Click on the links below or scroll down the page to find out more about the Franklin Pond Chamber Music Competition
Important Dates
Eligibility
Ensemble Prizes
Competition Judges
Attending the Event
Awards Concert
Competition Archives
Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
2026 Photo & Video Highlights
Competition on YouTube
Important Dates
- April 15: Preliminary round videos, entry form, and fee due
- May 1: finalists announced
- Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May)
- Saturday: rehearsals at Spivey Hall for all finalists ensembles
- Sunday morning through afternoon: High School and Middle School Divisions live final round at Spivey Hall
- Exact schedule depends on the number of ensembles accepted into the final round
- Sunday 4pm: Awards Concert and post-concert reception. Click here to reserve tickets.
Eligibility
The FPCM Competition is open to ensembles whose members meet the following requirements:
- All members must currently attend high school or middle school.
- All members must be a current resident of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and/or Alabama
- Chamber groups may be comprised of 3 to 8 musicians.
- Groups can include any instrumentation as long as the majority are string instruments (piano and harp are considered string instruments for the purposes of this Competition).
- No musician can compete in more than one group.
- No substitute musicians are allowed between the preliminary and final rounds unless there is a medical reason a player cannot attend the finals.
Ensemble Prizes
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
Competition Judges
Judges for the Franklin Pond Chamber Music Competition come from a variety of renowned backgrounds, from renowned soloists to professional chamber musician to conservatory professor.
The 2027 Competition judges will include:
Attending the Event
Both the Competition and the Awards Concert are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Tickets are required to attend the Awards Concert. Click here for more information.
Spivey Hall is INSTRUMENTAL in the success of the Competition. Many thanks to Spivey Hall and in particular the Director of Education and Community Engagement Melanie Darby.
Performances
Every chamber group will perform at the Summer Finale Concert, held the last week of July or first week of August (depending on the start of the school-year). Each group will also play at least one community concert in the Atlanta Metro area. Other performance opportunities are available depending on the preparedness of each group.
All performances are free, kid-friendly, and open to the public.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded upon request. A teacher recommendation is required for all students seeking scholarship. Franklin Pond will do everything possible to give deserving students the ability to attend our programs, as we believe financial limitations should never deprive a student of a high quality music education. Scholarship amounts vary depending on the number of students requesting scholarships as well as the annual generosity of our wonderful donors.
For questions or scholarship requests, please email fpcm@franklinpond.org or contact Ronda Respess at (404) 252-3479. Teachers should send their recommendations to fpcm@franklinpond.org.