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2026 Sphinx Competition Repertoire Requirements

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PRELIMINARIES REPERTOIRE

JUNIOR DIVISION

Violin

  1. Mozart, Concerto for Violin No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, Movement I: Allegro 

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Summerland
    –  William Grant Still, Quit dat Fool’nish
    –  Traditional (arr. Jesus Florido), Ballada Española (Romance)

  3. Piece of choice

Viola

  1. Hoffmeister, Viola Concerto in D major, Movement I: Allegro

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Here’s One
    –  Piazzolla (arr. John Madison), Oblivion
    –  Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), one selection from “Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Piece of choice

Cello

  1. Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1, Movement I: Moderato

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Lamentations "Black/Folk Song Suite", Movement II:  Song Form
    –  Villa-Lobos, O Canto De Cisne Negro (Song of the Black Swan)
    –  Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), one selection from “Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Piece of choice

Bass

  1. Koussevitsky, Bass Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 3, Movement I: Allegro (Solo Tuning; F# minor)

  2. Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), two selections from “Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Piece of choice

SENIOR DIVISION

Violin

  1. Two contrasting movements from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin). Chaconne from Partita No. 2 may be performed in place of the two contrasting movements from the Sonatas

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Suite for Violin and Piano – pick one movement
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Blue/s Forms – pick one movement

  3. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Concerto for Violin in G Minor, op. 80, Movement I: Allegro Maestoso

Viola

  1. Two contrasting movements from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites OR Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin – transcriptions allowed)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Adolphus Hailstork, Romances for Viola and Piano, Romance No. 2 - Amoroso
    –  William Grant Still, Carmela

  3. Christian Colberg, Viola Concerto, Movement III: Sancho

Cello

  1. Two contrasting movements from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Marlos Nobre, Poema
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Lamentations "Black/Folk Song Suite", Movement IV: Moto Perpetuo
    –  David Baker, Sonata for Cello and Piano, Movement I

  3. Ricardo Castro, Cello Concerto, Movement III

Bass

  1. Two contrasting movements from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites – Solo Tuning)

  2. Choose one from the following:

    - Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), “Five Negro Folk Songs” (all movements)
    - Xavier Foley, Etude No. 3 ‘Lament’ for solo double bass

  3. Andres Martin, Concerto for Bass No. 1, Movement III: Allegro Obsesivo

SEMI-FINALS REPERTOIRE (Live with Piano. All repertoire must be performed from memory)

JUNIOR DIVISION

Violin

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin). If performing the Chaconne from Partita No. 2, please conclude at the downbeat of measure 132 (arrival of D Major)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Summerland
    –  William Grant Still, Quit dat Fool’nish
    –  Traditional (arr. Jesus Florido) Ballada Española (Romance)

  3. Mozart, Concerto for Violin No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, Movement I: Allegro

Viola

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites OR Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin – transcriptions allowed)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Here’s One
    –  Piazzolla, Oblivion (arr.  John Madison)
    –  Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), a selection from ”Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Hoffmeister, Viola Concerto in D major, Movement I: Allegro

Cello

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Lamentations "Black/Folk Song Suite", Movement II:  Song Form
    –  Villa-Lobos, O Canto De Cisne Negro (Song of the Black Swan)
    –  Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), a selection from “Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1, Movement I: Moderato

Bass

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites – Solo Tuning)

  2. Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), two selections from “Five Negro Folk Songs”

  3. Koussevitsky, Bass Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 3, Movement I: Allegro (Solo Tuning; F# minor) 

SENIOR DIVISION

Violin

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin). If performing the Chaconne from Partita No. 2, please conclude at the downbeat of measure 132 (arrival of D Major)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  William Grant Still, Suite for Violin and Piano – pick one movement
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Blue/s Forms – pick one movement

  3. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Concerto for Violin in G Minor, op. 80, Movement I: Allegro Maestoso

Viola

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites OR Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin – transcriptions allowed)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Adolphus Hailstork, Romances for Viola and Piano, Romance No. 2 - Amoroso
    –  William Grant Still, Carmela

  3. Christian Colberg, Viola Concerto, Movement III: Sancho

Cello

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites)

  2. Choose one from the following:
    –  Marlos Nobre, Poema
    –  Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Lamentations "Black/Folk Song Suite", Movement IV: Moto Perpetuo
    –  David Baker, Sonata for Cello and Piano, Movement I

  3. Ricardo Castro, Cello Concerto, Movement III

Bass

  1. One movement from J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied works (Cello Suites – Solo Tuning)

  2. Choose one from the following:

    - Traditional (arr. Lawrence Brown), “Five Negro Folk Songs” (2 movements ONLY)
    - Xavier Foley, Etude No. 3 ‘Lament’ for solo double bass

  3. Andres Martin, Concerto for Bass No. 1, Movement III: Allegro Obsesivo

 

FINALS REPERTOIRE (Live with Orchestra. All repertoire must be performed from memory)

JUNIOR DIVISION 

Violin –  Mozart, Concerto for Violin No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, Movement I: Allegro

Viola – Hoffmeister, Viola Concerto in D major, Movement I: Allegro

Cello – Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1, Movement I: Moderato

Bass – Koussevitsky, Bass Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 3, Movement I: Allegro (Solo Tuning; F# minor)


SENIOR DIVISION

Violin – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Concerto for Violin in G Minor, op. 80, Movement I: Allegro Maestoso

Viola – Christian Colberg, Viola Concerto, Movement III: Sancho

Cello – Ricardo Castro, Cello Concerto, Movement III

Bass – Andres Martin, Concerto for Bass No. 1, Movement III: Allegro Obsesivo

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