Competitions
SRHW 2026 is excited to offer six competitions, and you're welcome to participate in more than one category! (You must be registered for the workshop in order to apply.)
Preliminary round videos for High School and University solo categories are due no later than November 23, 2025.
Finalist will be notified shortly thereafter, and no later than December 1
If you have any additional questions, please contact our competition coordinator, Dan Nebel, [email protected].
- Solo competitions: High school student and University.
- Mock auditions: High horn and low horn
- Horn quartet/horn choir competition: High School and Open
Preliminary round videos for High School and University solo categories are due no later than November 23, 2025.
Finalist will be notified shortly thereafter, and no later than December 1
If you have any additional questions, please contact our competition coordinator, Dan Nebel, [email protected].
Please note: There is a $20 application fee for solo and mock audition competitions ($25 if you complete in both solo AND mock auditions) / $30 per group for the horn quartet/choir competition and must be submitted at the time of application.
High School Solo Competition
Eligibility:
Students entering this competition must be currently enrolled in middle or high school (grades 6–12) or in a home-schooling program, and younger than 19 years old on March 14, 2025.
Prizes
1st Prize: $100, $50 Summerhays Gift Card, plus $10,000 merit scholarship to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy * and an invitation to perform on the final concert.
2nd Prize: $7,500 merit scholarship to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy *
Rules:
- Preliminary round will be conducted via video submission. Videos are due before November 23, 2025.
- Submission requirements
- Upload your video as an unlisted or public YouTube link (Here is an instructional video on how to upload your video) and email the link to our competition coordinator, Dan Nebel ([email protected])
- The video must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take
- The performers face and left hand/fingers must be clearly visible throughout the video
- Audio may be recorded separately, using a higher quality equipment and sync to the video however: do not edit or enhance the audio track in anyway
- Videos that do not meet these guidelines or are submitted with a private link may be disqualified.
- Email the link to your video to Dan Nebel ([email protected])
- Submission requirements
- For the final round, piano accompaniment is required. You may either use your own accompanist, or one can be provided for you.
- Parents or guardians may sit in the room during their student’s performance, but may not stay for the performances of other students.
- The general public will not be invited to observe this competition.
Preliminary Round: (UPDATED 9/12/25) Solo 3F with “B” ending from Auditionsolos.com https://auditionsolos.com/pdf/08%20Horn%203F.pdf
(UPDATE 9/12/25 : The preliminary piece was originally listed in error as solo 3D. The correct piece is solo 3F. We apologize for any inconvenience.)
Final Round: choose one of the following:
Gina Gillie: Sonata Mvt. 1 https://www.wavefrontmusic.com/sonata-gillie.html
Larry Lowe: Intermezzo https://www.wavefrontmusic.com/intermezzo.html
David Uber: A Simple Song https://manducamusic.com/shop/a-simple-song-david-uber/
* Interlochen Scholarship prize details:
- Students currently in grades 8-11, including home-schooled students, are eligible to win this award. Students outside this age range may still win the competition, but are not eligible to receive the scholarship award. This merit scholarship offer is valid only for enrollment in Fall 2026 at the Interlochen Arts Academy (IAA) and is non-transferable and non-deferrable.
- Students currently enrolled at IAA are eligible to participate in and win the competition, but doing so will not affect their scholarship/financial-aid package.
- Winners will still need to complete an application to be accepted into IAA; more information can be found here: https://www.interlochen.org/academy-boarding-school/admission/how-to-apply. Should the horn studio be full at the time of acceptance, qualified students will be placed on a wait-list.
- Upon completion of the IAA application, students will be considered for financial aid in addition to their merit scholarship. Any financial aid award is in addition to the merit scholarship amount, and is based on parental income and financial need.
- This prize is a minimum award. Based on audition videos, exceptional applicants may be offered additional scholarship funding. However, merit scholarships are not "stackable." For example, if you have already applied for Fall 2026 and received a merit scholarship, the higher of the two scholarships is the final merit scholarship offer.
- Please contact Dr. Lauren Hunt at [email protected] with any questions.
University Solo Competition
Eligibility
Students entering this competition must be enrolled at a college or university either as an undergraduate or graduate student, and must not currently hold a teaching position at a college or university (graduate assistantships accepted).
Rules
Prizes
1st Prize: $75, $50 Summerhays Gift Card, plus an invitation to perform on the final concert
Repertoire:
Preliminary Round: Mozart Horn Concerto #4 K. 495, Movement 1 (no cadenza) with live piano accompaniment.
University Finalists: Choose one of the following pieces:
Bernhard Krol Laudatio https://houghtonhorns.com/products/laudatio-for-horn-by-bernhard-krol?srsltid=AfmBOoreVPmCMJ-IfIawkK41Q9eYVmeAqHNKBoja8-vguBOnk0EbeVzy
Ricardo Matosinhos Blues in F Etude #2 from 15 low horn etudes poperepair.com/matosinhos-ricardo-15-low-horn-etudes/
Malcolm Arnold Fantasy for Horn https://houghtonhorns.com/products/fantasy-arnold?srsltid=AfmBOornVPF7lH0LDROCCRNYbS3kNSb8lWMEhMRrEB3IaNqSv4YZMVpI
Eligibility
Students entering this competition must be enrolled at a college or university either as an undergraduate or graduate student, and must not currently hold a teaching position at a college or university (graduate assistantships accepted).
Rules
- Preliminary round will be conducted via video submission. Videos are due before November 23, 2025.
- Submission requirements
- Upload your video as an unlisted or public YouTube link (Here is an instructional video on how to upload your video and email the link to our competition coordinator, Dan Nebel ([email protected])
- The video must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take
- The performers face and left hand/fingers must be clearly visible throughout the video
- Audio may be recorded separately, using a higher quality equipment and sync to the video however: do not edit or enhance the audio track in anyway
- Videos that do not meet these guidelines or are submitted with a private link may be disqualified.
- Submission requirements
Prizes
1st Prize: $75, $50 Summerhays Gift Card, plus an invitation to perform on the final concert
Repertoire:
Preliminary Round: Mozart Horn Concerto #4 K. 495, Movement 1 (no cadenza) with live piano accompaniment.
University Finalists: Choose one of the following pieces:
Bernhard Krol Laudatio https://houghtonhorns.com/products/laudatio-for-horn-by-bernhard-krol?srsltid=AfmBOoreVPmCMJ-IfIawkK41Q9eYVmeAqHNKBoja8-vguBOnk0EbeVzy
Ricardo Matosinhos Blues in F Etude #2 from 15 low horn etudes poperepair.com/matosinhos-ricardo-15-low-horn-etudes/
Malcolm Arnold Fantasy for Horn https://houghtonhorns.com/products/fantasy-arnold?srsltid=AfmBOornVPF7lH0LDROCCRNYbS3kNSb8lWMEhMRrEB3IaNqSv4YZMVpI
Mock Orchestral Auditions
Mock auditions will be divided into two categories: high horn and low horn. You can register for one or both categories.
Last day to register: December 28, 2025.
Eligibility:
- No age limit
- Participants can compete in either or both categories
Repertoire:
High Horn:
Brahms: Piano Concerto #1, Movement 1, Horn 3 in F, mm. 199-219
R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel’ Merry Pranks, Horn 1 in F, mm. 6-20
Shostakovich: Symphony # 5, Movement 1, Horn 1in F, Reh. 17-21
Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess, Horn 1 in G, mm. 1-11
Beethoven: Symphony #7, Movement 1, Horn 1 in A, mm. 84-110
Low Horn
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #4, Movement 1, Horn 2 in F, mm 1-20
Beethoven: Symphony #3, Movement 3, Horn 2 in E-flat, mm 171-202
Shostakovich: Symphony #5, Movement 1, Horn, 2 in F, Reh. 17 -21
Dvorak: Symphony #9, Horn 4 in E, 6 before Reh. 3 to 12 after Reh. 3
Mahler: Symphony #1, Movement 3, Horn 2 in F, Reh. 13-15
High Horn:
Brahms: Piano Concerto #1, Movement 1, Horn 3 in F, mm. 199-219
R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel’ Merry Pranks, Horn 1 in F, mm. 6-20
Shostakovich: Symphony # 5, Movement 1, Horn 1in F, Reh. 17-21
Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess, Horn 1 in G, mm. 1-11
Beethoven: Symphony #7, Movement 1, Horn 1 in A, mm. 84-110
Low Horn
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #4, Movement 1, Horn 2 in F, mm 1-20
Beethoven: Symphony #3, Movement 3, Horn 2 in E-flat, mm 171-202
Shostakovich: Symphony #5, Movement 1, Horn, 2 in F, Reh. 17 -21
Dvorak: Symphony #9, Horn 4 in E, 6 before Reh. 3 to 12 after Reh. 3
Mahler: Symphony #1, Movement 3, Horn 2 in F, Reh. 13-15
Link to PDF of excerpts
Horn quartet/choir competition
Participants can compete in one of the following categories: High school and Open
Last day to Register: December 28th, 2025
Eligibility:
1st Prize: $100 plus $50 Summerhays Gift Card for each member, and, at the judges discretion, one or more winners of the competition may be invited to perform on the final recital (At the judges discretion).
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD, plus $50 Summerhays Gift Card for each member, for Best Amateur Adult Ensemble / Best Community Band or Orchestra Horn Section
Participants can compete in one of the following categories: High school and Open
Last day to Register: December 28th, 2025
Eligibility:
- Participants in the high school division must currently be enrolled in middle or high school (grade 6 -12), or in a homeschooling program, and younger than 19 years old at the time of competition.
- Participants in the open division have no age limit regarding the composition of the group as long as not more than one member of a horn quartet or two members of horn choir who are full-time professional players. Groups who wish to be considered for the Best Amateur Adult Ensemble / Best Community Orchestra Horn Section should not have members who play professionally or identify as professional players unless they are an established member of that group.
1st Prize: $100 plus $50 Summerhays Gift Card for each member, and, at the judges discretion, one or more winners of the competition may be invited to perform on the final recital (At the judges discretion).
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD, plus $50 Summerhays Gift Card for each member, for Best Amateur Adult Ensemble / Best Community Band or Orchestra Horn Section
Rules:
- Three physical copies of the scores must be provided by each competing ensemble on the day of the competition
- Score should be published music
- Acceptable alternatives include
- Public domain (published before 1926)
- Out of print Works
- Copied music, not in the public domain, provided it is accompanied by a letter of permission from the publisher, composer, or arranger
- High school division: 5–10 minutes of music consisting of two or more pieces/movements of contrasting periods or styles
- Open division: 10–15 minutes of music consisting of two or more pieces/movements of contrasting periods or styles
