2025 Chamber Competition

This is open to all branches.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES AND ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

This year’s competition will consist of a preliminary video round and live semi final and final rounds.

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, ​February 26, 2025 11:59PM: Submission deadline for all application materials at 11:59 PM (PST)

By March 1, 2025: Applicants notified of video audition results by email

Saturday March 8, 2025 (10am-1pm):  Live Semifinal Round

Saturday March 8, 2025 (2-4pm):  Live Final Round & Awards Ceremony

LIVE ROUNDS LOCATION

Joyce J. Cammilleri Hall at University of Southern California
3620 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089

JUDGES

Benjamin Hoffman

Violinist Benjamin Hoffman has been heard across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, the Wiener Konzertverein, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Seoul Arts Center, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing. He has appeared at festivals such as Yellow Barn, Chamber Music Northwest, Atlantic Music Festival, Aspen, the Ojai Music Festival, and Music Academy of the West, collaborating with artists such as Ani Kavafian, Wolfram Christ, Jorja Fleezanis, Peter Frankl, Soovin Kim, and Yura Lee, among others. Benjamin is a founding member of both the Brightfeather Duo with pianist Irene Kim and of the Webern Quartet, whose upcoming debut recording of the four Schönberg string quartets will be released in Spring 2025. Benjamin is also an enthusiastic concertmaster and has led much of the symphonic repertoire both with and without conductor. He has performed as a guest musician with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony. Mr. Hoffman holds a doctorate and master of music degree from the Yale School of Music and an undergraduate degree from Indiana University, and in 2024 was appointed to the violin faculty at Bowling Green State University.

Ana Kim

Indiana-native Ana Kim is a versatile cellist who performs on modern and period/historical instruments. She was recently appointed as Assistant Principal cellist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also plays with various ensembles, including Philharmonia Baroque, Music of the Baroque, and Trinity Baroque Orchestras. Ana had performed in festivals such as Oregon Bach, Yellow Barn, Verbier Academy, and Music@ Menlo. She has received a Doctorate degree at the University of Southern California and has studied Historical Performance at Juilliard. Her teachers include János Starker, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Laurence Lesser.

Ana has taught at Pacific Union College and the Browning School in New York. She has recently given masterclasses in Honolulu through the Hawaii Music Teachers Association and regularly gives classes at DePaul and Roosevelt Universities. She also taught in Music Festival of Santa Catarina in Brazil and worked with educational programs with the American Classical Orchestra.

Irene Kim

Pianist Irene Kim, a critically acclaimed prize-winner of international competitions, has performed across the globe in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australasia appearing in venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and Coachella. She is known for her powerful and authoritative performances, which include the rare feat of performing Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto without a conductor. As a genre-defying musician, she performs on both piano and harpsichord as co-founder of Brightfeather together with violinist Benjamin Hoffman as well as alongside Danny Elfman in his legendary career-spanning shows. She holds a doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory where she was awarded the Albert and Rosa Silverman Memorial Scholarship and the Lillian Gutman Memorial Piano Prize by the Conservatory for her musical endeavors during her studies there with Boris Slutsky.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES AND RULES

Categories

Elementary: Ages 11 & under
Junior: Ages 14 & under
Senior: Ages 21 & under
NOTE: The groups should enter with the average age of the players to determine which category to enter.

Application Fee: $50 per group member

Awards

First place, Second place, Third place & Honorable Mention from each category.

Repertoire Requirements

Any chamber work consisting of 2 to 8 players not exceeding 10 minutes. Multiple movements may be performed if the time limit is adhered to and omit repeats or make appropriate cuts if necessary).

Video Recording Requirements

The audition recordings will be submitted as unlisted YouTube links.

  • The video must be recorded in one unedited take. Audio must be from the same take, but can be from an external microphone(s).

  • A movement must be recorded in its entirety; however, breaks may be taken between movements.

  • Videos may not be edited or spliced.

  • The recording must include all ensemble members performing in the same space together at all times.

  • The picture should remain stationary without panning, fade-in/out, close-up techniques or use of multiple cameras.

  • The ensemble should fill the screen as much as possible.

Other Rules

1. Age is determined by the date of the competition. Each applicant is required to submit a proof of age (a copy of driver’s license, birth certificate, etc.).

2. The decisions of competition judges are final.

3. There are NO REFUNDS of application fees in the event of non-participation.


For additional information, email JCM-LA Director, Dr. Stella Cho.