Four-Way Test Speech Contest
Rotary INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC COMPETITION 2025-2026
Rotary Club Contest (first level) starts January 2026
Category Finals Contests will be held March 2026
Winners Celebration Concert will be held in April 2026
The purpose of the competition is to determine and recognize the high school age student contestant demonstrating District 5340's greatest level of excellence in talent, training and love for music. Students may compete in either Classical or Contemporary categories.
This year we will replace Regional Semi Finals with four Instrument Category Finals, one for each of the following categories: 1) Classical strings; 2) Classical winds and brass; 3) Classical piano and percussion; 4) Contemporary / Popular / Jazz / Traditional. Two winners will advance from each final to the Winners Celebration Concert, one the best student aged 16 or over on 1/1/26 and one the most promising student aged under 16 on 1/1/26.
Prize money will be awarded at each level of competition: District 5340 Club Contests, Category Final Contests, and at the District 5340 Winners Celebration Concert where two Grand Prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded, one for each age group. The applicants will be notified of dates and locations of the competition two weeks prior to the event.
Rules
1. Open to high school age students (14 to 18 years of age) residing in the District 5340 region which includes San Diego and Imperial Counties.
2. Limited to instrumentalists only. Any musical instrument is allowed.
3. Contestant must be sponsored by a Rotary Club within District 5340. See dropdown list in the online application for participating Clubs.
4. All contestants under the age of 18 must have a parent's or guardian's signature.
5. Performance time must be between 3 and 8 minutes, with judging penalties for going over or under the allotted time.
6. Winner of any level (Club or Area) must be able to compete in the next level to be eligible for the prize money.
7. Contestant is responsible for travel expenses.
8. Contestant is responsible for any accompaniment, if needed. A maximum of one accompanist per student is permitted; the accompanist may be an adult or another student.
9. Must provide four (4) printed copies of music at each level of competition, for judges, or if no sheet music is available, provide a link to a YouTube recording of the piece to be performed.
10. The decisions of the judges are final and are based on difficulty of the piece, command of the instrument, musical emotion, interpretation and stage presence. (see below)
2. Limited to instrumentalists only. Any musical instrument is allowed.
3. Contestant must be sponsored by a Rotary Club within District 5340. See dropdown list in the online application for participating Clubs.
4. All contestants under the age of 18 must have a parent's or guardian's signature.
5. Performance time must be between 3 and 8 minutes, with judging penalties for going over or under the allotted time.
6. Winner of any level (Club or Area) must be able to compete in the next level to be eligible for the prize money.
7. Contestant is responsible for travel expenses.
8. Contestant is responsible for any accompaniment, if needed. A maximum of one accompanist per student is permitted; the accompanist may be an adult or another student.
9. Must provide four (4) printed copies of music at each level of competition, for judges, or if no sheet music is available, provide a link to a YouTube recording of the piece to be performed.
10. The decisions of the judges are final and are based on difficulty of the piece, command of the instrument, musical emotion, interpretation and stage presence. (see below)
Judging
- Difficulty Level- 20%
Difficulty of the piece. Is it easy? Very technical? Does it evidence an accomplished level of training? Is the piece memorized? i.e. If the piece is easy, even if played perfectly, the performer may not get as high of a mark as a very difficult piece, which while not played perfectly, clearly took much more effort to prepare. - Command of the Instrument- 20%
How familiar is the performer with his/her instrument, and do they demonstrate a technical mastery of the instrument being played? This includes tone quality, command of lower and higher registers, note accuracy, attacks, articulations, rhythmic accuracy, breath control and intonation (with non-piano instruments) - Musical Emotion (20%)
This includes tone, phrasing, dynamics and expression of emotion. - Interpretation (20%)
While this aspect addresses the students’ understanding of the composer's original intent, style, tempo, phrasing and dynamics, we will also consider leaving room for an artist’s new interpretation, without marking the contestant down in the event of intentionally original, interesting and entertaining choices in their performance. - Stage Presence (20%)
Does the contestant have command of the stage during their performance? Is there a sense of rapport with the audience, overall presentation, and some appropriate showmanship? This can be a positive, but not necessarily required.
Please submit your Student Application online via the digital form here to participate in this event.
Questions or would you like to learn more? Contact your local Rotary Club for information, or Janet White 2025-26 District 5340 Chair of the Youth Instrumental Music Competition.
If club members would like to download the competition instructions CLICK HERE.
If students would like to download the competition application CLICK HERE.
To view a photo gallery from the 2024 Youth Instrumental Music Competition CLICK HERE.