WSO Young Artists Competition – Williamsport Symphony Orchestra

50th Annual
Young Artists Competition

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Sponsored by the Friends of the Symphony

Young musicians meeting the eligibility requirements for this competition may compete for cash awards and the possible opportunity to perform with the orchestra.

The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to be a cultural asset to the community by providing quality orchestral music, education, and performance opportunities for regional talent to an ever-expanding audience.

Please read the following GUIDELINES and JUDGING PROCEDURES. Complete the application with $25.00 non-refundable application fee

Failure to comply with competition guidelines may result in disqualification.

Guidelines

PURPOSE: To provide recognition for talented young musicians, and a possible opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra.

ELIGIBILITY: Young musicians, through grade 12, who live in north central Pennsylvania.

INSTRUMENTS: Keyboard, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and voice. No electronic instruments.

REPERTOIRE: A selection not to exceed 15 minutes from a major work for soloist and orchestra: i.e., one movement of a standard concerto or major operatic aria. No pop literature. Performers must provide their own accompanist for the application, recording, and final judging.

DEADLINE: Registration, fee, and performance video / YouTube link, must be submitted online no later than Monday, January 6, 2025.

RECORDING REQUIREMENTS:

Video/ YouTube submissions of high quality will be accepted. Recordings must represent the work to be performed in the competition with piano accompaniment.

Judging and Procedures

Finalists will be notified in writing by Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Finalists must provide THREE (3) copies of the score for use by judges.
Final judging will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Clarke Chapel, Lycoming College. The competition will begin at 2:00 pm.
All contestants must report to Symphony officials no later than 1:30 pm. In fairness to other contestants, all participants must remain throughout the competition.
All contestants will receive certificates of participation at the end of the event.
The winner and two runners up will be announced immediately following the competition.

The winner and two runners-up will receive cash awards provided by the Friends of the Symphony. Checks will be mailed.
The winner may be provided with the opportunity to perform with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra at the concert on March 18, 2025.
WSO Young Artists Winners from previous years are ineligible to enter the competition in future years. Runners-up are eligible to re-enter.
In fairness to all contestants, no exceptions will be made to the above guidelines and procedures.
WSO reserves the right to cancel or modify the competition based upon the quality or quantity of applicants, including, but not limited to, the opportunity to perform in a WSO concert.

Application

Young Artists Competition Application 2025

Student Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Age(Required)

Grade for 2024-2025(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 12.

Instrument(Required)

Teacher(Required)

Accompanist

Parent / Guardian Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Home Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Work to be performed

A selection not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes from a major work for soloist and orchestra - i.e., one movement of a standard concerto or major operatic aria. No pops literature is permitted.

Title(Required)

Movement(Required)

Composer(Required)

Arranger(Required)

Biographical details

It would be interesting to know a little more about your musical career thus far, as well as other areas/hobbies you plan to pursue. Please write a short biographical paragraph (500 characters or less) describing more about you to include in our program.

Please submit your biographical information(Required)

Information may include the following:

Number of years of study on this musical instrument
Previous solo competitions entered and significant results
Previous participation in music festivals or summer music camps
Participation in community ensembles (such as WSYO/ WSJS or others)
Your career ambitions
Anything else you would like to include (hobbies, extracurricular activities, etc.)

Video submission

Video / YouTube submissions of high quality will be accepted. Recordings must represent the work to be performed in the competition with piano accompaniment.

Performance video link(Required)

Please upload your performance video to youtube (video privacy may be set to unlisted, but not private) and share the link to the video here.

Photo / Video Release

Photo / Video Release Agreement - Fall / Winter / Spring 2024-2025(Required)

I hereby DO give permission for Williamsport Symphony Orchestra to use my photograph or video along with my name on the Symphony website or on other forms of communication and advertising including Facebook or YouTube.

I hereby DO NOT give permission for Williamsport Symphony Orchestra to use my photograph or video along with my name on the Symphony website or on other forms of communication and advertising including Facebook or YouTube.

Digital Signature

Student Signature(Required)

By submitting this application, I certify that the submitted information is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Checking this box counts as my digital signature on this form.

Parent/Guardian Signature(Required)

By submitting this application, I certify that the submitted information is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Checking this box counts as my digital signature on this form.

Application Fee

Young Artists Competition Application Fee(Required)

Price:

Payment Method

American Express

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MasterCard

Visa

Card Number Expiration Date Security Code Cardholder Name

50th Annual Young Artists Competition