Application Period: September 1–December 15, 2025
Live Final Round Weekend: April 10–12, 2026
at The Ebenezer Theater in Easton, Maryland
Rules & How to Apply
Prizes
- Lerman Gold Prize Winner | $10,000 plus paid performance at the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June 2026
- Silver Prize Winner | $5,000
- Awards to remaining Finalists | $1,000 per ensemble
- Audience Choice Prize | $1,000
All finalists will receive feedback/critique from the judges, as well as an additional 60-minute concert opportunity during the live final round weekend. Chesapeake Music invites other presenters and promoters to the live final round weekend, as well as through Chesapeake Music’s live stream (also broadcasted by The Violin Channel), creating additional exposure for each Finalist Ensemble.
Lodging and select meals during the live final round weekend will be provided by Chesapeake Music. Local travel will also be provided by Chesapeake Music.
All prizes are conditioned upon full compliance by the ensemble and each of its members with the rules and requirements of the Competition. Chesapeake Music retains the right to distribute, divide, or withhold awards at its sole discretion.
Eligibility
- The ensemble must consist of 3-5 members
- At the application deadline (December 15, 2025), the average age of ensemble members shall be less than 30 years, 11 months, and 30 days
- Open to acoustic instrumental ensembles
- Voice as an acoustic instrument is not allowed or accepted
- The ensemble may not have more than one piano
- The ensemble must read and agree to the full terms and conditions (including the winning ensemble’s participation in the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival)
How to apply
- Each ensemble selects one of its members to serve as coordinator for the group; this individual will initiate the online application and be the single point of contact for the duration of the competition
- Contact and information on each ensemble member must also be provided within the application
- Application fee is $40 per ensemble member (e.g., $160 for a quartet), to be paid in one installment by credit card upon application submission
- A recording must be uploaded within the application and will serve as the sole basis for review
- Recording must be audio only
- Recording should be approximately 30 minutes of music, including at least 2 works or movements of works contrasting in style and character
- To maintain applicant anonymity, recording should consist of only the performed music, with no verbal introductions or reference to the ensemble or any of its members
- To maintain applicant anonymity, the name of the uploaded file should not include any identifiers such as the name of the ensemble or any of its members
- Recording must be in one take with no splicing, editing, or post-production (including effects such as reverb)
- Applications must be submitted during the application period: September 1 – December 15, 2025 (11:59pm); late materials will not be considered
About the review process and live final round weekend
Results from the first/preliminary round are anticipated to be released on or around January 15, 2026.
When Finalist Ensembles are notified of their advancement to the live weekend round, they will be given instructions on additional material to be provided in advance, such as (but not limited to) select marketing material, their 45-minute live final round program, and PDF files of each work being performed on the program.
Finalist Ensembles must travel to Easton, Maryland for the live final round weekend. Finalist Ensembles will receive housing, select meals, and local transportation through Chesapeake Music. An orientation and rehearsal period will take place on April 10, 2026.
On April 11, 2026, the live final round of the Competition will take place in the historic Ebenezer Theater at Prager Family Center for the Arts, featuring a Hamburg Steinway handpicked by Gabriela Montero. Each Finalist Ensemble will have 45 minutes to deliver their final round performance to an audience of classical music lovers — both in the venue and via live stream (also broadcasted by The Violin Channel).
Competition final results will be announced that same evening in the Theater.
The following morning, on April 12, all Finalist Ensembles will attend a special brunch where they will meet privately with the finalist judges to receive critique/feedback, and they will also converse with Competition patrons & key personnel, as well as other concert presenters/promoters and press present. Later that day, each ensemble will present a 60-minute program of their own choosing at another local venue as arranged by Chesapeake Music.
The Gold Prize Winner will return to Easton in June 2026 to perform at the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival. The exact dates are to be determined, but it will be a minimum 3-day commitment between June 11–20. Travel, housing, select meals, and an artist fee will be provided. While not guaranteed, Chesapeake Music endeavors to also arrange one or two additional paid performances through other presenters while the ensemble is in the region.
Terms and conditions for Finalist Ensembles
Results from the first/preliminary round are anticipated to be released on or around January 15, 2026.
Acceptance of the invitation to participate in the live final round weekend of the competition shall constitute agreement by the Finalist Ensemble and each of its members to the terms below:
- The ensemble will stay in complimentary housing in private homes in the greater Easton area, organized and administered by Chesapeake Music
- The ensemble will arrive to the area early enough to participate in an orientation and rehearsal on April 10, 2026, with timing details determined by Chesapeake Music
- The ensemble will participate in the live final round competition on April 11, 2026, and attend the awards presentation that same evening
- The ensemble will attend a brunch on April 12, 2026, to meet privately with the judges as well as converse with Competition patrons & key personnel, as well as other concert presenters/promoters and press present
- The ensemble will participate in the Sunday Concert Series by presenting a 60-minute program at another venue in the region as determined by Chesapeake Music
- If selected as the Lerman Gold Prize Winner, the ensemble will participate in the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June 2026
- ensemble participation will be a minimum 3 day commitment between June 11–20
- all travel and housing, select meals, and an additional artist fee will be provided by Chesapeake Music
- The ensemble permits Chesapeake Music to record and live stream the live final round of the competition at The Ebenezer Theater, and grants Chesapeake Music full ownership of such video recordings to be used without condition or limitation to promote the competition and its mission; the ensemble will receive a digital copy of their final round performance
- By February 1, 2026, the ensemble will provide marketing material, including but not limited to ensemble/musician photographs, brief ensemble biography, any social media handles; Chesapeake Music is granted permission to use such material without condition or limitation to promote the competition and its mission
- By February 15, the ensemble will provide a listing of their 45-minute live competition program, including PDF scores of each work listed to be used by the competition staff and judges
- By February 15, the ensemble will provide a listing of their 60-minute Sunday Finalist Concert Series program (no PDF scores are required)
CCMC Advisory Board
Steve Balderston
Natasha Brofsky
Glenn Dicterow
Miriam Fried
Michael Kannen
Michael Maccaferri
Tara Helen O’Connor
Daniel Phillips
Marcy Rosen
J. Lawrie Bloom
Catherine Cho
Karen Dreyfus
Ara Gregorian
Maria Lambros
Katherine Murdock
Peggy Pearson
Todd Phillips
David Shifrin
Judges
Preliminary Round
Tara Helen O’Connor
Daniel Phillips
Ieva Jokubaviciute
Marcy Rosen (Head Judge)
Final Round
Announced Soon!
