The Plowman Chamber Music Competition & Festival
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About Plowman

About the Plowman Competition

Picture
One of many chandeliers in the Missouri Theatre.
The Plowman Chamber Music Competition (Plowman) celebrated its inaugural year in 2006. The Competition provides an opportunity for non-professional musicians to perform in front of an outstanding panel of nationally chosen judges for the cash awards, including $5000 grand prize and an invitation to give a concert the following season under Odyssey Chamber Music Series.

Located in the heartland of the United States in Columbia, Missouri, Plowman will invite approximately 15 ensembles to take part in the semi-final competition, followed by a formal Finals Concert.

Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Plowman Chamber Music Competition is to assist emerging chamber ensembles in their artistic development, to encourage them to pursue careers in chamber music, and to provide a forum for their talents. Plowman intends to raise Columbia's cultural status nationally through promotion of quality music. Plowman will support ensembles in achieving the highest level of accomplishment and foster a collegial environment among the participating musicians. 

Janice Plowman: The Plowman Chamber Music Competition is in honor of Janice Plowman. The Missouri Symphony Society (now Missouri Symphony [theMOSY.org]) is proud to honor a Columbia community member who dedicated her life to education and the arts. This event will go to serve Ms. Plowman's ideals. We trust her spirit will live on through the Plowman Chamber Music Competition. 


The 11th Plowman Chamber Music Competition & Festival
took place March 22 & 23, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri

​

Past Plowman Judges

Past Plowman Judges 

2025: Edward Auer, Ida Kavafian, Chien-Kwan Lin
​2023: Lucille Chung, Amit Peled, Jeff Scott
2021: Event cancelled due to the pandemic
2019: Dale Clevenger, Lara St. John, Wei-Yi Yang
​2017: Alessio Bax, Joel Krosnick, William Scharnberg
​2015: Sergei Babayan, Paul Biss, Frank Morelli
2013: Frederic Chiu, Randy Gardner, Peter Wiley
2011: Anne Epperson, Peter Salaff, David Shifrin
2010: Atar Arad, Boris Berman, Mark Kellogg
2008: Melvin Chen, Frederic Hemke, Mathias Tacke
2007: Charles Castleman, Peter Frankl, Gail Williams
2006: Linda Chesis, Claude Frank, Wolfgang Laufer
plowman_2025_final_program.pdf
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Plowman Laureates

2025 Awards
$5000 Grand Prize & the Odyssey Award* (+$2000)                                                                                       Vinola Trio
$2500 Georgia Morehouse, in memory of Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion     Zed
$2500 Missouri Symphony, in memory of Hugo Vianello First Prize in Piano & Strings                               Setas Trio

$1000 Stephen and Joan Mudrick Honorable Mention                                                                                    Cerus Quartet
$1000 Stephen and Joan Mudrick Honorable Mention                                                                                    4116
$500 The Vianello Family Audience Prize                                                                                                           Zed

Judges Special Recognition                                                                                                                                  Vantage Trio
Odyssey Music @ Lenoir Woods                                                                                                                         Setas Trio
​Odyssey Music @ Columbia Public Schools          Cerus Quartet, Lighthouse Quartet, Seville String Quartet, Vinola Trio

* Odyssey Award is offered to one of the top five available laureates to perform in Odyssey Chamber Music Series' Season 22 at an agreed time. If the Grand Prize winner is not able, other laureates from this season will be contacted with a performance opportunity in Odyssey Chamber Music Series. $2000 Honorarium is given at the time of the Season 22 concert, and accommodation for the ensemble is offered. 

2023 Awards
$5000 Grand Prize and Odyssey Award* ($2000)                                                                                    Trio Menil (piano trio)
$2000 Georgia Morehouse, in memory of Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion                                                                                                                                                                                                          Kodachrome Quartet
$2000 Missouri Symphony, in memory of Hugo Vianello First Prize in Piano & Strings                         Zelter String Quartet

$500 Stephen and Joan Mudrick Honorable Mention                                                                           Estella Quartet (strings)
$500 Stephen and Joan Mudrick Honorable Mention                                                                      Amo Brass (brass quintet)
$500 The Vianello Family Audience Prize                                                                             Kodachrome Quartet (saxophone)

Judges Special Recognition                                                                                                    Onda Sonora, Rasa String Quartet
Odyssey Music @ Lenoir Woods                                                                                                                Eunoia String  Quartet
​Odyssey Music @ Columbia Public Schools                                                        Eunoia String Quartet, Kodachrome Quartet

*Odyssey Award is offered to one of the top five available laureates to perform in Odyssey Chamber Music Series' Season 20 at an agreed time. If the Grand Prize winner is not able, other laureates from this season will be contacted with a performance opportunity in Odyssey Chamber Music Series. $2000 Honorarium is given at the time of the Season 20 concert, and accommodation for the ensemble is offered. 

2021 - NO COMPETITION.

2019 Awards
$5000 Dr. Edward and Judith Chmielewski Grand Prize and Odyssey Award* ($2000)           Soma Quartet (saxophone)
$2000 Georgia Morehouse, in the memory of Dr. Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion
                                                                                                                                                          Colere Quartet (saxophone)
$2000 Missouri Symphony, in memory of Hugo Vianello First Prize in Piano & Strings                      Dior Quartet (string)

$500 Honorable Mention in the memory of Harry and Lina Berrier                                                    Trio Gaia (piano trio)
$500 Honorable Mention                                                                                                                     Vanguard Reed Quintet

$250 The Vianello Family Audience Prize                                                                                                 Trio Gaia (piano trio)
Judges Special Recognition                                                                                                                                     Abeo Quartet
Odyssey Music @ Lenoir Woods                                                                                                      Soom Quintet (woodwind)
​Odyssey Music @ The Village of Bedford Walk                                                                                         Dior Quartet (string)

2017 Awards
$5000 Dr. Edward and Judith Chmielewski Grand Prize                                                                       Vera Quartet
$2000 Georgia Morehouse, in the memory of Dr. Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion
                                                                                                                                                         Ivani String Quartet
$2000 Anonymous Donor, In the memory of James U. Weaver First Prize in Piano & Strings
                                                                                                                                             Fuego Saxophone Quartet
$500 Honorable Mention                                                                                                 The North Trio (sax/sax/pn)
$500 Honorable Mention                                                                                                               Stellio Trio (pn trio)
$200 Hugo Vianello Audience Prize                                                                                             Ivani String Quartet
Judges Special Recognition                                                                                Koro String Quatet, Merz Piano Trio

Odyssey Music @ Lenoir Woods                                                                                                   Ivani String Quartet  
​Odyssey Music @ The Village of Bedford Walk                                                                                       Vera Quartet


2015 Awards
$5000 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize                                             Cardinal Winds (piano and ww quintet)
$2000 Dr. Edward and Judith Chmielewski First Prize in Piano & Strings                   Quartet Tito (string quartet)
$2000 Georgia Morehouse in the memory of Dr. Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion 
                                                                                                                                                               The Kyodai Brass 
$500 First Baptist Church of Columbia Honorable Mention                                      Pavo Quartet (string quartet)
$500 Odyssey Chamber Music Series Honorable Mention                                                 QuinTexas (ww quintet)
$200 Hugo Vianello Audience Prize                                                                                  Quartet Tito (sting quartet)
Judges Special Recognition                                                  Stellio Trio (piano trio) and Hathor Winds (ww quintet)
Odyssey Music @ Lenoir Woods                                                                                           Deciduous Trio (fl-hp-va)

2013 Awards
$5000 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize                                                   Project Fusion (saxophone quartet)
$2000 Odyssey Chamber Music Series in the memory of Dr. Harry Berrier First Prize in Piano & Strings
                                                                                                                                          Altius Quartet (string quartet)
$2000 Georgia Morehouse in the memory of Dr. Larry Morehouse First Prize in Winds, Brass & Percussion
                                                                                                                               Kenari Quartet (saxophone quartet)   
$500 Dr. Edward and Judith Chmielewski Honorable Mention                                                Orava String Quartet
$500 Anonymous Donor in Honor of Odyssey Musicians                                                     Nautilus Brass Quintet
Hugo Vianello Audience Prize                                                                             Project Fusion (saxophone quartet)
Judges Special Recognition                   Trio Artica (pn trio), The Fawn Trio (pn-fl-cl), Khrysos Saxophone Quartet
 
2012 - NO COMPETITION.

2011* Laureates                              
* 2011 Plowman Chamber Music Competition was dedicated to Dr. Larry Morehouse.
$3500 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize (tie)                                                                        Akropolis Reed Quintet
$3500 Dr. Harry & Lina Berrier Grand Prize (tie)                                                                              Aeolus String Quartet
$2000 Dr. Larry & Georgia Morehouse First Prize in Brass, Winds & Percussion                       West Circle Saxophone 
$500 Dr. Edward & Judith Chmielewski Honorable Mention                                             Axiom Brass, Noble Piano Trio
Hugo Vianello Audience Prize                                                                                                                      Noble Piano Trio
Judges Special Recognition                                                                                                              Beaubliss String Quartet

2010 Laureates
$5000 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize                                                                                   Nexus String Quartet
$2000 Dr. Larry & Georgia Morehouse First Prize in Brass, Winds & Percussion            Red Line Saxophone Quartet
$2000 Dr. Harry & Lina Berrier First Prize in String                                                                    Amphion String Quartet*
$500 Dr. Edward & Judith Chmielewski Honorable Mentions                                         Arabesque Winds, Axiom Brass
Hugo Vianello Audience Prize                                                                                                          Amphion String Quartet
Judges Special Recognition                                                   Aeolus String Quartet, Mad Town Low Down (Tuba Quartet)
* Congratulations to Amphion Quartet, the newly appointed ensemble to the Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center! Read all about them here: http://music.yale.edu/news/?p=6400 

2009 - NO COMPETITION.

2008 Laureates
$5000 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize                                                                                 Jasper String Quartet 
$2000 Dr. Larry & Georgia Morehouse First Prize in Brass, Winds & Percussion          Halcyon Saxophone Quartet
$2000 Dr. Harry & Lina Berrier First Prize in Strings                                                                                 Atria Ensemble
$500 Missouri Symphony Society Honorable Mentions                                 The H2 Quartet, Tasman String Quartet
Audience Prize                                                                                                                                    Jasper String Quartet
Judges Special Recognition                                                         Red Line Saxophone Quartet, Iannis Quartet, Enhake

2007 Laureates
$5000 Dr. David & Nancy Bedan Grand Prize                                                                               Alianza String Quartet
$2000 Dr. Larry & Georgia Morehouse First prize in Brass, Winds & Percussion                                  Arundo Winds
$2000 Dr. Harry & Lina Berrier First Prize in Strings                                                                                   The New Trio
$500 Missouri Symphony Society Honorable Mentions                                 The Attacca Quartet, Amethyst Quartet
Audience Prize                                                                                                                                                 The New Trio
Judges Special Recognition                                                                                                                          Trio con spirito

2006 Laureates
First Place                                                                                                                                   The Manhattan Piano Trio
Second Place                                                                                                                                                    The New Trio
Third Place                                                                                                                                         Azmari String Quartet
Honorable Mentions                                                                                                       Vinca Quartet, Wo-men Quartet  
Peter Miyamoto, Executive Director  |  Ayako Tsuruta, Artistic Director
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