Compete

Entering the Competition

The Fischoff attracts the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. We welcome your ensemble’s entry! The 52nd Annual Fischoff Competition will take place from May 9 – 11, 2025 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, USA.

The 2025 rulebooks are now available at the links below. Applications will open December 15th. The entry deadline for the 2025 Fischoff Competition is Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. EST.

Senior Division

2025 Senior Division Rulebook

Applications will open December 15th.

Junior Division

2025 Junior Division Rulebook

Applications will open December 15th.

Prizes

Senior Division

Grand Prize Medal - $15,000
Strings
Winds
American Brass Quintet Brass Ensemble Prize - $1,000

Sponsored by the American Brass Quintet

The American Brass Quintet (ABQ) is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the growing number of young brass ensembles in the U.S. The American Brass Quintet is pleased to offer these prizes to the most outstanding brass ensemble in each division.
Lift Every Voice Prize - $1,500

$1,500 will be awarded to a Wind Division ensemble and String Division ensemble ($3,000 total) for the best performance of a work by a historically underrepresented composer within the chamber music world. See page 2 of the Rulebook for more details.

View the 2024 Competition Lift Every Voice Library here.
Horszowski Trio Prize for Piano Ensemble - $600
Double Gold Tour Prize - $5,000

Florence V. Carroll Junior Division

Strings
Winds
American Brass Quintet Brass Ensemble Prize - $500

Sponsored by the American Brass Quintet

The American Brass Quintet (ABQ) is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the growing number of young brass ensembles in the U.S. The American Brass Quintet is pleased to offer these prizes to the most outstanding brass ensemble in each division.
Kenneth Geoffroy Memorial Award - $800

Underwritten by Patricia Geoffroy

The Kenneth Geoffroy Memorial Prize is awarded to a local Junior Division ensemble to encourage the participation of local chamber music ensembles in the Fischoff Competition. A special $800 cash prize is awarded to the highest ranking junior ensembles from the Michiana region (60 mile radius of South Bend).
Horszowski Trio Prize for Piano Ensemble - $300

Tours

Emilia Romagna Festival

The Fischoff grants the Grand Prize winner a trip to the Emilia Romagna Festival in Italy one year following their win. The Emilia Romagna Festival arranges approximately four to six concerts each summer, hosted in hill-top villages and small towns throughout the Emilia Romagna region. The Festival provides each ensemble with housing, transportation, and performance opportunities in historic villas, castles, village chapels, city churches, and an ancient farm courtyard.

The Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins Video Recording Prize at Guarneri Hall, Chicago

The Senior Strings Gold Medalist will be awarded a video recording prize at Guarneri Hall, Chicago sponsored by Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins.

The Fischoff Double Gold Tours

The Fischoff awards tours for both Gold Medal ensembles in the Senior Division Winds and Senior Division Strings the fall following the competition. The ensembles will present concerts and educational programs to more than 4,000 children, youth, and adults throughout the Midwest. Visit the Double Gold Tour page to read about previous tours.

From the Top

The Junior Division Gold Medal Winners will perform live on NPR’s From the Top, which showcases America’s most outstanding young classical musicians.