The George and Peggy Schmidbauer International Competition celebrates its second year with an invitation for string applicants. Held on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, the competition holds the highest standards in artistry and performance, attracting musicians from all around the world to East Texas. As an annual event, the competition alternates between piano—featured in the 2008 inaugural competition—and strings, bringing rising artists from both disciplines to compete and perform for lucrative prizes and future engagements.