Special $2 Tickets for Young Students We offer donor-subsidised $2 tickets for youth in an effort to bring young audiences to our early music concerts. As all concerts are recorded, we do expect all audience members to sit reasonably still between pieces. As we realize this challenge . . . we seek to accommodate families with young children and are providing a toy box in the concert lobby for those children and parents who need to step outside for a break.

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival presents its annual
Youth Chamber Music Competition

The Santa Cruz Baroque Festival opens its Call for Applications for the 6th annual Youth Chanber Music Competition. For the 2008 season we have expanded our competition to two categories:


Participants from 2007 1) Chamber Music Competition

As in previous years, chamber ensembles consisting of Santa Cruz-county student musicians in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply. Each member of the winning ensemble will receive $100 up to a total of $400 and will perform during the Baroque Festival's Concert II on Friday, March 14, 2008 at the UCSC Music Center Recital Hall (starting at 7:30pm). Second place winners will receive $50 each up to a total of $200 and will be recognized along with honorable-mention award groups. While groups are encouraged to compete by playing Baroque and other early music, the competition is also open to instrumental ensembles performing Classical and Romantic concert repertoire.


2) Early Music Guitar Competition

For the 2008 we offer a special and separate competition track for early music guitar soloist. The winning competitor is granted a 5-year free-use term of a high-quality handmade baroque guitar built especially for this competition by SCBF Board Member and noted luthier (string instrument builder) Charles Sutton. The instrument is a Bach-period baroque guitar after Voboam originals from ca. 1700 (see images). More details are provided on an information sheet accompanying the entry form. It is the hope of the instrument builder and the SCBF that this unique award will encourage and enable young musicians to learn historical instruments and performance practices. Santa Cruz-county student musicians in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply and compete. The entrant must perform an early work (pre-1750), up to 8 minutes in length and without accompaniment.

To obtain an entry form for either competition track, please follow the link below to download or contact SCBF at 831-457-9693. Application forms are due Feburary 15, 2008. Download Competition Entry Form

All auditions take place on February 23, 2008 at the UCSC Music Center. You will be notified of your audition time slot upon receipt of your entry form. A grand piano and a harpsichord will be available for those who need it. A shared warm-up room will be available as well. Judging the competition will be SCBF's Artistic Director Linda Burman-Hall, SC Sentinel music critic Phyllis Rosenblum, as well as music teachers and SCBF Board Members Patti Julin and Alexandra Romanoff.

The awards ceremony takes place on March 14, 2008, starting at 7:30pm. By entering the competition all applicants affirm their availability to participate in the auditions on Feb. 23, and, in the case that their ensemble receives first prize, to perform at the awards ceremony on March 14. Tickets to attend SCBF's Concert II and awards ceremony will be available to all competitors and their families.