2021 Virtual Showcase
Entry Info

Welcome to the Pacific Musical Society & Foundation's 2021 Virtual Showcase! Due to the ongoing pandemic and safety concerns around in-person gatherings, in 2021 we have modified our annual live Competition into an online Virtual Showcase, with scholarship prizes awarded via an online, video-based contest. We hope to resume our regular live competition in 2022.

Please Note: Important Changes for 2021

Because the ongoing pandemic prevents us from safely assembling for a live finals round, we are modifying our competition in 2021 to become a Virtual Showcase instead. There are several key changes as a result:

  • There will be only one round of judging, instead of the usual Preliminaries and Live Finals.

  • Judging will be based on video submissions.

  • Entry categories will remain the same, except that we are temporarily suspending the Chamber Music category for safety reasons.

  • Scholarships will be adjusted to reflect the limitations of video-based judging: we will award up to 3 scholarships per category at the level of $500 for the upper age categories and $250 for the youngest age category (see entry information packet for specifics). There will be no differentiation between first/second/third place this year. The Composition category remains unchanged from the regular competition.

  • Winners will be announced on February 15, 2021 and will have their submission videos featured in an online Virtual Showcase.

  • There will be no pre-registration deadline this year

The application and video submission deadline for the 2021 Virtual Showcase is January 10, 2021.

Download the Virtual Showcase Information Pack
Enter before January 10, 2021

Instructions to Applicants:
Please read these instructions in their entirety.

You must complete all the steps below and submit your application fee by 11:59pm PT on January 10, 2021.

Step 1:
Participation in the competition requires an application fee of $80.00. Submit your non-refundable fee of $80.00 via PayPal in advance of the January 10, 2021 final application deadline.

Pay $80 application fee

Step 2:
Upload your video submissions to YouTube. All your videos must be uploaded to YouTube before they can be entered in the competition. Each piece you're submitting must be uploaded separately (for example, if you are applying for a piano competition, you will upload four separate videos). Log into your YouTube account, and upload your video submissions to your account. You must mark your videos as Public or Unlisted on YouTube for them to be available to enter in the competition. Children may have their videos submitted through a parent's account. Note that all videos must be recorded on or after July 10, 2020 (within the last 6 months of the application deadline)

Step 3:
Complete and submit the online application form by 11:59pm on January 10, 2021. The form will ask you to supply links to the YouTube videos you uploaded in Step 2, so please have those handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: Can a selection be an excerpt or partial work?

    A: Each selection must be a complete movement or complete work in itself.

  • Q: What composers are considered Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century?

    A: Lists of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century composers are available on Wikipedia. Please note that for the 20th Century category, compositions must be written after 1915.

  • Q: Which instruments are included in the 'instrumental' category?

    A: Orchestral string instruments only. Woodwinds, harp, and guitar have been eliminated from this category starting in 2019.

  • Q: Can multiple contestants apply together?

    A: Each contestant must apply separately. If an applicant wishes to compete in multiple categories, they should apply to each category separately and pay a separate application fee for each category.

  • Q: Must all works be memorized?

    A: All works must be memorized and performed from memory in the video submissions and live finals.

  • Q: For accompanied works, must they be performed with accompaniment?

    A: We strongly prefer that accompanied works be performed with accompaniment in the video submissions. However, due to continued uncertain circumstances of the global pandemic, we will accept videos performed without accompaniment.