49th Annual
Young Artists Competition
Sunday, October 15, 2023
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 $20.00 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: Performance video / YouTube link, and fee must be received in the Symphony office no later than:
Sunday , October 1st, 2023
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 October 6th, 2023. Finalists must provide THREE (3) copies of the score for use by judges.
- Final judging will be held on Sunday October 15, 2023, at Honors Hall, 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 December 8th, 2023.
- 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.