Oberlin, OH
Cooper competition: how to prepare
Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition screens applicants before any live round. Yes. A video preliminary round selects a small field for live rounds at Oberlin, culminating in concerto finals with orchestra. The fastest way to get your take to standard is to fix the passage holding it back, on the same five dimensions a panel listens for, before you ever hit submit.
Eligibility, repertoire, and dates change every cycle. Always confirm the current, official rules before you prepare: Cooper official site
Frequently asked
Does the Cooper competition use a recorded or video round?
Yes. A video preliminary round selects a small field for live rounds at Oberlin, culminating in concerto finals with orchestra.
Who can enter the Cooper competition?
Pre-college players (the violin years are roughly ages 13 to 18); the competition alternates between violin and piano. Eligibility can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site.
What repertoire does Cooper require?
For violin, typically a Bach movement, a Paganini caprice, and a first movement of a major concerto. The exact list changes each cycle. Always confirm the exact, current requirements on the official page.
How can I practice my Cooper prescreen recording?
Practice it with the teacher first, free, no signup. Talk through your Cooper excerpt, get the one specific fix that is actually costing you points, then run it again before the real thing.
One passage standing between you and the Cooper deadline?
Tell the teacher which passage it is and what goes wrong in it. Real fix in 30 seconds. Free to try, no card.
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