Competitions Main Page
The International Trumpet Guild (ITG) sponsors several on-going competitions and contests that offer cash prizes and scholarships. Official rules supersede the brief descriptions on this page and are made available for download below early in the fall semester.
NOTE: We are sad to announce that the 2020 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition will be postponed to September 2021. We recognize and appreciate the work of all competitors who have been working diligently to prepare for this competition, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world has made the event untenable this year. Competition dates and repertoire list for the 2021 competition will be announced in early 2021. The entry birth date will remain the same, so anyone who was eligible to apply this year will be eligible next year as well. At this time, we don’t anticipate changes to the repertoire list, but do reserve the right to make changes should it be deemed necessary. We add our voices to those around the world hoping for relief from this pandemic and anticipate that improved circumstances will allow for an extremely successful Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition in 2021.
Jason Bergman, host
2020 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition
Vice President, International Trumpet Guild
Conference Competitions
Applications will be accepted starting on January 1st.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BETWEEN
JANUARY 1ST AND FEBRUARY 1ST 2020
Click here for Conference Competition Registration page
Click here for 2020 Conference Competition and Scholarship Rules
General Release Form (PDF) for Minors
The following competitions take place at the annual international conferences of the International Trumpet Guild. PDF of the current competition rules are linked above. For information not found on these pages or in the .pdf files, please contact the Chair of Conference Competitions.
ITG Orchestral Excerpts Competition. Monetary prizes awarded. Held at the annual ITG Conference. Entrants must be under 25 years of age on February 1 of the competition year. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
ITG Solo Performance Competition. Monetary prizes awarded. Held at the annual ITG Conference. Entrants must be under 25 years of age on February 1 of the competition year. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
ITG Jazz Improvisation Competition. Monetary prizes awarded. Held at the annual ITG Conference. Entrants must be under 25 years of age on February 1 of the competition year. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
ITG Wind Band Excerpts Competition. Monetary prizes awarded. Held at the annual ITG Conference. Entrants must be under 25 years of age on February 1 of the competition year. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
ITG Conference Scholarships for Students.(Supported by the ITG Memorial Fund and the Music Industry). Scholarships for annual ITG Conference. For students in following age groups: under 15, 15-19, 19-22, and 22-25. Also for jazz students up to 25.Ages as of February 1 of the competition year. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
ITG Youth Competition. The ITG, in its efforts to encourage young performers, presents two competition divisions (Under 15 and 15-19) for players of all soprano brass instruments (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, E-flat cornet) Held at the annual ITG Conference. Deadline to apply: February 1. Rules to this competition are available above in PDF format. Email: [email protected]
Professional Competitions
Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. (Supported by a grant from The Herb Alpert Foundation). $15,000 total prizes. Held once every two years.
2019 Carmine Caruso Competition - DePaul University - Chicago, Il.
Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition. Sponsored by ITG and the Columbus Foundation of Columbus, Ohio. $15,000 total prizes. Held once every four years.
NOTE:
The 2020 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition is making the following adjustments due to the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic that is currently impacting our global community:
The May 1 round-one application deadline has been extended to June 1, 2020.
Any piano accompaniment requirements for round 1 are waived. Competitors have the option of submitting a recording with piano accompaniment, using a play-along piano accompaniment, or no accompaniment at all. There will be no penalty in any case.
We wish all competitors the best of luck in your preparations and that you and your families are safe and healthy during these uncertain times.
Jason Bergman, host
2020 Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition
2020 Ellsworth Smith Website - Information, Rules and Repertoire - Brigham Young University
Competition Registration Page - Registration is open!
The article The Roads They've Taken: A Look at ITG's Student Contest Winners by Anne Hardin (May96 ITGJ) [500k] describes the annual conference competitions and follows up on the careers of winners from 1977-1995.