American Protégé — International Music Talent Competition (Fall 2026)

This is a video-audition competition, not a funding programme: no prize money is offered. Winning means being invited to play at a winners’ recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, or to take a mailed Winner’s Package instead. Trophies and special awards are given at the judges’ discretion.

It is open to instrumentalists, singers and folk or jazz groups of any nationality, at any age — school-age children, amateurs without a degree, college students and professionals each form their own category. Anyone signed to a manager or producer must send a signed release. Repertoire may be classical, folk and traditional, musical theatre, jazz without drums, mixed, or your own compositions; pop singers are directed to a separate contest. Solo pieces are capped at five or six minutes depending on category, must be played from memory, and the video has to be a single unedited take.

Money flows the other way. Entry is $200 for a soloist and $150 per member for duos and trios, non-refundable. A replacement video, if your first runs over time, costs $50; an extra minute on stage costs $100; the Winner’s Package costs $350. Recital and photo fees apply and are not refundable, and travel and accommodation are your own. Winners bring their own accompanist, and only a grand piano is available with no amplification.

Applying means an online form, a video link, a biography of no more than 150 words in Word format, a portrait photo and the fee. Three independent judges decide on the recordings alone; comments are not disclosed and decisions cannot be appealed. Entries close at the end of 1 November 2026, with winners published on 30 November.