IHS Awards and Competitions (International Horn Society)

IHS

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The International Horn Society offers six annual awards and competitions for horn players, including the Barry Tuckwell Award, the IHS Premier Soloist Competition, and the Jon Hawkins Memorial Award. Cash prizes range from $500 to $1,500, plus symposium attendance funding and mentorship opportunities.

Award Amount

$500 - $1,500 USD

Scholarship Type

merit-based

Eligibility Criteria

horn-students
performance
education
ihs-members
age-restricted

Instruments

hornbrass

The International Horn Society (IHS) offers six annual awards and performance competitions for horn players at various career stages. Awards range from $500 to $1,500 in cash, plus one-year IHS memberships and funded attendance at the annual International Horn Symposium. The 58th International Horn Symposium takes place in Krakow, Poland, with registration now open.

How IHS Awards Work

All IHS awards require IHS membership and are administered through the IHS Executive Director. First prize winners cannot participate in the same award or contest again. All awards must be used in the year they are awarded. If an award includes IHS membership and the winner is already a member, the membership is extended.

Barry Tuckwell Award

Established in 1997 to honor IHS Founding President Barry Tuckwell. Supports horn students pursuing education and performance opportunities at masterclasses and workshops worldwide.

Award: Up to $500 for registration, room, board, and travel to a masterclass or workshop, plus a one-year IHS membership
Eligibility: Hornists age 18 to 24 on January 26, 2026
Requirements: Application form, essay, recording of one etude and one movement of a concerto or sonata, one letter of recommendation (including financial need assessment)
Deadline: January 26, 2026
Payment: Payable directly to the symposium or master class artist, or to the winner upon submission of receipts

IHS Premier Soloist Competition

Designed to nurture and develop the next generation of horn soloists. Finalists perform at the International Horn Symposium.

First Prize: $1,000 plus a one-year IHS membership
Second Prize: $750 plus a one-year IHS membership
Third Prize: $500 plus a one-year IHS membership
Eligibility: Hornists under 28 years of age on January 1, 2026
Requirements: Online application with recording of three required selections
Deadline: March 18, 2026 (notification by April 25)
Final round: Up to five finalists compete live at the IHS International Symposium in Krakow, Poland. Finalists pay their own travel and registration.

Jon Hawkins Memorial Award

Encourages attendance of deserving, highly motivated horn students at the annual IHS symposium.

Award: Up to $1,500 for registration fee, room, board, and travel to IHS 58, plus a private lesson or masterclass with a symposium artist, a solo performance at the Symposium, a copy of Werner Pelinka's Concerto for Jon, and a one-year IHS membership
Eligibility: Hornists under 24 years of age on January 1, 2026
Requirements: Online application, judged on performance ability, financial need, and personal motivation
Deadline: May 11, 2026

Paul Mansur Award

Named for the longtime Editor of The Horn Call. Provides mentorship opportunities for music education students.

Award: Five mentorship calls from a mutually agreed-upon mentor
Eligibility: Full-time music education students
Deadline: May 11, 2026

Michael Hatfield Service Award

Created in 2024 in memoriam of Honorary Member Michael Hatfield. Recognizes service to the horn community or community at large.

Award: For a high school or undergraduate student who has contributed service to the horn community
Deadline: May 11, 2026

Frizelle Orchestral Audition Contests

Established in memory of Dorothy Frizelle to support the study of orchestral horn playing at IHS workshops.

Award: Orchestral coaching session from an orchestral artist at the IHS Annual Symposium, plus a one-year IHS membership (one winner each in High and Low categories)
Eligibility: Full-time students under 25 years of age on January 1, 2026
Deadline: June 10, 2026 (on-site if space available)

Real-World Example

A 21-year-old horn student at a state university could apply for the Barry Tuckwell Award by January 26, 2026. She submits an essay about her musical training, a recording of a Mozart concerto movement and a Kopprasch etude, and a letter of recommendation from her teacher that includes a financial need assessment. If selected, she receives up to $500 to attend a summer masterclass with a master hornist, such as the IHS Symposium in Krakow. The funds pay directly for her registration, room, and board.

The same student could also apply for the Jon Hawkins Memorial Award by May 11, 2026. If she wins, she receives up to $1,500 for travel and lodging at IHS 58 in Krakow, performs a solo at the Symposium, receives a private lesson with a symposium artist, and gets a one-year IHS membership. Combined with the Tuckwell Award, she could access up to $2,000 in funding for her summer studies.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you play French horn and need financial support to attend workshops, masterclasses, or the IHS Symposium, these awards provide targeted funding that most music students do not know exists. The Barry Tuckwell Award specifically funds attendance at any masterclass worldwide, not just IHS events. The Jon Hawkins Award pays up to $1,500 for symposium attendance plus gives you a solo performance opportunity, which builds your resume.

Apply for multiple awards if you meet the age requirements. Submit recordings early to ensure quality. Ask your teacher for a recommendation letter that explicitly addresses your financial need, since several IHS awards consider financial circumstances in their selection.