NFMC Young Artist Competition
Offered by National Federation of Music Clubs
About This Scholarship
The National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Competition is one of the richest classical music prizes in the United States for emerging performers, awarding $20,000 to the first-place winner and $5,000 to second place in each of four categories: piano, strings, man's voice, and woman's voice. The competition is held in odd-numbered years, and the next cycle culminates at the NFMC 2027 Biennial Convention.
Beyond the cash, winners receive two years of NFMC-booked concert engagements across the Federation's national network of music clubs, a meaningful career launch for artists not yet under professional management. The preliminary round is a 60-minute video recording submitted online, so entrants do not travel unless they advance to the live finals.
Instrumentalists must be at least 18 but under 30, and vocalists at least 25 but under 38, reflecting the later maturation of the voice. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, and NFMC membership is not required to enter, though there is a $100 entry fee per category.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen
- Instrumentalists (piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass): must have reached their 18th but not their 30th birthday by June 1 of the audition year
- Vocalists: must have reached their 25th but not their 38th birthday by June 1 of the audition year
- Must not be, or ever have been, under professional management
- $100 entry fee per category; NFMC membership not required
How To Apply
- Download the 2027 Young Artist Requirements & Application (form CA-12-1) from the NFMC Young Artist Competition page
- Prepare the required 60-minute memorized program plus concerto (vocalists exempt from the concerto)
- Record the preliminary-round video to the specifications in the requirements document
- Submit the application and video through forms.nfmc-music.org by February 1, 2027
- Up to five finalists per category advance to live final adjudication at the 2027 Biennial Convention
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the NFMC Young Artist prize?
First place in each of the four categories receives $20,000, and second place receives $5,000. Winners also get a performance at the 2027 NFMC Biennial Convention and two years of booked engagements through NFMC clubs.
Do I need to be an NFMC member to enter?
No. The Young Artist Competition is open to qualifying U.S. citizens regardless of Federation membership. There is a $100 entry fee for each category entered.
When is the next competition after 2027?
The competition runs in odd-numbered years, so the following cycle would be 2029. Applications for the 2027 cycle are due February 1, 2027.