To evaluate your skills on your instrument and appropriately place you into a chamber group and/or orchestra, all students are required to include videos of their playing as part of registration. Each student will upload two contrasting selections, at a maximum of six minutes each. If you play in an auditioned orchestra (i.e. GDYO, FWYS, etc.), you may upload your orchestra audition video. Audition videos must be filmed within the last six months.  
 
ISMI is geared toward students who are prepared to practice and rehearse independently and who have been playing, on average, for at least four years. If a student’s videos indicate they would be better served by attending Prelude at ISMI (July 6-10), we will make that recommendation and help you shift your application.

Chamber music and orchestra repertoire will be sent electronically (pdf format) to all participants no later than 14 days before ISMI begins.

The International Summer Music Institute will hold its annual concerto competition for violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano. The first round is conducted via the videos uploaded to your registration and the second is in person.

To enter the competition please upload your audition videos and indicate on your application your intent to audition for the concerto competition. The cost to enter the competition is $50. (This cost covers our pianist costs for the competition.) This fee is non-refundable.

Each contestant will be given a 10-minute audition slot. ISMI will provide a collaborative pianist and a rehearsal time for each contestant.

Competition Dates (Live Semi-Final Round)

Piano rehearsals for contestants: TBA

Live Semi-Final Round: TBAl

Performance Dates: Saturday July 11, 2026, Gala Concert in Murchison Performing Arts Center

Up to two winners will be selected to perform with the orchestra. Additional contestants may be considered to perform with piano in the first half of the gala concert.

Awards

The winning contestants will perform with the ISMI Chamber Orchestra in the Gala Concert. Our top prize winner will also receive a full-tuition waiver to attend ISMI the following summer. Additional prizes or honorable mentions may be awarded.

Repertoire (Select one item from the list below):

Violin

Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 (1717-23) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Movement 1: Allegro 

Concerto in C major, Hob. 7a/1 (1761-65) by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Movement 1: Allegro moderato

From Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op.42, for Violin and String Orchestra (1878) by Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1810-1893) - Movement 3: Mélodie. Moderato con moto

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28 (1863) by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Introduction and Tarantella, Op. 43 (1899) by Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)

Violin Concerto in E major, RV 269 ‘Spring’ (1723) by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) (complete work)

Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 (c. 1718-20) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) (Must be performed as a pre-formed duo with a friend or sibling) - Movement 1: Vivace

Viola

Romanze Op.85 for Viola and Orchestra (1911) by Max Bruch (1838-1920)

Concerto in D major, Op.1 (c. 1774) by Carl Anton Stamitz (1746-1801) - Movement 1: Allegro ma non troppo, Movement 2: Andante moderato & Movement 3: Rondo. Allegretto

Concerto in D major (1780-95) by Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754-1812) - Movement 1: Allegro, Movement 2: Poco adagio & Movement 3: Rondo. Allegro

Trauermusik (1936) by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
(complete work)

Cello

Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. 7b/1 (c. 1765) by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Movement 1: Moderato 

Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 33 (1872) by Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) - Movement 1 - cut from Rehearsal E (m. 174) to m. 584: Allegro non troppo - Animato - Allegro molto - Tempo I - Molto Allegro

Hungarian Rhapsody, Op. 68 (1893) by David Popper (1843-1913)

Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62 (1887) by Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1810-1893)

Double Bass

Concerto No. 2 in B minor (1845) by Giovanno Bottesini (1821-1889) - Movement 1: Allegro

Double Bass Concerto in F# minor, Op. 3 (1904) by Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) - Movement 1: Allegro

Piano

Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052 (1738) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) - Movement 1: Allegro

Concerto No. 1 in F major, Hob. 18/3 (1765) by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Movement 1: Allegro

Concerto No. 11 in D major, Hob. 18/11 (1782) by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Movement 3: Rondo all’Ungarese. Allegro assai

• Overnight camper - $1,350 which includes
  • Registration fee
  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Three meals per day (Sunday lunch-Sunday lunch)
  • Parking
  • T-shirt
• Day Camper - $950 which includes:
  • Registration fee
  • Tuition
  • Lunch & dinner daily (Sunday lunch-Sunday lunch)
  • Parking
  • T-shirt
• Concerto Competition - $50 (optional)
• Honors Student Solo Recital - $50 (optional)
• Masterclass Performance - $50 (optional)

 

• Overnight campers will arrive the morning of Sunday, July 5 for residence hall check in and camp registration and will depart on Sunday, July 12. 
• Overnight campers have the option to arrive on Saturday, July 4 and/or depart on Monday, July 13 due to travel needs for an additional fee of $100 per night. You must let the ISMI office your travel plans as soon as possible if you will arrive early and/or depart late – ismi@unt.edu.
• Overnight campers must provide their own bedding (extra-long twin size), pillows, towels, and toiletries.
• Day campers will arrive at 10:30am on Sunday, July 5 for orientation. 

To register, visit https://app.getacceptd.com/untmusicworkshops. Begin by selecting your Area (Strings OR Piano/Collaborative Piano) and Program (UNT International Summer Music Institute). For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.

Registration Deadline

• May 15, 2026

Early Bird Tuition Discounts

• $100 discount – Register and pay in full by March 1, 2026
• $50 discount – Register and pay in full by April 1, 2026

Registration Policy

• Payment is due in full at the time of registration.
• All videos are due at the time of registration.
  • This includes the required placemtn videos, concerto competition preliminary round (if desired), and audition for the honors student solo recital and masterclass performance (if desired).
• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking.
• Boarding on campus is recommended for students ages 12 and up only.

• Overnight Camper
  • Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $100 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $250 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 15, 2026 – Full refund less $500 administrative fee

• Day Camper
  • Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $100 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $175 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 15, 2026 – Full refund less $250 administrative fee
• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking. 
• We are unable to process refunds requested after June 15, 2026. 
• No refunds will be provided should a participant be dismissed for violating UNT policy or program rules provided on the first day. 

A more detailed schedule will be provided approximately one week before the workshop begins. The schedule is subject to change, and any changes will be communicated to participants in a timely manner. Every ISMI student recieves their individual, personalized schedule at ISMI orientation.

There is no audition required for acceptance into the program. The faculty will evaluate your skills on your instrument and place you appropriately into an ensemble upon your arrival. You will be asked to indicate your level of experience on the registration form: 

• One year playing experience; emerging readers 
• One year of school orchestra with music reading
• Intermediate middle school
• Advanced middle school/beginning high school
• Intermediate high school 

• Overnight Camper – $1,000 which includes:
  • Registration fee
  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Three meals per day (Monday lunch-Friday lunch)
  • Parking
  • T-shirt 

• Day Camper - $450 which includes:
  • Registration fee
  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Lunch daily
  • Parking
  • T-shirt 

• Overnight campers will arrive the morning of Monday, July 6 for residence hall check in and camp registration and will depart on Friday, July 10. 
• Overnight campers must provide their own bedding (extra-long twin size), pillows, towels, and toiletries.
• Day campers will arrive on the morning of Monday, July 6 orientation. 

To register, visit https://app.getacceptd.com/untmusicworkshops. Begin by selecting your Area (Strings) and Program (Prelude at ISMI). For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk. 

Registration Deadline 

• June 1, 2026

Registration Policy

• Payment is due in full at the time of registration.
• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking.
• Boarding on campus is recommended for students ages 12 and up only. 

Early Bird Tuition Discounts

• $50 discount – Register and pay in full by March 1, 2026
• $25 discount – Register and pay in full by April 1, 2026

• Overnight Camper
  • Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $100 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $175 administrative fee
  • Requested by June 15, 2026 – Full refund less $375 administrative fee

• Commuter
  • Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $100 administrative fee 
  • Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $125 administrative fee 
  • Requested by June 15, 2026 – Full refund less $200 administrative fee
• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking.
• We are unable to process refunds requested after June 15, 2026. 
• No refunds will be provided should a participant be dismissed for violating UNT policy or program rules provided on the first day. 

This is only a sample and subject to change.