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!
Check out the 2023 winners: Runner up Miranda Isbitts performed the last movement of Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto at our summer concert on August 27, 7pm at Switchyard Park. Winner Emma Levesque will play Pierné’s Konzertstuck for harp on March 3, 2024, 5pm at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater .
Details on the 2024 competition:
2024 BSO Youth Concerto Competition Information
The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra is now accepting applications for its annual Youth Concerto Competition.
Deadline to apply is January 6, 2023 at 11:59pm EST.
In-person auditions are Saturday, January 20, 2024, 10am-2pm at IU Music Annex room 155.
Apply here: 2024 BSO YCC Application
2023-24 BSO YCC Rules of Participation
Rules of Participation
Eligibility:
1. Entrants can include any instrumental musician up to high school graduates of Spring 2024, and must be under 20 years old as of January 20, 2024.
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 no later than 11:59 PM EDT on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Audition:
1. The competition will be held in-person at Indiana University MA155 on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 10:00am-2:00 pm.
2. There may be two in-person rounds: a preliminary and final round. Both may be recorded for judging purposes.
3. Apllicants will perform a piece of music that has an orchestral accompaniment, not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
4. An accompianist will not be provided, but a piano will be available if you want to bring your own accompianist.
5. 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 February 2024. All entrants will receive a phone call from the BSO Interim Artistic 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 Interim Artistic Director, Isaac Terceros, and other musicians of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
2. The BSO Youth Concerto Competition winner will receive a $250 cash prize. The Runner-up will receive a $150 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 during the 2024-2025 season.
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
812-331-2320
Apply here: 2024 BSO YCC Application
Many thanks to our corporate sponsor, Baird 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.