Golden Hornet's String Quartet Smackdown is a bracketed, NCAA basketball-style tournament competition which brings original four-minute string quartet compositions head-to-head in front of a live, participatory audience. It’s like NCAA March Madness for the ears!

A diverse panel of judges selects 16 compositions to be performed live at the String Quartet Smackdown, which takes place on Feb. 22nd at the Baker Center in Austin, TX. The audience uses their cell phones or a mobile app to vote, and their responses appear live on screen. The winner of each bracket moves on in the tournament. In a riotous – and usually very close – finish, the audience determines the String Quartet Smackdown champion!

All 16 finalists receive a professional studio recording of their piece, and the winner takes home a cash prize.