The Houston Civic Symphony is pleased to announce a Young Artist Competition for area instrumental students. First-prize winners in each division will be featured soloists in concert with the Houston Civic Symphony at a concert currently scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2009, 7:30p.m. at Morris Cultural Arts Center, on the campus of Houston Baptist University
Competition Guidelines1. Eligibility Requirements: The competition will be open to students in the fifth through twelfth grades residing in the Houston area. Competitors from outside the greater Houston area are welcome, but any such entrants should be mindful of concert rehearsals scheduling in the event he or she is chosen as a winner. Previous winners of the Young Artist Competition are not eligible to compete within the same division.
2. Divisions:
Up to four first-prizes may be awarded-two first-prizes in each division. Second-prize winners will receive scholarship awards, but will not perform with the Houston Civic Symphony.
3. Repertoire: One movement of a large-scale work for solo instrument and orchestra is acceptable. The movement must be less than 15 minutes long. Orchestra accompaniment parts must be readily available and approved by the Houston Civic Symphony Music Director. Memory work is suggested, but not required.
4. Competition Rules: Each competitor will be responsible for providing his/her own piano accompanist and orchestral reduction piano part. A concert grand piano will be available. Competitors must provide one original score for the judges to view during the competition. Photocopies of music will not be permitted either on stage or for the judges and will result in immediate disqualification of the competitor. Audition time will be limited to 12 minutes. Please cut orchestral tutti sections accordingly. The Competition Coordinator is authorized to make binding decisions regarding conformity to competition guidelines and rules.
5. Judging: If no performance in a division/category is deemed acceptable by the judges for a first-prize award, no winner will be declared, and there will be no performance opportunity in that division/category.
6. Performance: Each first-prize winner will be invited to perform with the Houston Civic Symphony as noted above. The work performed in the competition will be the work performed, unless the performer and the Music Director, Houston Civic Symphony, agree on a different work.
7. Scholarship Awards:
8. Application: Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, December 10, 2008 and must include a $40 non-refundable entry fee. Applications postmarked after December 10, 2008 must include an additional $10 late fee. No applications postmarked after December 17, 2008 will be accepted. Make all checks payable to the Houston Civic Symphony.
9. Audition Dates/Times: The competition will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2009, and will be held at Houston Baptist University. In past years, competitor performances have been scheduled between 8:30 am and 4 pm. For questions regarding the competition, please leave a message for Sophia Hsieh, Director of Educational Outreach at (281) 586-2100 (Houston Civic Symphony voice mail) ,or e-mail competition "at" civicsymphony.org
The Young Artist Competition supports the mission of the Houston Civic Symphony -- to present great classical music and to provide a creative outlet for talented musicians.
$40 Application Fee (mailed by December 10, 2008)
$50 Application/Late Fee (mailed no later than December 17, 2008)
Make checks payable: Houston Civic Symphony
Mail: Houston Civic Symphony
P.O. Box 770032
Houston, TX 77215
Attn: Young Artist Competition Entry
email: competition AT civicsymphony.org
Application Fee is non-refundable.
Application Form may be reproduced.
Download Application form (PDF)