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BSO Youth Concerto Competition – Apply by Oct 25, Audition Nov 8
November 8, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra sponsors an annual competition among the best music students in the area. Students work with their teachers to select and prepare a solo piece, then perform it for members of the BSO. We then award the top performers a scholarship and arrange for them to play their chosen piece as a soloist with the BSO during our regular concert season. Violinist Joshua Bell was one of our first winners!
Our January 2025 winner, Solar Manley, will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Mvt 1: Molto allegro con fuoco with the BSO on October 19, 2025
BSO Youth Concerto Competition Information
The next round of auditions will be November 8, 2025 so that the winner can have a change to perform with the BSO during our March 2026 concert.
Applications are due October 25, and auditions will be in Novemeber 8, 2025.
Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict.
Apply here: 2025 BSO YCC Application
General BSO YCC Rules of Participation
Novemeber 2025 Rules of Participation
Eligibility:
1. Entrants can include any instrumental musician up to high school graduates of Spring 2026, and must be under 20 years old at time of audition.
2. The competition is open to Indiana residents of Monroe, Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Morgan, or Owen counties.
3. Previous BSO Youth Concerto Competition winners are not eligible to compete.
Application
1. This application is due October 25, 2025.
Audition:
1. The audition will be held in person on November 8, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church.
2. Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict, and must be received before November 5th. Send a link to a file or video on Google Drive, Dropbox, or Youtube. Make sure settings allow for anybody with the link to be able to view it. Also send a PDF of the music for the judges to follow along. Send all info to ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
3. There may be two in-person rounds: a preliminary and final round. Both may be recorded for judging purposes.
4. Applicants will perform a piece of music that has an orchestral accompaniment, not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
5. An accompianist will not be provided, but a piano will be available for your own accompianist. A 2nd piano (professional electronic keyboard) will be available for piano concertos.
6. Entrants must provide five copies of their musical score for the judges.
Judging/winnings:
1. The results of the competition will be announced by the end of November 2025. All entrants will receive a phone call from the BSO Music Director after a decision is confirmed, and all entrants will receive notes from the judges. All decisions by the judges are final. The panel of judges includes the BSO Music Director Ryo Hasegawa, and other musicians of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
2. The BSO Youth Concerto Competition winner will receive a $300 cash prize. The Runner-up will receive a $200 cash prize. The judges reserve the right not to award a winner or runner-up.
3. The winner and runner up may be offered the opportunity to perform live with the orchestra at the March 2026 concert.
Please contact us if you have any questions, need help choosing appropriate music, or need any other support. We will make every effort possible to assist you.
ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
812-369-4212
Apply here by October 25: 2025 BSO YCC Application
Many thanks to our corporate sponsor, Baird Private Wealth Management for making this event possible!
Please contact us at ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com for more information on the BSO Youth Concerto Competition, or any of or other education and outreach programs.