From coast to coast, young professional chamber music ensembles have applied to compete in the 2012 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition in Easton, MD. This year’s Competition, sponsored biennially by Chesapeake Chamber Music, has drawn 41 qualified applicants from all quarters of the United States, and Canada. The average age of an ensemble must be under 31, and some include members as young as 21. The applicant trios, quartets and quintets represent a wide range of instrumental combinations: winds, strings, brass, and mixed instruments including percussion.

A preliminary judges’ panel of eight notable musicians headed by J. Lawrie Bloom, will pare the field to four to six finalists, based on CD submissions. The results will be announced on or about January 15, 2012 on the website: ChesapeakeChamberMusicCompetition.org. The finalists will compete for significant monetary and performance awards on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD, before final round judges Marcy Rosen, Ursula Oppens and David Jolley, with a live audience in attendance. The following day, each group will present an individual concert at other local venues. The Gold Medalist will be further honored with additional concerts, including a featured appearance at the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June.

For further information, visit the website ChesapeakeChamberMusic.org, or call the CCM office at 410-819-0380.