Brahms Music Competition — Categories & Prizes

The Brahms Music Awards hosts a proposed online Brahms music competition for instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, conductors and ensembles. Free repertoire; no Brahms work is required.

Find your category

Choose the category that most accurately describes the submitted work. Only one principal category is selected per preliminary entry.

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Instrumental Solo

All acoustic and digital musical instruments, with performer visible where practicable.

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Vocal Solo

Individual vocal performance captured in an audible recording.

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Composition

Original musical work; recording or audio with score where available.

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Chamber Ensemble

One ensemble application naming all participating performers.

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Conducting

A clear video of the conductor with an ensemble or orchestra.

Brahms Interpretation

Special distinction, not a separate required entry. For submitted Brahms repertoire.

Solo age divisions

Draft categories calculated by the age on the preliminary application closing date. Composer, chamber and conducting entries are evaluated in their separate divisions.

Division	Age	Maximum recording length
Junior I	7 & under	6 minutes
Junior II	8–11	8 minutes
Youth I	12–15	10 minutes
Youth II	16–19	12 minutes
Open	20+	15 minutes

Other divisions: maximum 15 minutes, unless a category-specific exception is published.

Awards explained

First, Second and Third Prize are standards-based distinctions, not necessarily unique rank positions. A category may have more than one First Prize recipient. The jury may leave a tier unawarded.

First

Second

III

Third

Final score thresholds are proposed on the Judging & standards page. A Grand Distinction and the Brahms Interpretation Prize remain discretionary.