Competition Status: 2024/25 Applications Open

Phyllis Salter Piano Competition

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Phyllis Salter Piano Competition is designed to identify young talented students and afford them recognition and financial assistance. Up to nine winners will be chosen with $4,500 in total scholarship awards available for 2025/26 VAM tuition. Scholarships Up to three $500 scholarships will be awarded to winners in each category: -Age 26 and under -Age 18 and under -Age 12 and under Dates Application deadline: March 30, 2025 11:59pm Competition: April 28, 2025* Eligibility Eligible students are those currently enrolled in private piano lessons at VAM age 26 and under as of April 28, 2025. Previous winners of the Phyllis Salter Piano Competition are eligible to compete. Adjudicators Students will be adjudicated by a panel of two distinguished musicians external to VAM. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -Students will be required to prepare one work with the following length requirements: a) 12 and under: maximum of 8 minutes b) 18 and under: maximum of 12 minutes c) 26 and under: maximum 15 minutes Concerti are not permitted. -The competition is closed to the public with the exception of the parent/guardian and teacher of the student performing; no audio or video recording is permitted. -The student must provide two copies of the score to the adjudicators (photocopies permitted). -The adjudicators retain the right to withhold any prize if, in their opinion, it is not merited. All decisions made by the adjudicators are final and without appeal. Apply [gravityform id="162" title="false" description="true"]

Alto Clef Festival

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Alto Clef Festival is designed to identify talented viola students and afford them recognition and financial assistance. One adjudicator external to VAM will evaluate contestants with $3,000 in total scholarships awarded for 2025/26 VAM tuition. Eligibility Eligible students: - those are registered in private lessons with a viola teacher at VAM since the beginning of the academic year. Dates Application Deadline: April 6, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: May 5, 2025* *Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -Applicants must prepare one work with a maximum duration of 10 minutes, performed by memory. -Students must provide their own pianist. -A copy of the music must be provided for the adjudicator (photocopies permitted). -The competition phase will be closed to the public with the exception of the parents/guardians and teacher of the student performing; no audio or video recording is permitted. -The chosen winners will receive scholarships toward 2025/26 VAM tuition. -By submitting an application, students and their parent/guardian understand that any recording resulting from the festival may be used for VAM promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="156" title="false" description="false"]

Kay Meek Competition

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Kay Meek Competition is designed to identify young talented students and afford them recognition and financial assistance. Six students will be awarded scholarships, with the First Prize winner appearing as soloist with the VAM Symphony Orchestra. Dates Application Deadline: April 13, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: May 12, 2025* *Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Adjudication The competition will be judged by a panel of three distinguished musicians external to VAM. Repertoire -Instrumentalists: a complete work (all movements) for solo instrument and orchestra, with cuts made to shorten tutti passages. Works must be a minimum of RCM 10 or equivalent. -Singers: a selection of songs from an orchestrated song cycle, a multi-movement work, concert arias, a selection of opera arias, or repertoire approved by Voice Department Head. Maximum two selections for movements or arias from different works. Eligibility Eligible students: -are 14 years of age or older as of May 12, 2025; -have been enrolled in VAM private lessons since the beginning of the academic year for the instrument with which they compete; -have not previously received the grand prize of the Kay Meek Competition; -will continue VAM private lessons in 2025/26. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -The grand prize winner will be required to perform the same repertoire selection with VAM Symphony Orchestra that was chosen for the competition. -Three copies of the solo part of piano reduction must be submitted to the adjudicators (photocopies permitted). Full scores will not be accepted. -The competition phase is open to the public. No audio or video recording is permitted. -If the grand prize winner competed playing an orchestral instrument, they will be required to enroll in VAM Symphony Orchestra for the 2025/26 season. -By submitting an application, students and their parent/guardian understand that any recording resulting from the winner’s performance with VAM Symphony Orchestra may be used for VAM promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="161" title="false" description="true"]

Bjorn & Lori Hareid Concerto Competition

Class Description: Welcome to one of the most exciting competitions that occurs once every two years and provides a unique opportunity for aspiring musicians to perform as soloist with the VAM Symphony Orchestra. The Bjorn & Lori Hareid Concerto Competition is categorized into instrument and is open to any student who studies at VAM.* A $2000 scholarship will be awarded to one winner in each category. *Featured soloists of VAMSO's 2025/26 season are ineligible to apply.  COMPETITION DATES

• Application deadline: April 13, 2025, 11:59pm
• Competition dates: May 26, 2025 - Category A: Piano May 27, 2025 - Categories B & C: strings and open Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline.

INSTRUMENT CATEGORIES 

• Category A: piano
• Category B: strings
• Category C: open (woodwind, brass, harp, percussion, voice, guitar, etc.)

REPERTOIRE Instrumentalists: Any movement or work for solo instrument and orchestra, with cuts made to shorten tutti passages. Works must be a minimum of RCM Level 10 or equivalent, and a maximum of 15 minutes in length. Singers: A selection of songs from an orchestrated song cycle, a multi-movement work, concert arias, a selections of opera arias, or repertoire approved by the Voice Department Head. Maximum two selections for movements or arias from different works, with a total duration of up to 15 minutes. ADJUDICATION An adjudication committee will choose one winner from each category to perform as a soloist with the VAM Symphony Orchestra. Written commentary will be supplied for each entrant. COMPETITION RULES -Eligible students have been enrolled in VAM private lessons since the beginning of the academic year for the instrument with which they compete; -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -The competition phase will be closed to the public with the exception of the parents/guardians and teacher of the student performing; No audio or video recording is permitted. -By submitting an application, students and their parent/guardian understand that any recording resulting from the winner’s performances with VAM Symphony Orchestra may be used for VAM promotional purposes. APPLY  [gravityform id="164" title="false" description="true"]  

Barbara Clague Festival of Song

Class Description: VAM is honored to present the 12th Annual Barbara Clague Festival of Song. The outpouring of support from the Clague family, as well as numerous friends wishing to pay tribute to Barbara Clague’s memory, has been both touching and inspiring. The purpose of the Festival is to spotlight talented vocalists in all ages, fostering their musical development with $1,200 in total scholarships awarded for 2025/26 VAM tuition. Categories -Junior: ages 12 and under -Intermediate: ages 13-18 -Adult: ages 19 and above Dates Application Deadline: May 4, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: June 1, 2025, 2:00pm Eligibility Eligible students: - are VAM voice students - are not previous winners of the Grand Prize. Repertoire Two contrasting classical, folk, or musical theatre songs, with a combined total duration of no more than 10 minutes. Adjudication The competition will be recorded and assessed by the adjudicator remotely after the live event. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -A digital copy of the music must be submitted in the application form. -All vocalists must perform by memory. -All applicants are responsible for arranging a pianist. -The competition is open to the public; no audio or video recording is permitted. -The adjudicator retains the right to withhold any prize if, in their opinion, it is not merited. All decisions made by the adjudicator are final and without appeal. -By submitting an application, students and their parent/guardian understand that any recording resulting from the competition may be used for VAM promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="157" title="false" description="true"]  

Elsje de Ridder Armstrong Chamber Music Competition

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Elsje de Ridder Armstrong Chamber Music Competition is designed to identify young talented students and afford them recognition and financial assistance. Students will be adjudicated by one distinguished musician external to VAM, with $2,750 total scholarship awards available for 2025/26 VAM tuition. Dates Application Deadline: May 11, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: June 14, 2025* *Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Auditions Selection of groups to compete is based on the following: -Recommendation by VAM faculty coach, who has delivered three or more hours of coaching to the group in the current academic year, by submitting a recommendation letter to Niki Hung ([email protected]). Eligibility Eligible ensembles: -are chamber groups consisting of 3-8 members registered in VAM's chamber music program. Categories Categories are determined by the average age of the group members: -Junior: up to 13 years old -Senior: 14 years old and older Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60, per group, made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -Chamber groups will be required to prepare one work for a maximum of 10 minutes. -The full score must be submitted to the adjudicator (photocopies permitted). -The competition phase will be closed to the public with the exception of the parents/guardians and teacher of the student performing; No audio or video recording is permitted. -The adjudicator retains the right to withhold any prize, if, in their opinion, it is not merited. All decisions made by the adjudicator are final and without appeal. Apply [gravityform id="158" title="false" description="true"]