Inspiring high school students to become lifelong participants in the musical experience.
Discover the history and sounds of western art music through Music Listening Contest and the MLC study guide, newly curated each year by our collaborating musicologists.
The vast and varied world of classical music is a magical thing, with so much to explore.
For many high school students and teachers it can be difficult to know where to begin the journey.
Music Listening Contest has been making that exploration possible for nearly four decades, setting curious students well on their way!

In 37
seasons…
almost 15,000 student participants
over 430 unique composers from 45 different countries
nearly 2500 pages written on 1200+ pieces
Today, Music Listening Contest is run and operated by a volunteer board of passionate music educators, musicians, and MLC alumni. Going back to its inception in 1987, the MLC study guide has been in the hands of talented and engaging expert musicologists who have taken great care to represent the wide range of music history’s characters and stories. While it may not be possible to write about every piece and composer, we hope that MLC can help you learn something new in the music of the past!
What coaches and student participants have said:
“Of all the things we do as musicians and students, this activity has been the most pertinent and useful to our learning goals and understandings. The impact of [MLC] is direct and profound.”
— Ed Candland, MLC coach, Utah
“The thing I truly love about the Music Listening Contest is that there are no losers. Inevitably, participants develop new dimensions of musical understanding and a passion for at least one previously undiscovered style of music.”
— Bill Alexander, former Duluth Marshall
“The Music Listening Contest has taught me that it is a gift to be surprised by new information - and a gift to learn about myself through that information. To listen to music is to learn, and to learn is to add another puzzle piece to one’s life.”
— Student Participant
“I feel so unbelievably smart, and as a person who isn’t very competitive - you don’t have to face your opponents, you only have to focus on the camaraderie and trust in your team, which is very reassuring.”
— Student Participant
Here’s how to get involved!
Form a team of three students (grades 9-12).
Find a group that you think will have good chemistry and work well together, and recruit more teams in your school or studio to participate, too!
Find an adult to be a coach/advisor.
Often it’s a music teacher, but your coach can be any adult! They’ll serve as a contact for scheduling and general communication with MLC. The study guide has all the information you need to perform well in the contest, so musical expertise is not required of a coach.
Register here on the website.
Register your team, school, and coach with MLC and pay the $110 fee per team.
Study, listen, and prepare for contest!
After your fee is processed, a printed Study Guide for each member and coach will be sent in the mail, along with links to the listening playlist.