Judging

The Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition applications are judged by a panel of Vandoren Artists for each category – Jazz, Clarinet, and Saxophone. The competition strives to maintain complete fairness and lack of bias in the judging process. Here are some of the mechanisms we have put into place to ensure a fair and honest competition.

All applications are presented anonymously to judges. No names, photos, or other identifying information is attached to the application and only audio is accepted. Applicants are assigned a unique ID number and only discussed using this ID.
Judges are not selected until after the application window has closed and the deadline has passed. This is to ensure that judges with a large number of students competing are not selected to judge the competition.
Judges are unaware of other judges in their respective category until the deliberation meeting.
Judges are selected to represent different styles of playing and/or education.
No representatives or administrators from Vandoren or Dansr Inc, vote for the selection of prize winners.
Applicant information is never revealed to the judges, before or after winners are selected.
Judges’ notes or comments from the competition are never shared.

How applications are adjudicated.

Judges are instructed to consider the musical qualities of a submission not the audio quality. However, poor audio quality can render it impossible or difficult for a judge to properly review an application.