March 15-18, 2012 - Tempe, Arizona

1st Prize
$2,000 in cash and/or merchandise
2nd Prize
$1,600 in cash and/or merchandise
3rd Prize
$1,200 in cash and/or merchandise

Each prizewinning ensemble will be featured on a winner’s recital at the 2012 NASA Biennial Conference.

I. Eligibility
1.) Individual ensemble members must not be over age 30 and the average age of the ensemble must not exceed 27 as of March 15, 2012.
2.) Each member of the ensemble must be a current member of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) as of March 15, 2012.
3.) Contestants who are not current members of NASA must join online at: www.saxalliance.org/joinnasa.htmlMembership rates: Student: $25 Professional: $35
4.) Quartets who have been 1st Prize winners at a previous NASA Quartet Competition may not enter. Additionally, individuals who were 1st prize winners as a member of a quartet may not enter as a member of a second quartet.

II. Application guidelines – Preliminary Round
1.) Deadline: The deadline for submission of applications, recordings and fees for the NASA Saxophone Quartet Competition is: December 15, 2011. All application materials will be submitted online at the NASA websitewww.saxalliance.org. The online application web pages will be accessible by August 2011.

2.) Contestants must submit an entry fee of $120.00. All payments must be made on the NASA websitewww.saxalliance.org via PAYPAL by December 15, 2011.

3.) Incomplete applications will not be considered.

4.) There are three rounds of the NASA Quartet Competition; a recorded Preliminary Round, a live Semi-Final Round and a live Final Round. The deadline for the recorded Preliminary Round is December 15, 2011. The live Semi-Final Round and live Final Round will be held in Tempe, Arizona on March 15, 2012.

• Preliminary Round. Preliminary Round. The preliminary round will consist of a recorded audio audition. Recordings should be in MP3 format and will be uploaded to the NASA website. (Please note that there is no longer a video requirement.) The recording must be submitted with the initial application materials by the deadline, December 15, 2011. Technical guidelines for the recording will be posted when the application web pages become accessible by August 2011. The recording should contain performances of:

1.) Andante et Scherzo – Eugene Bozza (pub. Alphonse Leduc)

2.) Up to 10 minutes of additional music of the ensemble’s choice. This selection may consist of one or more pieces and/or individual movements of multi-movement works.

III. Semi-finals

• A maximum of 20 saxophone quartets will be invited to perform in the Semi-Finals. The Semi-Finals will be held on March 15-18, 2012 on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, in conjunction with the 2012 North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference. Each quartet will be allowed to play for 20 minutes. Repertoire requirements are as follows:

1.) Quartet for Saxophones, Opus 109 – Alexander Glazunov (pub. Belaieff Verlag)
Perform only the following:
Canzona Variee: Andante
Variation IV
Variation V

2.) Up to 12 minutes of additional music of the ensemble’s choice. The ensemble may program complete works or individual movements from multi-movement works. If the movement or work exceeds 12 minutes, the judges reserve the right to request specific movements and/or excerpts of each group’s program.

IV. Finals

• Up to 6 quartets will be advanced to the final round. The final round will take place during the 2012 NASA Biennial Conference. Each quartet will be allowed to play for 35 minutes. Due to time constraints, the judges reserve the right to request specific movements and/or excerpts of each performer’s program. Repertoire requirements are as follows:

1.) Backburner – Frank Ticheli (pub. by Encore)

2.) Up to 25 minutes of additional music of the ensemble’s choice. This music must not duplicate any music performed in the semi-finals. The ensemble may program complete works or individual movements from multi-movement works. If the movement or work exceeds 12 minutes, the judges reserve the right to request specific movements and/or excerpts of each group’s program.

V. Additional Repertoire Requirements

• Please note the following regarding duplication of repertoire between rounds:

1.) It is acceptable, but not required, for ensembles to use works from the live round repertoire in their preliminary round audition recordings. (I.e. - your recording may contain Glazunov, Ticheli or other works to be included as semi-final or final round repertoire.)

2.) It is acceptable but not required, for ensembles to use works from the preliminary recording in their semi-final and final round programs (I.e – you may play Bozza Andante et Scherzo, or other works from your recording in the semi-finals or finals)

3.) Final round repertoire MAY NOT DUPLICATE music performed in the semi-finals.

VI. General guidelines

• To verify the age of the ensemble, each performer must show a driver’s license or passport at the competition site. Any group that does not meet the age requirements listed above will be disqualified.

• No changes in personnel will be allowed once the entry materials have been received by NASA.

• The Winner’s Recital will feature the top three prize winners in the Saxophone Quartet Competition and will be scheduled during the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference in Tempe, AZ, March 15-18, 2012.

• Eligible contestants may also enter the Jazz Saxophone Performance Competition and the Solo Competition, but they must submit a separate application and separate entry fee for each category entered.

• All fees and dues are non-refundable.

• All expenses, including lodging and transportation to and from the competition, are the sole responsibility of the contestants.

• Quartets may use any combination of saxophones (AAAA, AATB, SSAB) but must play the required repertoire as SATB. Ensembles are not allowed to perform with piano.

• Judging - Professional musicians will judge both the preliminary audition recordings and the live round performances. The recordings used in the preliminary round will be used by the judges only in the preliminary round. Finalists will be evaluated solely on their live round performances.

• Questions may be directed to the Competition Coordinator, David Dees via e-mail at: d.dees@ttu.edu