Concerto Competition

GTCYS is delighted to announce our 2024-25 Concerto Competition. Please see the details, deadlines, and online application form below and note that all current GTCYS students are invited to participate.

About the Competition

GTCYS’ Concerto Competition is an annual opportunity for any current GTCYS musician to showcase their individual talents. Contestants prepare a memorized concerto movement or solo work and audition with a collaborative pianist for the preliminary round. Selected finalists perform in a free public recital with a collaborative pianist. From that round, one or two winners will be selected to perform in concert with GTCYS’ flagship orchestra, Symphony, led by Artistic Director Mark Russell Smith.

Competition Timeline

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 2 at 11:59pm

Preliminary Auditions: Sunday, October 13, 2024, 11am – 5pm. Competitors will receive their timeslot after registering. Ultan Recital Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Closed to the public.

Finals Recital: Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 2pm. Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, St. Paul. Free and open to the public.

Performance with Symphony: The winner(s) will perform in a concert with Symphony on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

Competition Requirements

Applicants must abide by all rules outlined below. Failure to follow these rules may disqualify submissions. Please read them carefully.

• Registrations are due on Wednesday, October 2 at 11:59pm. Auditions are open to any current GTCYS member except previous winners.
• There is a $60 non-refundable audition fee for each application, payable via credit card within the online competition registration. Need-based fee assistance is available.
• All music must be memorized and performed with piano accompaniment in both the preliminary audition and the finals recital.
  • You must provide your own collaborative pianist for the preliminary audition. If access to a collaborative pianist is a barrier for your family, contact Miranda Bryan at miranda@gtcys.org to inquire about financial assistance.
  • For the October 26 finals recital, all finalists will perform with a GTCYS-designated collaborative pianist, for whom GTCYS will pay for up to 90 minutes of rehearsal time, plus the final recital performance. Details forthcoming.
• Musical requirements:
  • Students should prepare repertoire with orchestral parts easily available through purchase or rental. If you have questions about the eligibility of your repertoire selection, please contact GTCYS Librarian Benjamin Van Wienen at ben@gtcys.org or 651-602-6804 prior to completing the application form.
  • Music with more than one solo instrument is acceptable. All players should play at a comparably high standard.
  • Preliminary audition timeslots are 10 minutes long, including set-up and tuning. Collaborative pianists should reduce or eliminate long introductions and interludes, and students should expect the judges to cut them off after 10 minutes have elapsed.
  • Music performed in the finals should include the entire work or movement with no cuts in the solo part.

GTCYS will notify you if you have advanced to the final round by Tuesday, October 15. Contact GTCYS Program Director Miranda Bryan at miranda@gtcys.org or 651.602.6807 with questions. Thank you!