mano". Any finalist who is unable to attend the competition for any reason will be disqualified. No make-ups are allowed. The final round will take place on Monday September 15, 2008 between 4 – 5 PM at the Good Shepherd-Faith Church located at 152 West 66th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.) New York, NY 10023.
Click here for map and directions.

A winner and an alternate (if necessary) will be selected after the final round and announced the following. All decisions of the judges shall be final and beyond appeal. If finalists do not meet the judges’ standards, no winner or alternate will be selected. If for any reason the declared winner is not able to perform with Ensemble 212 on Saturday, September 20, 2008, the alternate will take the place of the winner and perform with Ensemble 212. The winner is ineligible to compete in any other Ensemble 212 Young Artist Competition for the following 2 years. This does not apply to finalists or the alternate if he/she does not take the place of the winner. No prize money will be awarded.

The winner will perform both "Un bacio di mano" & "Per questa bella mano" with Ensemble 212 at the Good Shepherd-Faith Church on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 8 PM. Rehearsals will take place during the week of the concert and times will be announced to the winner and alternate.