Young Artists Competition
2023 Competition
Important Dates:
Friday, January 13, 2023: Application materials are due in WSO office, no exceptions. If registering via USPS, send application early! Audio files must be emailed by January 13.
Sunday, February 5, 2023: Live auditions – beginning at 11 a.m.
Sunday, February 12, 2023: Winners’ Recital – 2:30 p.m.
>Download Application Packet (PDF)
About the Young Artists Competition
The Westmoreland Symphony’s Young Artist Competition has been in existence since the 1980s. In 2002, its format was changed from a concerto competition to a solo competition. It is now open to students who reside or take their private music lessons in Westmoreland or Fayette County.
The Young Artists Competition promotes excellence through competition in the field of music performance. The competition is open to classical instrumentalists who are residents of either Westmoreland or Fayette County or take private music lessons in either of those two counties and have not yet graduated from high school. Participants compete for performance opportunities as determined by a three-judge panel. Cash prizes will be awarded as determined by the judges.
Competition Overview
Showcase your music; perform live and win cash prizes! Each year the Young Artists Competition is open to all instrumental students up to and including seniors in high school that live or take lessons in Westmoreland or Fayette County.
Guidelines
- Applicants must perform a minimum of two contrasting pieces representing different periods of classical repertoire, highlighting both lyricism and facility.
- Performing from memory is required for pianists and encouraged for others.
- If you do use an accompanist, you need to provide your own accompanist for the recorded and live auditions. If chosen to perform, the winner must use the same accompanist for the live audition and recital.
- Audition recording, any format (no videos allowed) must include the entire program that the applicant plans to perform in the live audition.
- Finalists must provide three copies of their music (one for each judge), with measure numbers listed at the beginning of each line. This includes full scores for instrumentalists.
Categories
Level I (up to 10 minutes performance time)
Up to Grade 9
Piano – Instrumental
Level II (up to 15 minutes performance time)
Grades 10-12
Piano – Instrumental
Contestants may only win the top prize once per level (i.e., a 1st prize winner at Level I may not enter at Level I again unless he/she applies on another instrument).
Entry Fee/Prizes
$15 – preliminary recorded audition
$15 – live audition if the contestant is accepted for the final round
Cash prizes and performance in the Winners’ Recital are determined by a panel of professional musicians.
- Level I – 1st place $150; 2nd place $100, 3rd place $75
- Level II – 1st place $250; 2nd place $200, 3rd place $150
Prizes may or may not be given in each of the four categories, at judges’ discretion.
