The Saint Paul String Quartet Competition (SPSQC) is dedicated to celebrating artistic excellence in string quartet performance, cultivating broader awareness and participation in chamber music, and enriching the cultural vitality of the genre. Central to our mission is a firm commitment to diversifying the chamber music repertoire by actively promoting the works of underrepresented composers—an objective realized through specially designated competition rounds.

    Established in 2006 as a platform for exceptional young chamber musicians, the SPSQC has since achieved international recognition for its role in identifying and supporting the finest pre-college, collegiate and pre professional level string quartet players in the United States and beyond. Alumni of the competition have gone on to attend the nation’s leading conservatories and music programs, with several former prizewinners now performing with internationally renowned chamber ensembles. 

     The competition is open to aspiring non-professional string quartets whose members are 30 years of age or younger. Ensembles compete in two distinct divisions: High School and Collegiate (pre-professional). Submitted recordings are individually evaluated and ranked by a distinguished panel of chamber music professionals from across the country. The highest-scoring quartets are invited to St. Paul, Minnesota, to perform in the Final Rounds, which are adjudicated by esteemed professional string quartets affiliated with the Schubert Club’s Music in the Park Series and the MacPhail Center for Music.

     The SPSQC awards over $13,000 in prize money annually. In addition to this financial support, participants benefit from invaluable performance experience, the opportunity to engage with peers and potential collaborators, and a deep sense of accomplishment—along with well-deserved recognition within the musical community.

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