The judges for the 2009 competition will be:

• Margaret Batjer, Violin
• Anne Epperson, Piano
• Marian Liebowitz, Clarinet
• Antonio Lysy, Cello
• John Rojak, Trombone

Each year, everyone is welcome to attend both days of this exciting annual event.

Groups interested in participating in the 2009 competition should download the application. Complete application packages (application form, checks and recordings, etc.) must be received no later than noon on Thursday, February 19, 2009.

The Competition began in 1947 as the Coleman Auditions for young, non-professional performers; today's competing ensembles have an average age of less than 26. From a modest beginning, the annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition (renamed in 1982) has become a highly respected national and international event with competitors coming from the major music schools across the country.

Many Coleman Competition winners have gone on to become widely acclaimed artists. An abbreviated list of past winners includes Glenn Dicterow; Grant Gershon; Jeffrey Kahane; Anne-Marie McDermott; Paula Robison; Nathaniel Rosen; Morton Subotnick; the Ahn Trio; eigth blackbird; and the Cavani, Colorado, Pacifica, Tokyo, and Vega Quartets.

Held annually in late April, the Competition offers an opportunity for these musicians to perform before an outstanding panel of nationally chosen judges for three prizes totaling $15,500. Previous judges have included Jascha Heifetz; Natalie Limonick; Mehli Mehta; Gregor Piatigorsky; Artur Rubinstein; Eudice Shapiro; Anrold Steinhardt; Henri Temianka; the Beaux Arts Trio; and the Amadeus, Budapest, Opus One, and Smetana Quartets.