Klein Competition Provides Scholarships for 2024 Competition

A new fee waiver initiative will make the competition more accessible, ensuring that deserving applicants do not miss out on financial grounds

Applications are now open for the 39th edition of the California Music Center's Irving M. Klein International String Competition, which will take place on June 1 and 2, 2024 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The competition is for string players aged between 15 and 23 of any nationality, who are not currently receiving professional management.

This year, the competition introduced a new accessibility initiative in the form of fee scholarships. These awards will waive the cost of the application fee, ensuring that nobody is excluded from applying for the competition based on financial circumstances.

In order to apply for the scholarships, all pre-college students must submit a copy of their parents' most recent tax filing and a copy of a needs-based award letter if enrolled in a pre-college conservatory program (except for Curtis and Colburn students).

All college students (except Curtis and Colburn) will need to submit a copy of needs-based award letter. Curtis and Colburn college students will need to submit a copy of parents’ most recent tax filing instead.

For further information, see the competition's applications page.

"As we seek to expand accessibility and opportunities for our underrepresented applicants, we acknowledge that we have a lot of progress to make here at the Klein," said Mitchell Sardou Klein, the competition's Artistic Director. "That being said, we are excited to announce these scholarships for the 2024 competition, which will be our first steps towards becoming an organization that broadens access for fine young musicians of all backgrounds into the beginnings of their careers."

"As a music competition, I think we're positioned in a particularly unique way as an organization who values performance but also one that's focused on supporting young musicians in the beginnings of their careers," said Zoe Lin, the Deputy Director of the Klein Competition. "In my conversations in the industry, I often hear that creating equity in classical music is a pipeline problem, and so we're excited to play a part in leveling the field at a pivotal time like this — the early days of young musicians' professional careers."

"This year we're focused on creating opportunities for underrepresented applicants, but our hope is also to strive for a jury panel, commissioned composer selection, board, and staff who not only believe in this value of equity but embody it as well," she added.

Eight to nine semifinalists will be selected for the competition and will have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and performance contracts totaling $30,000 in value. Applications must be received by February 3, 2024.