The following rules apply to all competitions:
1. All competition entries must be made on the official form which must be lodged at the School’s Public Office (G16) by 4.30pm on the relevant closing date.
2. Competition fees must be paid online, details of which will be provided on the competition entry form.
3. Under no circumstances will competition entries be accepted after 4.30pm on the closing dates specified.
4. An individual or ensemble awarded first place in any competition may not re-enter the same competition the following year.
5. No competitor may perform repertory they have performed in any other CSM competition in the previous three years (including the current academic year).
6. Competitions are not open to members of staff.
The Junior Concerto Competition is open to students who are currently enrolled in the School to study the instrument chosen for the competition. Entrants must be under the age of 17 years (on October 1st preceding the date of the competition) and not have passed the School’s Grade VIII examination for the instrument chosen for the competition. Candidates are required to perform, with piano accompaniment, a complete concerto from the standard concert repertory.
The winner is awarded the ARUP Perpetual Trophy, a cash prize (€50) and, if possible, be given an opportunity to perform as a soloist with one of the School orchestras.
The Senior Concerto Competition is open to students who are currently enrolled in the School to study the instrument chosen for the competition. Candidates are required to perform, with piano accompaniment, a complete concerto from the standard concert repertory. The winner will, if possible, be given an opportunity to perform as a soloist with one of the School orchestras.
The winner's name will be engraved on the Bridget Doolan Trophy and will receive a cash prize (€50) presented to the School by the Bridget Doolan Trust in memory of the late Dr Bridget Doolan, distinguished teacher of piano in the School for many years and Director of the School from 1973 to 1980.
Competition entry forms must be handed in at the General Office or emailed to Ildikó Dosa (ildiko.dosa@mtu.ie), and the appropriate fee paid online (no cash). Please note that the payment of the competition fee is not sufficient to enter.
Entry fee for part-time students: €20
Deposit for degree students (refundable): €50
Entries accepted from: Monday 5 December 2022
Closing date: 16:30 on Thursday 22 December 2022
Date of competition: Friday 20 - Sunday 22 January 2023
The Junior Recital Competition is open to part-time students who are currently enrolled in the School to study the instrument chosen for the competition. Entrants must be under 14 years of age on October 1st preceding the date of the competition (or under 16 years of age in the case of double bass, wind and percussion players). Candidates are required to perform a programme of not more than 15 minutes duration, showing an ability to interpret a range of styles and to perform from memory. Competitors may not include more than one movement from a concerto in their programme, or perform other than duo chamber music repertory.
The first and second prize-winners in the Competition will receive €100 and €75 respectively, the other finalists will receive a certificate and €50.
This year's competition is scheduled for Thursday 2 - Sunday 5 February 2023.
The Senior Recital Competition is open to part-time and full-time students who are currently enrolled in the School to study the instrument chosen for the competition. Entrants must be under 19 years of age on 1st October preceding the date of the competition. Candidates are required to perform a programme of not more than 20 minutes duration, showing an ability to interpret a range of styles and to perform from memory. Competitors may not include more than one movement from a concerto in their programme, or perform other than duo chamber music repertory.
The first and second prize-winners in the Senior Recital Competition will receive €150 and €100 respectively. The winner will also be presented with a Perpetual Trophy. The highest-placed pianist, violinist, violist, cellist/double bassist, guitarist, woodwind player, brass player, singer and percussionist will be awarded €50 and a trophy where applicable. In addition, there may be a number of Highly Commended and Commended performances, where certificates will be awarded.
This year's competition is scheduled for Wednesday 29 March - Saturday 1 April 2023.
The Advanced Recital Competition is open to part-time and full-time students who are currently enrolled in the School to study the instrument chosen for the competition. Candidates are required to perform a programme of not more than 25 minutes duration, showing an ability to interpret a range of styles and to perform from memory. Competitors may not include more than one movement from a concerto in their programme, or perform other than duo chamber music repertory.
The first and second prize-winners in the Advanced Recital Competition will receive €200 and €150 respectively. The winner will also be presented with the PM Group Perpetual Trophy. The highest-placed pianist, violinist, violist, cellist/double bassist, guitarist, woodwind player, brass player, percussionist, singer, trad performance and period performance will be awarded €50 and a trophy where applicable. In addition, there may be a number of Highly Commended and Commended performances, where certificates will be awarded.
This year's competition is scheduled for Thursday 18 - Sunday 21 May 2023.
The Piano Accompaniment Competition (formerly the May O’Neill Scholarship for Piano, instituted in memory of the late May O’Neill, staff member at the School for over forty years) is open to currently-enrolled students of the School. Candidates are required to accompany a singer or an instrumentalist in a programme of 15 to 20 minutes duration, showing an ability to interpret a variety of styles. The programme must include works and/or movements from at least two of the following periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, post-1900. Singers must include at least one example of French chanson or German Lied. Candidates will also be provided with a quick-study piece approximately 24 hours before the competition.
The first and second prize-winners in the competition will receive €150 and €75 respectively. The winner will also be presented with the Competition's Committee Perpetual Trophy.
The minimum number of entries required for the competition to take place is three.
This year's competition is scheduled for Friday 12 May 2023.
The Vanbrugh Chamber Music Competition is open to ensembles whose members are currently enrolled as students in the School. Eligible ensembles may contain from two to nine members. No change in membership of an ensemble will be permitted after the closing date for entry. The programme may consist of one whole work or an appropriate number of complete movements from different works, but the total duration must be neither less than 20 minutes nor more than 25 minutes.
The first and second prize-winning ensembles in the competition will receive €200 and €100 respectively. At the discretion of the Vanbrugh and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, a prize-winning ensemble may be invited to attend and/or take part in the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. The winner will also be presented with the Barry's Tea Perpetual Trophy.
This year's competition is scheduled for Saturday 13 May 2023.