Concerto Contest Rules

Saturday, January 26, 2013

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 Friday, March 8, 2013, 7:30p.m. at the Morris Cultural Arts Center, Houston Baptist University.

Competition Guidelines

1. 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:

• Junior Division (Grades 5-8): Orchestral instruments (strings, winds, percussion) No piano competition for 2012-13. An entry in the Junior Division is a representation that the student is currently in the indicated grades, and that no representation that the student is in a higher grade level has been made to any person or organization.
• Senior Division (Grades 9-12): Orchestral instruments (strings, winds, percussion) No piano competition for 2012-13. 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 either a solo instrument and orchestra or a double concerto or other multiple instrument work, composed with symphony orchestra accompaniment 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: Competitors for each entry 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 be permitted, and the use thereof will constitute a representation by the competitor that the usage complies with all applicable copyright requirements. 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(s) and the Music Director, Houston Civic Symphony, agree on a different work.

7. Scholarship Awards: Each first-prize Senior Division winner will be awarded a $200 scholarship. Each second-prize Senior Division winner will be awarded a $100 scholarship. Each first-prize Junior Division winner will be awarded a $100 scholarship. Each second-prize Junior Division winner will be awarded a $50 scholarship. In the case of a multiple performer entry, the awarded scholarship will be shared equally between the performers.

8. Application: Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, December 5, 2012 and must include a $40 non-refundable entry fee. Applications postmarked after December 5, 2012 must include an additional $10 late fee. No applications postmarked after December 12, 2012 will be accepted. All entries, complete in all respects including payment of entry fee, must be in the possession of the Symphony's Competition Coordinator, by that date. All communications with entrants will be made to the email address supplied on the entry form. Make all checks payable to the Houston Civic Symphony.

9. Audition Dates/Times: The competition will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2013, 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 Competition Coordinator at (281) 586-2100 (Houston Civic Symphony voice mail) ,or e-mail competition@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 5, 2012)
$50 Application/Late Fee (mailed no later than December 19, 2012)

Make checks payable: Houston Civic SymphonyMail:

Houston Civic Symphony
P.O. Box 770032
Houston, TX 77215
Attn: Young Artist Competition Entry
email: competition@civicsymphony.org

Application Fee is non-refundable.
Application Form may be reproduced.

Download Application form

Previous Season Winners!

Young Artist Competition

Houston Civic Symphony is pleased to announce the winners in the Senior Division, Young Artist Concerto competition. Our thanks and congratulations to all performers.

First place winners are James Cooper, cello, performing Variations on a Rococo Theme, Tchaikovsky, and Josef Lamell, clarinet, performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. Both will perform with the Symphony at the March 2 concert.

Second place winner is Bowie Lin, violin, performing Violin Concerto No. 2, Wieniawski.

Honorable Mention is awarded to Claire Wood, violin, performing Saint-Saens’ Concerto No. 3.

First Place is Ethan Le, violin, performing Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto. Ethan will perform with Civic Symphony at the March concert.

Second Place is Elaine Wood, cello, performing Saint Saens' Concerto No. 1 in a minor.

Honorable Mentions go to Rohith Karur, violin, and Anna Zu, violin.

Congratulations to all competitors!

Congratulations to these fine performers. We look forward to the performance of the First Place winners in concert with Houston Civic Symphony.

Mail: Houston Civic Symphony
P.O. Box 770032
Houston, TX 77215
Attn: Young Artist Competition Entry
email: competition@civicsymphony.org