Naftzger Competition Information
Click the links below to learn more about competing, including rules and requirements.
Please feel free to send any questions to naftzgeryoungartists@wichita.edu.
Eligibility
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The competition is open to students who are enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a college, university, or conservatory in the United States.
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The competition is held in four divisions:
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Voice
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Piano
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Winds, Brass, and Percussion
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String Instruments
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Voice contestants must be at least 20 years old but not have reached their 29th birthday as of March 22, 2025. Instrumental and Piano contestants must be at least 18 years old but not have reached their 27th birthday as of March 22, 2025.
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Previous Naftzger Young Artists Award winners are not eligible to compete.
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Contestants must have a valid Social Security Number or appropriate International Tax Identification Number at the time of the competition.
Schedule
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Invited contestants will compete only within their division on Saturday, March 22. Two contestants will be selected from each division to perform in the finals. If necessary, Saturday evening, March 22, and/or Sunday morning, March 23 will be used to complete the selection of finalists. The first round auditions are open to the public at the discretion of the judges.
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Specific audition times in the first round cannot be guaranteed; however, every effort will be made to accommodate requests.
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Finals will be Sunday, March 23 at 1 p.m. in Wiedemann Hall on the Wichita State University campus. Presentation of awards shall follow immediately. One person will be named the Naftzger Young Artist Award winner and win $5,000. Three other division prizes will be awarded at $2,000 each, and four division runner-up awards at $500 each.
Performance Requirements
Each contestant shall submit and be prepared to perform a recital program of approximately 45 minutes that demonstrates a variety of styles and repertoire from at least three different centuries (i.e. 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st) in accordance with the following category specifics:
Piano / Instrumental
- At least one large-scale work, such as a sonata, suite, or other multi-movement work by established composer.
- An assortment of other works that fulfill the performance requirements.
- Please provide movements and timings of each work to be performed.
Voice
- Two or more standard arias or works for voice and orchestra chosen from opera, oratorio, or other works normally performed with orchestral accompaniment.
- A varied list of art songs, which must include at least one selection from 17th or 18th-century Italian song, German Lieder, French Mélodie, or contemporary art song.
- A minimum of three languages should be demonstrated in the chosen repertoire.
- Inclusion of repertoire from musical theatre or operetta is optional.
- Please provide the title of the opera or song cycle and timings of each selection.
Awards
Cash prizes totaling $13,000 will be awarded.
- Naftzger Young Artist Award: $5,000
- Three Naftzger Division Awards: $2,000
- Four Naftzger Division Runner-Up Awards: $500
Additional Details
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Each contestant invited to Wichita shall appear at their own expense and furnish their own accompanist.
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All selections must be performed from memory when it is customary to do so. Please bring one copy of your music for the adjudicators.
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The selection of any and all winners and subsequent presentation of prizes is at the sole discretion of the judges. Their decisions shall be final.
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The Wichita State University School of Music reserves the right to make binding decisions regarding contestant eligibility and conformity to regulations or their intent to any situation not specifically covered by the above.
Application
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Each contestant shall submit with their application an audio or video recording representative of their current performance level. Recordings should not exceed 30 minutes in length. The music performed on the recoding need not necessarily be the same as the music submitted in the application for the actual auditions. Please email a link of the recording to download or stream to naftzgeryoungartists@wichita.edu by February 7, 2025
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Recordings will be used in preliminary judging to determine those invited to Wichita for the semifinals and finals on March 22 and 23, 2025.
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A non-refundable $50 entry fee is required with each application. Payment can be made by credit card through the online application form.
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Applications must be submitted by February 7, 2025.
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Applicants will be notified of acceptance on or about February 17, 2025
2025 Judges
Jodi Levitz
Violist and Educator
Jodi Levitz biography
Jodi Levitz is an internationally acclaimed violist and dedicated educator who currently serves as Professor of Viola and String Program Director at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Her distinguished career spans over four decades, featuring performances as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
While still a student at The Juilliard School, Jodi won first prizes in the D'Angelo and Hudson Valley Competitions, launching her career as principal viola and soloist with the Italian chamber ensemble I Solisti Veneti. She performed in renowned venues worldwide and has produced numerous recordings with labels such as Concerto, Dynamic, Naxos, and Erato, covering both classical and contemporary works, in addition to chamber music recordings as violist of the Chicago String Trio, the Ives Quartet, and historically informed projects with fortepiano.
As an educator, Jodi is known for her inspiring approach and dedication to her students' growth. She has received the Sarlo Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching, and her students have won major competitions, including the Naumburg and Fischoff, and have gone on to perform in prominent orchestras and teaching institutions worldwide. She has led masterclasses globally, co-directed the Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival in Italy, and is a core faculty member at the Blackburn Academy at Festival Napa.
Prior to her role at Frost, Jodi was Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she also served as Chair of Strings and Chair of Chamber Music. Her teaching emphasizes technical excellence and creative individuality, guiding students to develop their own artistic voices. Her contributions to both performance and education continue to resonate throughout the music community.
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Past Recipients
Administration
The Naftzger Young Artists Auditions and Music Awards are administered by Wichita State University's School of Music and are made possible by The Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts, Inc. Created by Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Naftzger in memory of L.S. Naftzger, Ida L. Naftzger, and Lee Southwell Naftzger II.
