Hi all! A few weeks ago, I learned of a music competition in my area for instrumentalists and singers to occur in May. I have decided to try it out. For the competition, I have to play pieces from contrasting eras, one memorized. Does anybody have any experience in music competitions?

I entered my first competition this past December. I played Ernest Bloch Suite modale, the fourth movement. Its a modern piece that a lot of judges enjoy. If you still need audition material its a very good starting point. If you need two contrasting pieces, don't just look for era, pick two that show contrasting styles. Like right now I am preparing the Quantz concerto in G and the Griffes Poem. The quantz is a baroque peice which is technical and the Griffes is early 20th century and has a lot of tonal and style, but its still has a lot of technical aspects. Don't stress to much about your first competition, I did, and even though I got through the piece I wasn't as strong as I had been before. Also make sure you find an accompanist ASAP, I thought I had one but they backed out last minute so I had to play by myself, which is weird when your piece has alot of piano entrances. Here is a good list of pieces that you may want to look into as well.
Bloch suite modale
Poulenc Sonata
Mozart Concerto in G ( or D)
Quantz concert in G
Handel Sonata
Chaminade Concerto
and remember its better to do a piece that you can do well than a piece that is incredibly ridiculous and do mediocre. So stay away from things like the Ibert, Poem, Doppler Hungarian, etc that take a long time , unless you have at least 6 months to learn them.
Hope this helps.

The above, plus Mouquet La Flute de Pan (three movements) and Demersseman's Sixieme Solo de Concert.

I am doing Sonata in F by Telemann and Dance of the Goat by Arthur Honegger.