Chamberfest’s Rising Stars

An annual feature of the Chamberfest summer music festival, Chamberfest’s Rising Stars showcases the region’s finest emerging talent in a professional concert experience. The showcase is adjudicated by a panel of Chamberfest artists and scholarships are awarded to the strongest performances in memory of Anne Presentey. This showcase happens once a year and demonstrates the extraordinary local talent found in our National Capital Region. Auditions take place every spring.

Applications are now open for Chamberfest’s Rising Stars 2024!

Ottawa Chamberfest is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual opportunity for young musicians to perform, this year as part of the 2024 Chamberfest summer festival – our 30th anniversary festival!

Apply for our Rising Stars Showcase by submitting a video of 5-15 minutes by May 16, 2024, 11:59pm.
Video links or file transfers via We Transfer or Google Drive can be sent to jrichards@chamberfest.com.
More detailed instructions are included below. Please do not send large video files directly to this address.

Details

Chamberfest’s Rising Stars is a showcase for pre-professional classical/chamber musicians, performing solo or in a chamber ensemble (i.e., pianist, violinist, piano trio, string quartet). Chamber ensembles are strongly encouraged to apply.

Scholarships will be awarded in junior (under 18) and senior categories (18-25) at the showcase.

Participants must:

• Be between 12 to 25 years of age as of July 1, 2024.
• Junior category will include ages 12-17 as of July 1, 2024.
• Senior category will include ages 18-25 as of July 1, 2024.
• Reside in, or be from, Canada’s National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau)
• Be willing and able to participate in this summer’s Rising Stars showcase on Monday, July 29^th at 12pm in-person in Ottawa, with the potential for select performers to be showcased a second time during the festival on Tuesday, July 30^th at 12pm in-person in Ottawa.

Please submit a video recording made within the last 6 months of up to 20 minutes that demonstrates you at your best, both musically and technically. Repertoire in the video should include at least two contrasting works, knowing that the jury will select one piece from this video as your performance piece in the showcase. Junior performance will be 6-10 minutes and seniors will be 10-15 minutes. Videos must be received by May 16^th at 11:59pm EDT. Please send your video via link (YouTube; Vimeo; WeTransfer, Google Drive) to jrichards@chamberfest.com.

In addition to your video, please include your individual or group:

• Name(s)
• Age(s)
• Teacher(s)
• Piece selection(s)
• Collaborative pianist (if applicable)
• Preferred email contact
• Current address
• Musicians under 18 who are submitting on their own behalf must confirm their parent/guardian has provided permission for them to submit their video and perform in the festival if they are selected.

Successful applicants will be invited to perform as part of Ottawa Chamberfest’s summer festival 2024 in the Chamberfest’s Rising Stars showcase. The concert will be juried, with scholarships awarded based on performances, including the Anne Presentey Rising Stars Award scholarships in junior (under 18) and senior (18-25) categories. Instrumentalists and vocalists requiring a collaborative pianist to perform will be provided an honorarium of $100 to help cover these costs.

About your video

Your video should be of the best quality you are able to create. Recordings should be well-lit and the subject should be in focus. Sound quality should be clear and unmodified. Your video can be recorded with or without accompaniment, accompaniment is preferred. If a recent (past 6 months) recording is not available, you may submit a video from the last 18 months with an explanation. When submitting your video, please provide the date and place of performance/recording, and provide a brief description of your current training.

Videos can be uploaded as unlisted links on YouTube, on Vimeo, or sent by Google Docs or WeTransfer. Please note that videos are large files and therefore should not be transferred directly as an email attachment. The Chamberfest team will confirm receipt of your video link to ensure it has arrived. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within a few days of submission, please follow up.

By applying for this program, you (or your parent or guardian, if applicable) agree to have your image, including audition videos, shared on social media and other platforms for non-commercial use.

About the Jury

Chamberfest’s Rising Stars is a juried program, with scholarships awarded in honour of Anne Presentey. Each year, the jury is led by Nicole Presentey, a valued member of the Chamberfest community, performer, teacher, and faculty member at Carleton University. Other jury members are drawn from the community of professional musicians at Chamberfest.

Nicole Presentey

Please note: previous scholarship recipients are not eligible to participate in the showcase a second time.