1. Eligibility: Any instrumentalist residing in any of the 50 states of the United States of America.
2. Age categories:
   • Prodigy: 10 years old and under (as of the regular due date): up to 7 minutes
   • Young Artist: 11-14 years old (as of the regular due date): up to 10 minutes
   • Artist: 15-18 years old (as of the regular due date): up to 15 minutes
3. All music must be performed from memory.
4. Application fee: Early bird $75 by March 15th or $95 by May 15^th. Application fee must be paid via Zelle to IEyoungartists@gmail.com. (Payee: S.D.G. Performing Arts, LLC). Applications cannot be evaluated until application fee payment is received. Application fees are non-refundable. Please write the applicant’s name in the memo section on Zelle.
5. The competition will take place in ONE ROUND. Participants must complete the application form and send it via email to: ieyoungartists@gmail.com along with their UNLISTED YouTube video and proof of fee payment.
6. Repertoire: Any piece of your choice from the standard repertoire (Baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century+ up to the length specified in each age category (movement of a concerto, showpiece, sonata, etc.). The judges will listen to the specified length of your performance. There will be NO PENALTY for pieces longer than the time limits above, but judges will only evaluate the specified time limits.
7. Video guidelines: Recordings should show the applicant clearly in a way that displays his/her instrument, hands, posture, and technical aspects of instrument playing. The camera must be stationary, and the recording must be from a single angle, continuous, without any interruptions or editing. Any edited videos for either sound or visual enhancement will be disqualified. The video should be uploaded to YouTube as unlisted (if the video is accidentally uploaded as “private”, the judges will not be able to view it and evaluate it).
8. All winners are eligible to compete in subsequent years until they age out of the competition’s age limits.
9. Benefits of participation: Beyond the prizes, which we hope will support your music education and development, it is the aim of this competition to provide an opportunity for young artists to perform in front of renowned judges, receive valuable feedback, celebrate their progress through diligent practice and inspire each other to continue to reach for excellence. The process of preparing for a music competition/audition, regardless of the outcome, is one of the most important aspects of music training as it motivates young artists to reach higher and higher towards their full potential.
10. The judges’ decisions are final. All prizes will be mailed to the winners via US mail to the address on the application.
11. There will be a minimum of 3 judges. Each judge will evaluate the young artists’ performance and will give a numerical score. The judges’ scores will then be combined, and the average score will be recorded for each contestant. If the contestant is a member of a judge’s studio, that judge will refrain from evaluating his/her own student and the average score of the remaining 2 judges will be recorded as the contestant’s final score. It is the goal of this competition to reward merit.