Mission
In July 2019 the Atlanta Festival Academy created an awesome new music performance and education experience for not just Atlanta, but the entire Southeast region of the USA. Dozens of students gathered from around the world and, after just ten days of dedicated and personal instruction, amazed thousands of people in widely acclaimed live concerts.
We had planned to add to this great event a live classical music competition that would give up-and-coming musicians ages 23 and younger the opportunity to compete for nearly $10,000 in prizes and performances. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this live competition will move to July 2021. But we will still host a competition this year!
When & Where
The 2020 Atlanta Festival Competition will now take place on the internet. Specifically participants will be asked to submit unlisted videos on YouTube by June 15, 2020, and our panel of judges will select winners in six competition divisions.
Competition Divisions
The 2020 Atlanta Festival Competition will feature three competition divisions: Piano, Guitar, and String Instruments. Within those divisions there will be two competition age groups:
Prizes
One winner will be chosen for each of the six competition divisions, and a Grand Prize winner will be named from among these six divisional winners. The Grand Prize winner will receive $500 cash as well as a performance spot on the 2021 Atlanta Festival Academy’s Rising Stars concert, sponsored by the William Pu Music Academy!
Awards for winners in the String Instruments division include a brand new Gewa violin case or similar violin case, sponsored by Gewa Strings and W.H. Lee Fine String Instruments.
The Guitar Senior division winner will receive a full-size N300 guitar, generously provided by the Altamira Guitarras Company.
Piano division winners will receive a Hidrau 26″ hydraulic piano bench, generously provided by PianoWorks in Duluth, Georgia.
The runner-up in the Grand Prize winner’s division will receive that group’s divisional prize.
Finally EVERY applicant will receive a $25 gift certificate from William Harris Lee & Co. Fine String Instruments!
Eligibility
The Atlanta Festival Competition is open to all applicants. Applicants’ age on June 15, 2020 determines what age-division they compete in.
Application Details, Repertoire Requirements, and Video Submission Details
Please complete the individual application found here. There is no application fee for the 2020 Atlanta Festival Competition due to the unique nature of this year’s competition.
Piano and String Instrument applicants in the Junior division are asked to submit two contrasting pieces totaling 8 to 10 minutes of performance. Piano and String Instrument applicants in the Senior division are asked to submit two contrasting pieces totaling 15-20 minutes of performance. Guitar applicants in the Junior division are asked to submit one to three pieces totaling 4 minutes. Guitar applicants in the Senior division are asked to submit one to three pieces totaling 7 minutes. Piano accompaniment is not required as AFC encourages social distancing at this time.
Please upload your video to YouTube, title your video with “AFC 2020, YOUR NAME, YOUR INSTRUMENT”, and select Unlisted when you upload it. Separate takes of your competition pieces are allowed, but no edits within those takes are permitted.
All application materials, including application and video must be submitted by June 15, 2020. Winners will be announced summer of 2020.
Questions?
If you have questions please contact us at support@atlantafestivalacademy.org. Please put “Competition” in your subject line.
Finally, we say a big “Thank You” to our amazing sponsors!
Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
