To download the full (all divisions) copy of the rules, click here.
1. Registration
1.1. All applicants must register and pay ALL FEES ON-LINE at the NTC website: www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org (online registration will open November 1, 2024). Applicants must register online using a valid credit card and ONE (only) valid e-mail address. An applicant’s recording will not be reviewed unless payment is received by the December 1, 2024 deadline.
1.2. Students enrolled full time or home schooled at the time of the Competition who are either US citizens or foreign students studying in the USA may apply.
1.3. Any applicant under the age of 18 at the time of application, must have their application submitted by a parent/legal guardian.
1.4. All applicants must submit a video recording of their competition piece. Applicants are responsible for mastering this process and for making a successful upload. Applicants are strongly urged to verify that their link functions properly prior to submitting their application. Every aspect of this part of the process is the responsibility of the applicant. Applicant videos should not contain any content or pieces beyond their competition repertoire.
1.4.1. Solos composed with or without piano accompaniment are permitted. Works that include a published piano part must be recorded with live accompaniment.
1.4.2. Stopping/starting, editing, or splicing of any kind is prohibited. Attempts to circumvent NTC’s efforts to keep the competition fair for all violates the ethics of integrity to which NTC aspires. Please submit an honest, un-edited video.
1.4.3. Videos must contain exactly and only what is to be performed in the live rounds, including any cuts. Performances are limited to 8 minutes, including stage entrance, tuning, and performing. If a video exceeds 8 minutes, the preliminary judges will listen to only the first 8 minutes of the video.
1.4.4. Recordings must be successfully submitted by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, December 1, 2024; there will be no exceptions. Videos must be uploaded UNLISTED (not Private) to YouTube and the link to the video provided in the online NTC application. Videos not viewable by the judging panel will be disqualified.
1.4.5. Uploaded videos may NOT contain any indications of the applicant’s school or teacher affiliations. Video titles and description should contain ONLY the title and composer of the work performed, nothing more. YouTube channel names used in uploading the video submissions may contain entrants’ personal name but should NOT include a school/teacher name or affiliation.
2. Age Requirements (applicants must meet both parameters of age and school enrollment)
2.4. Graduate Solo Division: Open to anyone born after March 16, 1996, and enrolled full time in graduate school.
3. Solo Divisions
3.1. All solo works requiring piano must be performed with live piano accompaniment.
3.1.1. Entrants submitting accompanied works that are self-published or deemed by NTC to be lesser-known will be notified of such by the Collaborative Pianists’ Chair by December 22, 2024, and will be required to provide a pianist at their expense for the live rounds. If a competitor is unwilling to secure an outside pianist, they may withdraw by midnight Eastern Standard Time, December 31, 2024 and receive a refund of their application fee; no refunds will be given for withdrawals after this date.
3.1.2. All other applicants who requested an NTC pianist in any of the solo divisions must:
- Upon notification of acceptance to the live rounds, send a PDF of their piano score to their assigned pianist no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time, February 1, 2025.
- Include the applicant’s name, division, phone, and e-mail legibly shown on the front page of the PDF.
- Clearly mark any cuts directly on the music.
Applicants who do NOT request an NTC pianist at the time of their original application will not be allowed to request one at any time thereafter.
- JANUARY 15, 2025 – Notification of acceptance to the live rounds will be posted on the NTC website. Pianist assignments and contact information will also be posted that day, along with a rehearsal and competition schedule. This schedule is to be considered final at the time of publication; no adjustments may be made for any reason.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2025 – Competitors who requested an NTC pianist in their application MUST pay the pianist fee by 11:59 PM on this date, even if they subsequently decide to hire an outside pianist. Any competitor who has failed in either aspect of these submissions will be notified of their delinquency on February 2, and will have 48 hours to rectify the omission, with a penalty of $95. Any failure beyond that deadline will result in disqualification, at which time alternate contestants may be invited. There are NO refunds given to disqualified applications; if an applicant pays the fee online and fails to send their music, NTC will not refund their money.
3.2. Prior winners may enter the same Division as many times as age and school enrollment parameters allow.
3.3. Applicants may enter only that category which age and school enrollment parameters dictate.
3.4. All soloists are limited to 8 minutes on stage, which includes entrance, set-up, tuning, and performing. This will be strictly enforced.
3.5. Competitors performing with NTC pianists are limited to one internal cut within any movement(s) submitted, and a contestant may omit a movement’s beginning and/or ending as well. Those not performing with an NTC pianist are not bound by this limitation, but are advised that adjudicators will take musical coherence into account. Any alterations must be the same in the applicant’s video as in each round for which they qualify.
3.6. Any combination of movements within one piece is allowed, in any order, as long as the 8-minute time limit is followed, and only one internal cut is used.
3.7. All competitors admitted to the live rounds must be available to perform at any time for the duration of their portion of the competition.
3.7.1. Any competitor unable to perform at their assigned time will be disqualified.
3.7.2 All soloists using NTC pianists must be available to rehearse beginning at Thursday, March 13, 2025. A soloist unable to rehearse at their assigned time will be allowed to perform without rehearsal, if their pianist consents.
8. Copyright
Applicants performing any unpublished arrangements must adhere to copyright law: All works published in the United States before 1924 are in the public domain. Works published after 1922, but before 1978 are protected for 95 years from the date of publication. If the work was created, but not published, before 1978, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. To learn more about copyright laws as it pertains to musicians, visit https://www.copyright.gov/engage/musicians/.
9. Fees
9.1. Application fee for all solo and excerpt divisions is $85 per applicant.
9.2. Application fee for ensembles is $40 for each player in the ensemble.
9.3. NTC Collaborative Pianist fee is $95 per applicant.
9.4. NTC Rhythm Section fee is $95 per applicant.
10. Prizes
Cash prizes will be awarded for First, Second and Third Place:
Graduate Solo: $3000, $1500, $750
12. Media Release Agreement
12.1 All applicants, through acknowledgement in their online submission, must agree to the National Trumpet Competition’s (“NTC”) Release of Photographic, Video, Motion Picture, and Sound Recording Rights to be eligible to perform in the live rounds of the competition. Through this agreement, applicants authorize NTC and its agents, employees, and representatives to take photographs, sound recordings, motion pictures, or videos including their name, image, likeness, performance, and/or voice (“Recordings”). Applicants also grant NTC an unlimited right to reproduce, use, exhibit, display, perform, broadcast, create derivative works from, and distribute Recordings in any manner or media now existing or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, throughout the world. This includes, but is not limited to, live streaming of the final rounds of competition, public archiving of all live-streamed videos on NTC’s YouTube page, use on NTC social media pages and on NTC’s website. Recordings may be used by NTC, including its assigns and transferees, for any purpose, including but not limited to, marketing, advertising, publicity, or other promotional purposes. Applicants agree that NTC will have final editorial authority over the use of the Recordings, and waive any right to inspect or approve of any future use of the Recordings. Applicants acknowledge that they are not expecting to receive compensation for participating in the Recordings or for any future use of the Recordings. Applicants release and fully discharge NTC, and its employees, agents, and representatives, from any claim, damages, or liability arising from or related to their participation in the Recordings or NTC’s future use of the Recordings.
11. Rules Disclaimer
Final interpretation of all rules remains with the National Trumpet Competition. All applicants accept total responsibility for the understanding of and compliance with NTC rules and regulations. Failure to adhere to NTC rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all fees.
All questions concerning NTC rules should be submitted in writing to:
All other questions concerning NTC applications should be submitted in writing to: