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Updated 1/1/26
2026 National Virtual Solo Competition
A national music solo competition that focuses on the whole student, not just musical ability.
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Create your profile, submit a solo performance, and receive professional evaluation from actual college faculty and drum corps staff, plus public recognition you can share with colleges, directors, and drum corps.
Compete nationally, earn public recognition, and win up to $500 all from the convenience of your home.
Open to high school woodwind, brass, and percussion students nationwide. The top 20% of students in each division will be publicly listed and recognized on the NVSC Winners page, with results archived for up to six years.
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Prizes
Prize amounts scale with participation, up to $500!

The prize amounts will increase as more students enter the competition as seen in the following chart.
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Current Entry Status: 1-50
Sharing the NVSC with friends can help grow participation and unlock higher prize tiers for everyone, all while getting noticed by colleges and drum corps! 
Share with Friends:  www.bNoteable.com/NVSC
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To participate, students must complete 3 steps.
  1. Complete the NVSC sign up form.
  2. Have an active bNoteable student account (1-year access, $9.99)
  3. Complete a separate NVSC entry fee ($34.99)
Registration is currently OPEN.
Sign Up Deadline: April 16th
Video Upload Deadline: April 20th 

Judging: April 21st - 30th
Please read the competition details below. When finished, click Sign Up at the bottom of the page.

1. Competition Rules * The Virtual Solo Competition is open to high school students in grades 9–12 who play Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion. Students must be at least 13 years old at signup. * The signup deadline is April 16. * Past bNoteable competition winners are eligible to participate. Winners of previous bNoteable Virtual Competitions must perform new repertoire and may not repeat a solo that previously won. * Students must have an active bNoteable account and maintain a complete and accurate profile throughout the competition period. * The competition begins on the launch date and ends on May 7. All solo performance videos must be uploaded by April 20 at 11:59 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted. * Students must upload a solo performance recorded specifically for this competition. Previously recorded, edited, or repurposed videos from other events or competitions are not permitted. * For solos with multiple movements, students may upload up to three video files. Movements may be grouped in any combination, provided they appear in numerical order. For example, if a solo has four movements: * Video Upload 1: Mvt. 1 * Video Upload 2: Mvt. 2 and 3 * Video Upload 3: Mvt. 4 Remember, uploads may be grouped in any way as long as movements remain in numerical order. * Accompaniment is not required, and there is no penalty for performing without one. If used, accompaniment should support the performance. * Winners are selected based on profile accuracy and the technical and lyrical quality of the performance. Performance tempos should reasonably reflect the original intent of the music. * At the discretion of the judges, bNoteable reserves the right to not pick a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place winner in any division. The judges’ decisions are final. * VERY IMPORTANT: To be viewed by the judges and to be considered for a cash prize, students must have a profile photo and earn either an All Star or Legend badge by the video upload deadline. Badge progress can be tracked on the Profile Strength Indicator page. * Cash prizes are awarded as Amazon gift cards. By entering, students confirm they are able to receive digital prizes via email. * Prize notifications will be sent by May 7, and prizes will be delivered by May 14. * Prizes are sent to the email listed on the student’s bNoteable profile. Students are responsible for ensuring this email is accurate, active, and able to receive messages from support@bNoteable.com. bNoteable is not responsible for undeliverable emails, spam filtering, or unclaimed prizes due to incorrect or outdated contact information. * To receive a prize, bNoteable must receive verification from the student’s current music director confirming the accuracy of the student’s profile to the best of their knowledge. Verification must be sent from a legitimate school or district email address. Personal email accounts (such as gmail, yahoo, etc.) will not be accepted. The verifying teacher must be currently employed. Emails should be sent to support@bNoteable.com. * Verified winners will be announced publicly by May 14. Winners agree to provide a promotional photo and grant permission for bNoteable to use their name, image, and results for promotional use and official competition results documentation.

2. Video Recording Rules * All recordings must be made specifically for the 2026 competition. Videos from other competitions, performances, or prior years are not permitted. * Students may use any recording device, including a laptop or mobile phone. Do not add reverb, sound effects, filters, or audio enhancements of any kind. * Students may perform a single movement or an entire solo, based on what best showcases their abilities. The total combined length of all uploaded videos must be 8 minutes or less. * To be considered for a prize, each video must begin with the student stating clearly:
 “This is First/Last Name, performing ‘Solo Name’ for the 2026 bNoteable NVSC.”
 * After the introduction, you must record the entire video in one take without stopping or restarting the recording. Editing, cutting, splicing, or combining takes is not permitted.
 Side note: In past years, many students were disqualified from prize consideration for skipping this step. We strongly recommend keeping the script on your music stand if needed. * If a solo includes multiple movements, the introduction must identify the movements using the following format: “This is First/Last Name, performing ‘Solo Name,’ Mvts. 1 and 2 for the 2026 bNoteable NVSC.” Then, continue recording without stopping and restarting. Between movements, students may empty their instrument, turn pages, or take a brief pause without stopping the recording. * The student’s face and hand position must be clearly visible for the entire recording. * The performer in the video must be the owner of the bNoteable account submitting the entry. * Students should dress nicely for their performance. Formal attire is not required but a first impression matters. * Each video file must not exceed 2GB. When using a mobile device, record in 720p or 1080p. Recording in 4K or higher is not necessary.
 If upload issues occur, students may upload the video to YouTube and share the link in the YouTube link section of their bNoteable profile. * Video files must be clearly renamed before judging begins. 
Example: Use “CelloSuite-Mvt1.mov” instead of “IMG_1285939.mov.” * To be considered for a prize, students must perform their solo and any movements to the best of their ability, without musical, visual, or technical alterations.

3. Video Recording Tips * Choose a quiet location for your recording. There should be no background noise or audible distractions. * Keep the background simple and free of visual clutter. * Dress appropriately. You do not need to wear a suit or formal attire, but put some thought into how you look. Avoid busy patterns and overly bright colors. * Make sure your face and hand position are clearly visible for the entire video. * Always watch and listen to your recording before uploading it. You may delete and re-upload your video as many times as needed before the submission deadline.

4. How to Enter * Click the Sign Up button below and follow the 3 steps. * After you complete all 3 steps, you are officially signed up and your spot is confirmed! Good luck to everyone!

IMPORTANT VIDEO REMINDERS
• Videos cannot be re-used from other recordings or competitions.

• Introduce the piece and add that it is "...for the 2026 bNoteable NVSC."
Uploaded video files cannot exceed 2GB each. 
• Record in 720p or 1080p only.
• If you have issues uploading, simply upload to YouTube and include the link on your profile page.
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