Rising chamber music stars from the Michigan State University College of Music take the stage this spring to compete for recognition and prizes in the third annual Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition Showcase. The competition takes place Saturday, April 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fairchild Theatre and via digital broadcast from the College’s website, and is part of the 2022-23 MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series.

The four groups competing this year are among the best chamber musicians in strings, winds, brass and piano at the MSU College of Music. Competitors will perform for a panel of distinguished judges for first, second and third-place scholarship awards, performance opportunities, specially-commissioned works, and marketing and promotional support. Distinguished judges include Tim McAllister, professor of music, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance; Seth Orgel, professor of horn, Louisiana State University; and Ruggero Allifranchini, concertmaster for the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Audience members, both in-person and online, are encouraged to participate in selecting the People’s Choice Award. Voting will take place after the final performance. In-person and virtual audience members watching the digital broadcast will be provided with a link to submit their top choice.

“These wonderful, young musicians are extremely dedicated to sharing their artistry. All of us at the MSU College of Music are very proud of these four competing groups who have worked hard to prepare for this event,” said Yvonne Lam, assistant professor of violin and coordinator of chamber music at MSU. “We are particularly grateful to Barbara Wagner who made this competition possible through her vision and generosity. We also want to applaud our distinguished panel of jurors who represent the chamber music community so well.”

Lam said the annual competition is energetic, exciting and indicative of a strong future for chamber music. The four competing chamber groups that will perform are comprised of MSU College of Music graduate and undergraduate instrumentalists. They include Novak Trio, a string and piano trio; Grand River Brass, a brass quintet; Clap 7, a saxophone quartet; and Aereus, a trumpet ensemble. With a run-time of approximately three hours, a brief intermission will follow the final performance for judge deliberations. The top three awards and People’s Choice Award winner will be announced at the end of the competition.

The chamber music competition program and concert is generously sponsored by Barbara E. Wagner. The 2022–2023 Showcase Series is sponsored by the MSU Federal Credit Union. For more information on the artists and concerts, visit the Wagner Chamber Music Competition event pages posted online.

General admission seating is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 60 and older) and free for students. To stream the event, go to: https://www.music.msu.edu/event-listing/event-livestreams. Information on this and other concerts, recitals and performances can be found on the MSU College of Music web site: www.music.msu.edu

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

Sound Session, shown here performed at the 2022 competition and took first place. Musicians include Matt Fox, Jacob Nance, Jeffrey Allardyce, and Tyler Young. Photo by Harley Seeley.

The competition helps foster the formation of ensembles, supports the pursuit of entrepreneurship, and provides a training ground for musicians who aspire to compete. Graphics courtesy MSU College of Music.