Important Details about the 2027 Competition

• Application Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST
• Competition Dates: Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 16, 2027
• Competition Venue: Dalton Center, Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan

Eligibility

• The Stulberg Competition is open to students of violin, viola, cello or double bass.
• Applicants must be age 19 or under as of January 1, 2027.  Proof of date of birth will be required if selected as a Semifinalist.
• Current students of the 2027 Judges are not eligible to apply. Judges are Siqing Lu (violin), Caroline Coade (viola), and Anthony Ross (cello). 

About the Competition

• Applications are reviewed in phases by multiple panels to select twelve Semifinalists and four ranked Alternates.
• Applicants will be notified of results no later than March 15, 2027.
• Twelve Semifinalists will compete in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, May 14, 2027, before a panel of judges and an audience. Each Semifinalist will perform a selection from the required list of solo Bach works, followed by a movement(s) from a standard concerto.
• Six Finalists will be chosen at the Competition to compete on Saturday, May 15, 2027. Each Finalist will perform additional movement(s) at a Finals Concert to determine the Medalists.
• All Semifinalists will participate in public Masterclasses led by the Judges on Sunday, May 16, 2027. Each Semifinalist will be reserved a 30-minute block, and repertoire may be performed from any round of the Competition.

Awards & Prizes

Semifinalists

The top twelve competitors are invited to perform before an audience and our panel of world renowned judges. The Judges are encouraged to give each Semifinalist and Finalist written and oral comments after the Competition.

Bach Prize 

The Semifinalist competitor judged to have given the strongest performance of a solo Bach selection is awarded the Bach Prize. This award is a cash prize of $2,000 and is sponsored by an anonymous donor.

Finalists

The top six Finalist competitors will be announced following the Semifinals performances.

Gold Medal Prize*

The first place competitor is awarded the Gold Medal (sponsored by Kenneth Warren & Son) with a cash prize of $10,000 and a concerto performance with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (Julian Kuerti, Music Director), as well as a concerto performance with another orchestra outside of Kalamazoo in a future season.

Silver Medal Prize*

The second place competitor is awarded the Silver Medal with a cash prize of $7,000 and a concerto performance with the Western Michigan University Symphony Orchestra (Bruce Uchimura, Music Director). Julius Stulberg was Professor of Violin at WMU and Conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra from 1945 to 1974.

Pinehurst Bronze Medal Prize*

The third place competitor is awarded the Pinehurst Bronze Medal with a cash prize of $5,000 and a concerto performance with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra (Andrew Koehler, Music Director). Founded in 1939, the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest and finest youth symphony orchestras in the United States and has been accorded many national and international honors. It was directed by Julius Stulberg from 1941 through 1974.

*The Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes money will be received in two payments; first half will be received immediately after the Competition and the other half after the performance award concert.

Semifinalist Stipends

The nine Semifinalists not selected as Medalists will each receive a $1,000 stipend.