Spotlight Competition Information & Guide
Read this full guide before registering for the competition.
ELIGIBILITY: The Spotlight Competition welcomes youth musicians of all nationalities up to the age of 18 to compete. Please refer to the age groups listed below to find which group you are to compete in. Contestants will need to play one piece as your choice. The piece will be not shorter than 3 minutes and not longer than 15 minutes. If the piece has a cadenza. You have to include it in your recording. For contestants playing instruments, if you choose to play a concerto, you only need to play one moment.
Contestants must submit a video recording of themselves performing their piece to register, as the competition will be held purely online. The video recording must have been recorded within six months of registering.
COMPETITION CATEGORIES: The competition accommodates violin, cello, piano, vocal, and flute.
AGE GROUPS: Eligibility for each competition category and age group will be determined by the contestant’s age. Previous first prize winners must compete against older competition. Each competition category has different age groups:
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
● Online Registration Open:
● Online Registration and Video Submission Deadline: February 1, 2024
● Final round announcement: February 10, 2024
● Final Winners Announcement: February 20, 2024
● Winners Recital Video Post: March 10, 2024
COMPETITION JUDGING
● Contestants’ submissions will be reviewed by a series of preliminary and final judges.
● Finalist judges’ decisions will be announced by February 20, 2024, at spotlightcompetition.org
AWARDS
Winners in each competition category and age group will be awarded the following:
● First Place: $200
● Second Place: Certificate and the Medal
● Third Place: Certificate
COMPETITION REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
● Online registration begins on October 1, 2023, at spotlightcompetition.org → HOME | My Site (spotlightcompetition.org)
○ Registration deadline: February 2, 2024
● A registration fee is Free;
$60 is required of final applicants based on accouncement.
○ The registration fee must be paid online via the registration process. Fees are non-refundable.
● During registration, the following must be provided by the contestant:
○ Full name
○ Age
○ Proof of age (photo of birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license)
○ Competition category (violin, cello, piano,vocal and flute)
○ Age Group (AA,A, B, C,or D)
○ Link to contestant’s video submission
○ Registration fee
VIDEO RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
● The video must be recorded after July 1, 2023.
○ Video recordings recorded up to six months ago are eligible for competition.
○ The contestant’s age in the video recording must be within six months of their current age, as of registering for the competition.
● All video clips must be recorded from one single camera angle and must have good lighting/good sound quality and visibility of the performer.
● Video submissions may not be edited or modified in any way.
● Refer to the guideline below to see how your video submission should be framed.
○ Videos can be recorded vertically or horizontally, as long as they meet the guidelines.
● Dress code: formal wear.
● No changes allowed after the registration deadline.
● Concertos must include cadenzas if applicable .
● Pieces must be memorized.
● In order to submit your recording, you must first upload your video recording to YouTube. Video submissions named as follows:
○ Piece Title - Contestant’s Full Name - Competition Category Age Group
○ Examples:
■ Moszkowski Etude Op. 72 No. 2 - John Doe - Piano Group B
■ Sequenza VIII - Jane Doe - Violin Group B
■ Cello Sonata No. 3 - John Doe - Cello Group A
COMPETITION PIECE RULES
● Contestants must perform/submit one piece only
● For string and flute, an live accompaniment is mandatory for all submissions.
● There are no restrictions on language or style
● Memorization of the piece is required
● For the three vocal categories only, contestants may choose whether to use accompaniment.
○ If a vocalist chooses to use accompaniment, accompaniment must be live.
No restrictions on the type of accompaniment used (piano, cello, etc)
○ If a contestant chooses not to use accompaniment, A cappella is more than welcome.
○ Popular vocalists may listen to their piece through headphones while singing in their recording, but only their voice should be heard in the recording.
VIDEO SUBMISSION FRAMING PHOTO GUIDELINE
● Violin AND Cello: hands and instrument’s fingerboard and the bow must be fully visible in the video submission.
● Piano: hands on the keyboard and the piano’s pedals must be fully visible in the video submission.
● Voice: vocalist should be visible from at least the mid-thigh and up.
