Categories
Ages 15-18 Division
1st Place: $2500
2nd Place: $1200
3rd Place: $500
One Audience Prize: $100
Honorable Mention (subject to juries, no scholarship)
Ages 11-14 Division
1st Place: $1200
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $200
One Audience Prize: $100
Honorable Mention (subject to juries, no scholarship)
Ages 8-10 Division
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200
One Audience Prize: $100
Honorable Mention (subject to juries, no scholarship)
Ages 7 & Younger Division
1st Place: $300
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
One Audience Prize: $100
Honorable Mention (subject to juries, no scholarship)
Honorable mentions will receive a certificate of achievement, but will NOT receive a scholarship. Given COVID-19, small ensembles will NOT be a category.
All winners must perform in-person for the Winner's Concert, where they will receive their cash prize.
NOTICE
Each division includes all String Orchestra instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass). In the finals, all finalists will compete for a total of three prizes per division.

Eligibility
All who play a string instrument (minus piano and harp) are eligible. There are no place-of-residence requirements- contestants may reside in either international or US territories.
With a separate application, an applicant may apply for multiple entries (e.g. violin & viola).
Any 1st prize winners of the 2021 HIMC Competition may not apply for the same category in which they won 1st prize (e.g. if a contestant won 1st prize in the 9-13 division last year, they may still compete in the Junior division); however, 2nd places, 3rd places, and any honorable mentions may apply for the same category in which they won.
The age of the performer on July 1, 2022 will be used to assign applicants to their appropriate age division. For example, if a performer turns 15 on June 15, 2022, they must compete under the Senior Division level.
Repertoire
Ages 7 & Younger, 8-10 & Junior Divisions
All performers of these divisions are required to perform ONE piece of musical merit* preferably under 7 minutes for pre-screening. If the piece is longer than 7 minutes, the judges will listen to the first 7 minutes of performance- this will not impact their decision in any way. Accompaniment is preferred, but not required. The same piece or two different pieces may be performed for pre-screening and finals.
Senior Division
All performers of this division are required to perform ONE piece of musical merit* preferably under 10 minutes for pre-screening. If the piece is longer than 10 minutes, the judges will listen to the first 10 minutes of performance- this will not impact their decision in any way. Accompaniment is preferred, but not required. The same piece or two different pieces may be performed for pre-screening and finals.
Please reach out to info@himc.us or fill out a contact form if you have any questions about the repertoire.
*Examples of Acceptable Pieces:
Carmen Fantasy Op. 25 by Pablo de Sarasate
Flute sonata in A major BWV 1032 by J. S. Bach
"Moonlight" Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor 3rd Mvt. by Ludwig van Beethoven
and etc.
* Examples of Unacceptable Pieces:
Star Wars theme Song
River Flows In You
Baby Shark
and etc.
Guidelines for Preliminary Recordings
1. Please log in your SlideRoom account to upload your recording before the Audition Video Submission Due.
2. Contestants must show their full body and have adequate lighting as to see their face and instrument as well as their full range of motion.
3. Audios and videos may not be edited.
4. Accompaniment is preferred, but not required.
* Music Houston reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time.