Competition Information

Competitions are open to all student flutists, beginner through 12th grade, collegiate undergraduates, and adult amateurs aged 25 and older. Guidelines for each of the competitions are below. Please read them carefully before registering. Competition winners may be invited to perform on a recital at the 2025 Festival.

General Competition Rules and Procedures – 2024

All competition artists—Junior, Youth, Collegiate, and Amateur—must register as participants for the Wisconsin Flute Festival in addition to paying the competition fee ($40) and completing their respective competition registration form.
First-place winners of a competition may not compete again in the same competition for a period of one year. This restriction does not apply if a winner of the previous year qualifies for a different competition.
Participants must perform with live accompaniment if their piece includes accompaniment and are responsible for arranging for their own pianist.
All applications and fees must be submitted by 11:59pm (CT) on the date competition registration closes. See the individual description for each of the competitions below for registration deadlines.
By participating in any of the competitions you agree to accept all decisions as final.
Competitors who do not fully comply with the rules and procedures of their competition will be disqualified without a refund of their fees.

For questions regarding the Wisconsin Flute Festival Competitions, please contact our competitions coordinators directly:

Junior Artist Competition: Heidi Keener hmkeener77@gmail.com
Young Artist Competition: Emma Koi emma.m.koi@gmail.com
Collegiate Artist Competition: Erin Lesser erin.lesser@lawrence.ed
Amateur Artist Competition: Emma Koi emma.m.koi@gmail.com

Before you Register

To register you will need the following information:

Competitor contact information
Competitor biography (600 character limit)
Headshots of you (required) and your accompanist (optional). Submitted headshots may be displayed on the Wisconsin Flute Festival website or in promotional materials.
Information about the piece being performed, including composer, composer dates, full title, composition date, movement numbers and names
Parent/Guardian contact information (Junior and Young Artist only)
Accompanist contact information (if using an accompanist)
Accompanist biography (600 character limit)

Junior Artist Competition

1st place – $200
2nd place – $150
3rd place – $100

The Wisconsin Flute Festival Junior Artist Competition is for flutists in 8th grade or younger. No preliminary recording is required to enter the competition. Please be prepared to play a solo that is a maximum of 8 minutes long. For best consideration, we recommend selecting a piece for solo flute or flute and piano from the National Flute Association’s Selected Flute Repertoire and Studies guide that is level C or higher. The list can be referenced here. Awards will be presented at the final recital of the 2024 Festival. Competition registration must be completed by March 8, 2024.

Young Artist Competition

1st place – $350
2nd place – $250
3rd place – $150

The Wisconsin Flute Festival Young Artist Competition is for flutists who are in grades 9-12. No preliminary recording is required to enter the competition. Please be prepared to play a solo that is a maximum of 10 minutes long. For best consideration, we recommend selecting a piece for solo flute or flute and piano from the National Flute Association’s Selected Flute Repertoire and Studies guide that is level E or higher. The list can be referenced here. Awards will be presented at the final recital of the 2024 Festival. Competition registration must be completed by March 8, 2024.

Collegiate Artist Competition

1st place – $750
2nd place – $500
3rd place – $250

The Wisconsin Flute Festival Collegiate Artist Competition is designed for flutists who are currently enrolled in undergraduate studies. The competition consists of a recorded preliminary round from which competitors will be chosen to advance to the final round during the Wisconsin Flute Festival. Please read all the information below.

Preliminary Round:
Applicants must submit a high-quality, unedited video recording (.mp4 or .mov) of the following pieces by March 8, 2024. Your preliminary round recording must not exceed 12 minutes.;

Memory for Solo Flute – Chen Yi OR Sonata Op. 39 for solo flute, I. Allegro Risoluto – Miklós Rózsa
A second piece of the performer’s choosing from any period

Final Round:
Applicants must select and submit their final round program with their application. The program should not exceed 20 minutes in total length, including time in between pieces. It is strongly recommended that the program represent contrasting styles and time periods, and you may opt to include pieces performed as part of your preliminary round submission. Performance of a single movement, omitting repeats and cutting piano-only sections is permitted. Any other cuts must be approved in advance by the Wisconsin Flute Festival Competition Committee. Participants must choose repertoire that does not require accompaniment if unable to perform with live accompaniment. Final round submissions that include pieces meant for flute and piano that do not include the piano part will be disqualified. Awards will be announced at the closing concert.

Adult Amateur Artist Competition

1st place – $500

The Wisconsin Flute Festival Amateur Artist Competition is open to adult flutists age 25 and up. Collegiate students (any level and any area of study) and those who are currently making or have made their primary income as flute performers or educators are excluded from competing. Competitors must perform two pieces for a total length of no more than 15 minutes and must perform with live accompaniment if their piece includes accompaniment. Awards will be presented at the final recital of the 2024 Festival. Competition registration must be completed by March 8, 2024.

Repertoire Requirements:

Any piece for flute alone, written after 1990
A second piece of the performer’s choosing from any period