Tennessee Cello Workshop Competitions

1. Junior Division: cellists age 14 and younger.
2. Senior High School Division: cellists age 15 through 18, and not yet graduated from high school.
3. Collegiate / Young Professional Division: age 17 through 25.
4. UN-competition category: any age or level.
   • This division is for anyone of any age who would like the experience of preparing for the competition, and performing for the panel of jurors, without the competition element in the equation. Cellists participating in the “un-competition” will have the opportunity to play for a panel of judges and receive written comments on their performance.

• All competition entrants will play a preliminary audition on Friday, January 30, 2026. This round will be held without piano accompaniment. Preliminary rounds begin at 9 am.
• Written comments on all performances will be provided to all who perform in the preliminary round by TCW guest artist faculty.
• Up to 3 finalists in each division will be selected to perform in the Competition Finals, which will be held as public recitals on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
• Memorization is only required as noted in the repertoire lists.
• Abusive or disrespectful treatment of staff pianists or jurors by competitors, their teachers or parents will result in dismissal from the competition. A finalist’s parent/s may attend but not participate in, or comment or coach during the rehearsal with their child’s TCW accompanist in preparation for the competition finals. No one other than a parent or guardian may attend this rehearsal.
• Any of the four divisions’ competitions may be canceled, if the number of applicants in that division is insufficient for a meaningful competition. In this situation, entrants will have the option of performing Friday in the un-competition or having their entry fees reimbursed.
• In the event that co-prize winners are selected, the prize monies for those prize winners will be altered by that split. For example, if there are co-first prize winners, those winners will split the prize money for the 1st and 2nd prizes in their division.
• The jury may elect to award only some of these prizes. Not all prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.
• The TCW will not be responsible for any tax obligations that prize winners’ entail.

1. All finalists: recital performance on final day of the 2026 Tennessee Cello Workshop.
2. All finalists: $100 Scholarship towards the 2027 Tennessee Cello Workshop.
3. Junior High School division prizes
   • First prize $500, Second prize $300, Third prize $200
4. High School Division
   • First prize $750, Second prize $500, Third prize $250
   • First prize winner may also receive a one-year loan of an excellent modern American cello. Prize donated by Brobst Violin Shop.
5. Collegiate/Young Professional Division:
   • First prize $3000, Second prize $1500, Third prize $750
   • The First prize winner also receives a one-year loan of an excellent modern American cello. Prize donated by Brobst Violin Shop.
6. Special prizes
   • A professional quality cello bow.
   • Mary Fraley TCW Scholarship for study at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville
     • This prize of a $1000 annual scholarship for attendance at the UTK College of Music may be awarded to an outstanding prizewinner in either the High School or Collegiate competitions for study beginning in the fall of 2026.
7. Un-competition: great personal satisfaction
8. The competition prizewinners will be announced at the final awards presentation and cello orchestra concert on February 1, 2026.

2026 TCW Competition Literature

Collegiate Division

1. J.S. Bach: Prelude and Gigue from Suite 4, 5, or 6 (memorized). Note: if 5th suite is selected, it must be played scordatura.
2. Andrea Cassarubios: Armatura
3. David Popper: High School of Cello Playing: one of the following etudes: 13, 17, or 28
4. Antonín Dvořák: Concerto in B minor: Allegro

High School Division (15-18, still in High School)

1. J.S. Bach: Prelude and Gigue from Suite 1, 2, 3, or 4 (memorized)
2. Adolphus Hailstork: Draw the Sacred Circle Closer: theme and variations two and five.
3. One of the following (memorized):
   • Valentini Sonata in E major: movements 1, 2, 5
   • Haydn Divertimento in D major, arr. Piatigorsky (complete)
   • Franceour Sonata in E major (complete)

Junior Division (up through age 14)

1. J.S. Bach: Prelude and Gigue from Suite 1 (memorized)
2. Eubie Blake: The Chevy Case
   • Click here to order.
3. One of the following (memorized):
   • Julius Klengel: Concertino in C: Andante and Rondo: Vivace
   • Georg Goltermann: Concerto No. 5 in D minor, Opus 76: Finale Allegro
   • Max Bruch: Canzone

Un-competition

1. A program of no more than 12 minutes of music of your own choosing

Deadlines and Entry Requirements

To enter the TCW cello competitions, one must:

• Submit your online TCW registration and indicate your desire to participate in the competition on that form.
• At the payment/checkout page, make sure to include the competition fee along with the participation fee.
• Proof of age will be required of all finalists on Friday night. Please bring appropriate documentation to confirm your age with you to the TCW.
• Deadline for competition entries is 11:59 pm, December 15, 2025
• All events take place at the Natalie Haslam College of Music in Knoxville TN