FAQ UPDATE: January 1, 2013

As we start the new year, we've added several new questions to our FAQ. Let us know if you have other questions.

WHEN IS THE EXACT DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS? DO I HAVE ALL DAY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 TO SUBMIT MY ENTRY?

The official rules state that "Submissions must be postmarked or otherwise received between 9 a.m. CT on October 22, 2012 and 12:00 a.m. CT on January 9, 2013 (the "Submission Period")."

Some savvy folks have noted that 12:00 am is at the top of the day (i.e., one minute after 11:59 p.m. CT Tuesday, January 8, 2013) and thus it's not technically possible to have an entry postmarked on January 9. We don't want anyone to be disqualified because of this technicality. So we've agreed to accept submissions that are postmarked on or are otherwise received by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, January 9.

DOES "MUSICAL THEATER" INCLUDE MUSIC FROM OPERAS?

We consider operatic music to be "Classical Music" rather than "Musical Theater". You're welcome to perform operatic music in your submission.

CAN I SUBMIT A COMPOSITION FOR A DIFFERENT COMBINATION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS PROVIDED THAT IT INCLUDES FLUTE, OBOE, AND CLARINET? FOR EXAMPLE, A COMPOSITION FOR FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET, AND PIANO?

The composition must be for any combination of flute, oboe, and clarinet only. Your composition will be disqualified if other instruments or voice are included in the composition.

MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP SOON. AM I TOO OLD/YOUNG FOR MINNESOTA VARSITY?

The rules state that Entrants must be between ages 14-18. This means that the Entrant must be within this age range at the time of the Showcase Concert on April 28, 2013. For instance, a 19th birthday occurring prior to April 28, 2013 would make the entrant ineligible even if the Entrant was 18 when the entry was submitted. Similarly, a 14th birthday occurring prior to April 28, 2013 would make the entrant eligible even if the Entrant was 13 when the entry was submitted.

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FAQ: October 22, 2012

Can You Provide A Quick Overview Of This Year's Minnesota Varsity?

The Minnesota Varsity process will unfold over the next months:

• Young musicians are invited to enter Minnesota Varsity by submitting their performance recording via an online entry process. (Be sure to read this year's rules first!) MPR staff will review all entries to determine a first round of finalists — between 15-20 "Featured Artists."
• Next, an MPR audio engineer will make professional recordings of the Featured Artists' performances in MPR's Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio and help them sound their best. The recordings will be played on-air on Classical MPR.
• Finally, a panel of judges from Minnesota's classical music and musical theater scene will choose four "Showcase Artists", and an online Audience Vote will choose a fifth, to perform on stage in a live Minnesota Varsity show at the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul on Sunday, April 28, 2013.
• New this season: American Composers Forum is partnering with Classical MPR to adjudicate a Composer category. Young composers are invited to enter Minnesota Varsity by submitting the score of an original composition for a trio ensemble of flute, clarinet, and oboe or any other combination of those instruments including duet, or a work for unaccompanied solo instrument.

What Are This Year's Entry Categories?

This year, a Minnesota Varsity Entrant must enter in one of the following categories:

• Instrumental chamber ensemble without conductor (max 8 participants including accompanist) performing Classical Music,
• Instrumental soloist (with or without accompanist) performing Classical Music,
• Vocal Chamber Choir (e.g., Classical/Glee Club/Show Choir) without conductor (max 20 participants including accompanist) performing Classical or Musical Theater, or
• Vocal soloist (with or without accompanist) performing Classical or Musical Theater.
• Composer of an original, complete, and fully notated (no improvisation) musical composition of 3 to 7 minutes in length, scored for flute, oboe, and clarinet trio, or for any duet combination from among those instruments, or for one of those individual solo instruments (no piano accompaniment). No other instruments, electronics, or amplification may be used.

What Types Of Music Can Be Performed?

Classical Music means any music in the tradition of Western sacred and secular music from the 11th century to present times, and is not limited to music from the Classical Period from about 1750 to 1820 (only).

"Musical Theater" means any music in the tradition of theatrical or motion picture music, and is not limited to music from Broadway musicals (only).

Who Is Eligible To Enter?

Classical and musical theater instrumentalists and vocalists, and composers, ages 14-18. Your legal residence must be in Minnesota.

Instrumentalists and vocalists must be currently participating in a public or private school, religious or community music program. Soloists may have an accompanist, but that's not required. If you need an accompanist, you must provide your own (of any age.)

How Do I Submit An Entry?

Instrumentalists and vocalists: submit your entry form and your recorded performance of one piece of 10 minutes or less online at http://www.classicalmpr.org/varsity or send a CD or DVD and entry form by mail to
Minnesota Varsity
480 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Your entry must be postmarked on or before January 9, 2013. Your submission will be accepted if it is over 10 minutes long, but only the first 10 minutes will be judged.

Composers: submit your entry form, and the fully notated score of one completed composition as a .pdf, online at http://www.classicalmpr.org/varsity, OR send a printed copy of both by mail to Minnesota Varsity, 480 Cedar Street, St. Paul MN 55101. Your entry must be postmarked on or before January 9, 2013. Please do not provide a recording of your composition.

What's My Region?

In order to help facilitate listening and sorting of our submissions, we're asking you to identify your region within the state. State regions are not used as judging criteria.

Do I Need To Have A Professional Recording Prepared For My Submission?

Your recording doesn't have to be high-tech or professional. You can use a smart phone to record the performance! Composers, you do not need to submit a recording.

How Will I Be Judged?

Instrumentalists and vocalists, you will be judged solely on your musical performance. MPR Classical staff will screen all the entries, and choose 15-20 performances for the Featured Round. If you are chosen in the Featured Round, you will be recorded by a professional recording engineer who will help you sound your best. That recording will be played for a panel judges from the Minnesota classical music and musical theater world. The judges will choose the best performances for a live show at the Fitzgerald Theater. See the rules for more information.

Composers, the score of your composition will be screened by a panel selected by American Composers Forum. Up to five composers will be chosen for the Featured Round. If you are chosen for the Featured Round, you will attend a Workshop Day in February with Composer Carol Barnett as your Mentor and a chamber ensemble from the University of Minnesota, Mill City Winds, to perform your composition. A panel of ACF judges will select two Showcase Composers, whose works will be performed by Mill City Winds at the Fitzgerald Showcase Concert. That performance will be recorded. See the rules for more information.

Can I Submit As Both A Soloist And An Ensemble Member?

Absolutely.

How Many Entries Can I Submit?

You can submit one performance as a vocal soloist and one performance as an instrumental soloist, plus you can participate in as many ensembles as you wish. However, each ensemble may submit only one entry (each).

You may submit one composition as a composer.

Also, you may enter in both Instrumental, Vocal AND Composition categories, but you will only be selected in one category if you make it into the Featured Round.

Is The Artist Statement Required?

Yes, but it's only used as background information. You will not be judged upon the content of your statement.

How Will My Artist Statement Be Used?

We may use it on the air, the web or at the Showcase Concert and in any other materials related to Minnesota Varsity.

How Do I Write For Clarinet/flute/oboe?

For advice on writing for these instruments, tutorial videos are available at: http://composersforum.org/program/2013-minnesota-varsity

How Many Entries Will Be Selected In Each Round?

In the Instrumental/Vocal category, MPR will select

• No less than fifteen (15) and no more than twenty (20) Featured Artists, and
• five (5) Showcase Artists (four by judges and one by online Audience Vote)

In the Composition category, ACF and MPR will select

• No less than two (2) and no more than five (5) Featured Composers, and
• two (2) Showcase Composers

What Do I Win?

If you're chosen as a Featured Artist, you'll get to work with an audio engineer from MPR to produce a professional recording of your performance. Your piece may also be played on the air and the MPR Classical website.

Each of the five Showcase Artists and the two Showcase Composers will receive the following:

Artists: One free recording (on CD) of the MPR-prepared recording of their performance (retail value: approximately $300)

Composers: One free recording (on CD) of the MPR-prepared recording of their composition (retail value: approximately $300), plus one complimentary yearlong student membership in ACF ($45 value).

NOTE: The prize is awarded as a single prize to the Showcase Artist. Except as noted, the prize does not increase if the Showcase Artist is an ensemble with multiple members.

What Is The Purpose Of Minnesota Varsity?

The goal of Minnesota Varsity is not to single out the very best musician or composer in the state. It's to encourage young musicians to make music and to be involved in the process of creation with their peers. Minnesota Varsity helps to bring to the forefront the importance of music and arts education in this state and throughout the nation.