2026 Competition Dates
2026 date TBA: Application deadline with prescreen recordings
2026 date TBA: Finalists will be posted
2026 date TBA: In-person selected finalists’ audition
2026 date TBA: Honors Recital featuring winners from the Richter String Competition and Rivera Piano Competition
- All Open Division competitors must be taking lessons in New England.
- All Rivers Division competitors must be enrolled in their second, complete consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.
- The competition has two divisions: Rivers and Open. The Rivers Division is open to all string players who take weekly lessons at RSC. The Open Division is for all string players who take lessons in New England.
- Each division has three categories – Elementary School (up to 5th grade), Middle School (6th – 8th grade), and High School (9th – 12th grade).
- Students may compete in a higher category if they wish.
- Students may not participate in the same category if they have already won first place in a previous year, but they may compete in a higher category the following or future years.
- The Open Division: in each category, 1st prize is $500, 2nd prize is $300, and 3rd prize is $150.
- The Rivers Division: in each category, 1st prize is a $500 RSC scholarship, 2nd prize is a $300 RSC scholarship, and 3rd prize is a $150 RSC scholarship. If a prize winner is a senior at RSC, a cash prize will be substituted for a scholarship. All Rivers Division competitors must be enrolled in their second, complete consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.
Requirements for Richter String Competition:
- Two contrasting pieces memorized
- If competing in the Open Division, you are responsible for your own accompanist if invited to finals
- All Rivers Division competitors must be enrolled in their second, complete consecutive semester or greater at RSC. Summers are not counted in this total.
Video Requirements:
- At least 720p, preferably 1080p or higher
- One continuous take of both contrasting pieces
- Video cannot be edited or altered
- Video cannot include an accompanist
- Entire body must be visible and fill most of the screen
- Ensure the video has good quality audio and image
- Do not use special effects, dissolves, etc.
- Do not submit pre-recorded live performances
- Please wear concert attire
- Competitors bow when finished, as when performing in a recital
**Deviations from the above Requirements will be accepted and heard, but not considered for a prize**
YouTube Instructions:
- Log into YouTube or create a free account.
- Click the camera+ icon (top right corner) to upload a new video
- Title your video: Last Name, First Name, Open or Rivers Division, Elementary/Middle/High School
- Description: Composer, Title, Key, Opus# or BWV
- “Is this video made for kids?” select, “No, it’s not made for kids”.
- Click “Unlisted” under the “Visibility” section and copy the link for your video to include in your application.
- Click “Save”. Your video may take a while to process if it is a large, high-def file.
About the Competition
The Richter String Competition is sponsored by the Magdalena Richter Fund and was created to honor the legacy of extraordinary teaching and leadership by Magdalena Richter, the chair of the RSC string department and violin teacher at RSC for many years.
The 2025 Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 winners:
Rivers Division
Elementary School Category
First Prize: Shirley Lee
Second Prize: Sebastian Unglaub
Third Prize: Emilia Kong
Middle School Category
First Prize: Anouk Grigoryan
Second Prize: Hema Mani
Third Prize: Bernard Wang
High School Category
First Prize: Max Wei
Second Prize: Norah Yang
Third Prize: Julia Yee
Open Division
Elementary School Category
First Prize: Sora McCarty
Second Prize: David Xu
Third Prize: Izuro Shirai da Costa
Middle School Category
First Prize: Hannah Chen
Second Prize: Philip Yim
Third Prize: Claire Ban
High School Category
First Prize: Ella Stefani
Second Prize: Ava Kung
Third Prize: Meara Wang
