Resident Artist Program
The Irregular Pearl Resident Artist Program supports and spotlights exceptional emerging classical musicians. Each year, one artist is invited to be a guest concerto soloist with an established orchestra alongside professional documentation, promotion, and artistic connections.
Supported by Irregular Pearl’s donors and chosen by the board and select esteemed musician judges, the program helps artists build on years of preparation, reach new audiences, and strengthen the next stage of their careers.
Applying and participating are free.
Application guidelines
Application materials
Please submit:
- A biography and résumé
- Two contrasting performance recordings, as described below.
- Your first-choice concerto and one alternative. The final repertoire will be agreed upon with the orchestra and conductor.
- An artist statement of approximately 200 words responding to:
How do you define yourself as an artist, where are you in your artistic career, and how would this residency support your next step?
Recording requirements
Submit one movement of a concerto and a contrasting work of your choice, totaling approximately 15–20 minutes. The concerto selection should be relevant to your proposed residency repertoire.
- Both selections must have been recorded within the two years preceding the application deadline.
- Each selection must be a continuous, unedited performance.
- Existing recordings and phone recordings are accepted. The performer must be clearly visible and audible.
- Accompaniment is not required.
Selection
Applications will be evaluated on:
- Artistic individuality and musical communication.
- Technical readiness for the proposed concerto.
- Readiness to collaborate with a conductor and orchestra.
- The residency’s potential contribution to the applicant’s career.
Finalists will be invited to an interview.
Application timeline
- Applications open:
- To be announced
- Applications close:
- To be announced
- Finalists notified:
- To be announced