Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions for the 2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize. Please read before entering and also refer to the Official Rules for more details. If you have questions, please email us at karinlarsonprize@mpr.org.

Why should I submit to the 2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize?

The Karin Larson YourClassical Prize is an exciting opportunity for young emerging and preprofessional musicians to showcase their talents through a focus on celebrating women in classical music. Entering offers the following opportunities:

• Experience selecting a piece of music to match our purpose of celebrating women in classical music.

• Experience preparing a video presentation of your musical talent.

• Experience writing succinct, compelling essay question responses.

• If a finalist, having your entry featured on YourClassical MPR’s website and promoted for public voting.

• If a winner, receiving a cash award, performing for the MPR Board of Directors, and a recording session in MPR’s renowned Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio with the potential of excerpts being featured for the YourClassical audience.

What is required for submission?

All entrants are required to submit:

• A link to a recently recorded video of a piece of music that celebrates women in classical music. The video performance can be up to seven minutes in length, should be a solo performance (an accompanist is permitted) and should be an original video (not a video by a third party). Please see below for more information on preparing your video submission.

• Two essays up to 150 words each: one explaining how your submission celebrates women in classical music, and one describing what winning the prize would mean to you personally.

Who is eligible?

• If you are a current high school student, ages 14-18, you can enter the Emerging Artist category.

• If you are post-high school, ages 18 to 28, you can enter the Preprofessional Musician category.

• Be a resident of Minnesota. Please see our Official Rules for our residency requirements.

• Professional musicians are not eligible. Please see our Official Rules for our distinction between a nonprofessional and professional musician.

• Previous winners of the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize are not eligible to participate.

If you are under 18, you must review the Official Rules with your parent or legal guardian and have permission from your parent or legal guardian to participate in the contest. Written permission will be required of all entrants under 18 who are selected as finalists before they can be included in public voting and win a prize.

What are the awards?

The cash awards per category are:

• Emerging Artist: $7,500

• Preprofessional Musician: $12,500

The winner in each category also receives the opportunity to perform before the MPR Board of Directors and a recording session in MPR’s renowned Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio.

What are the deadlines and timelines?

• Complete entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. central on March 31, 2025.

• Finalists will be announced on May 16, 2025, and public voting for one winner in each category will be held from May 16, 2025, through 11:59pm central on June 1, 2025.

• Winners will be announced the week of June 9, 2025.

How are submissions judged?

Eligible submissions will be judged by a YourClassical-appointed panel of judges who will choose up to five finalists in each category for the public voting stage. Submissions will be judged by the following weighted criteria:

• Relevance to theme (20%): Submission’s success and relevance in celebrating women in classical music.

• Quality of performance (30%): Technical and musical quality of the performance.

• Quality of essay (30%): Content and style of written essays.

• Overall presentation (20%): Thoughtfulness and professionalism of entire submission.

Is there anything I should keep in mind when recording my entry video?

To enter the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, you must submit an original video (not a video by a third party) that can be up to 7 minutes in length. The video should be a solo performance. (An accompanist is permitted.) All videos that are submitted will be judged equally by the criteria, including overall presentation. Below are some ideas on how to prepare your video:

• The video should be clear and visible.

• The soloist of the performance should be the focal point.

• The soloist should be facing the camera in at least one angle.

• The audio should be clear and audible.

• Consider using simple but interesting backgrounds that enhance the performance rather than detract from it.

• Consider how your attire supports your overall presentation.

How will YourClassical manage submission information?

Submission data will be shared with YourClassical staff participating in administering the contest and judging submissions. We will not publicly publish submission data.

Finalists in each category will be required to release the following submission data for participation in the public voting: first and last name, city of residence, video performance, and essay question responses. Anyone under age 18 will be required to provide a signed parent or legal guardian release to participate in public voting.

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