Whitworth Roach Classical Music Performance Competition 2022 Finals

This event has sold out - we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience! Please email admin.somad@anu.edu.au if you would like to be placed on a waiting list.

Image: Jane Duong/ANU. 2019 awardees L-R Chenxiao Chen (piano) won First Prize as well as People’s Choice, Roya Safaei (piano) ANU School of Music Prize for Musical Achievement, Jimmy Park (violin) Second Prize, Ruth Giddy (fortepiano) Third Prize.

Through the generosity of Ms Christine Roach, students from The Australian National University are given the opportunity to perform in front of an esteemed panel and guests for their share of $20,000 in prize money.

As a key event on the School of Music and ANU calendar, the competition celebrates the talent and dedication of classical music students. ANU students from across the campus are eligible to enter this competition to win one of the following prizes.

First prize - $10,000

Second prize - $5,000

Third prize - $2,500

People’s Choice prize - $2,500

Are you a prospective entrant looking to apply? Please ensure you read the Guidelines and Conditions of Award before applying here.

Guidelines

• Entrants must be enrolled fulltime in an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program
• Entrants must not be holding an appointment as an academic staff member
• Entrant must not have previously won first prize in the Whitworth Roach Classical Music Performance Competition
• Applications will close at 12pm on Friday 23 September
• Entrants must prepare a 30-minute program of music written before 1910, and must peform 10 minutes of their program in the heats
• Heats will take place 9am-4pm Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 September in the Larry Sitsky Recital Room - we will not accept video submissions
• Four (4) entrants will be selected to perform in the finals on the evening of Thursday 6 October

This year, we are offering eligible students the chance to compete for the Margaret Smiles Associate Musician Prize for Pianists ($2,000) and the Llewellyn Choir Prizes for Most Outstanding Instrumentalist ($500) and Vocalist ($500) within the Whitworth Roach Classical Music Performance Competition.

Pianists wishing to compete for the Margaret Smiles Associate Musician Prize must:

• be enrolled in a program leading to the award of a degree offered by the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
• perform for 10 minutes with either an instrumentalist or a vocalist in the heats and the finals (if you progress to the finals, the instrumentalist/singer must perform 10 minutes of their program with their CASS associate pianist and 20 minutes of their program with another associate musician)

Instrumentalists and vocalists wishing to compete for the Llewellyn Choir Prizes must:

• be enrolled in a program leading towards a Bachelor degree in the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
• perform for 10 minutes with a CASS associate pianist in the heats and the finals (if you progress to the finals, you must perform 10 minutes of your program with your CASS associate pianist and 20 minutes of your program with another associate musician)

The Margaret Smiles Associate Musician Prize for Pianists encourages the art of professional musical collaboration at the ANU School of Music. This annual award is in memory of Margaret Smiles, honouring her dedication and contribution to Canberra's musical life, in particular the School of Music Community Choir, now known as the Llewellyn Choir. Margaret worked with the choir for many years, sharing her love and joy for music with its members. She is remembered for her passion, focus and commitment to nurturing singers, revelling in the vast-ranging repertoire of the choir.

The Llewellyn Choir (TLC) is pleased to continue its support of the Margaret Smiles Prize, in memory of Margaret, TLC's first accompanist. One of Canberra's leading and longest-running choral groups, TLC enjoys a collaborative association with the ANU School of Music, offering extension opportunities to SoM students. TLC performs 3-4 times a year. New members are welcome.