Walgreens National Concerto Competition hosted by Midwest Young Artists

Register online: https://secure.mya.org/forms/competition.php

Midwest Young Artists is hosting the 19th annual Walgreens National Concerto Competition, held at the MYA Center at Fort Sheridan and Bennett-Gordon Hall at Ravinia on December 28 & 29, 2014. Prizes for this solo competition included an opportunity to perform with the MYA Symphony Orchestra and on the prestigious From the Top radio program. Walgreens Corporation’s annual sponsorship enabled MYA to provide students with distinguished judges, a digital recording of their performance, written performance evaluations, and an inviting and nurturing environment in which to participate.

Eligibility

There are two Divisions in the contest: MYA Orchestra Division (MYA Division) and Open Division. Students in the MYA Division must be an active participant in the MYA Orchestra Program. All other entrants will participate in the Open Division (including students in MYA Chamber Music, Choral and Jazz Programs).

There are two Levels in each Division:

Junior: for students in 8th grade and younger
Senior: for students in 9th through 12th grades
The competition is open to all instruments. Each Level is further divided into Categories:

String
Piano
Voice
Winds & Percussion
Early Music (Please note: Students are automatically entered in the Early Music category - in addition to the relevant instrument category - if the piece they are performing was written before 1800. Strings, harpsichord, recorders, gamba winds and brass are encouraged to participate in this category.)
Repertoire

Students must perform a movement from a concerto or work with orchestral accompaniment. Vocalists should perform an opera aria or similar work for voice and orchestra. Selections must be performed from memory with piano accompaniment. Students will have 10 minutes to perform and will be timed. Appropriate accompaniment cuts are recommended. Please note: It is at the judges’ discretion to ask for specific sections of a movement being performed. Please have movements prepared in their entirety.

For those entering the Early Music Category only, it is recommended that contestants choose any piece written prior to 1800, to be performed from memory. We do not list suggested literature for all other categories.

Early Music Category Repertoire

Harpsichord, recorders, gamba, winds, and bass are encouraged to participate in this category. If you have questions about repertoire, please contact the MYA office. Students are automatically entered into the Early Music Category if the piece they are performing was written before 1800.

Scheduling

Scheduling for the Walgreens Concerto Competition will take place immediately after the December 1 deadline. The schedule is determined by age division and by accompanist to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to prepare for their performance. Unfortunately, this means we cannot guarantee a specific audition time for any student. Generally, the Junior Division (grades 8 and under) auditions occur on December 28 and the Senior Division (grades 9-12) auditions occur on December 29; however, this depends on the number of applications we receive from each division. A higher volume of applicants in one division may result in some auditions occuring on the alternate day. We will notify all participants of their audition time once the schedule has been completed.

Venue

Open Division
MYA Center at Fort Sheridan
878 Lyster Road, Highwood, IL 60040
phone: (847) 926-9898

MYA Division
Bennett-Gordon Hall at Ravinia
Highland Park, IL

Accompanist

All participants must perform with an accompanist. Students must provide their own accompanist. Your accompanist’s name and contact information must be provided on your application. To search for a local accompanist, visitwww.privatemusicteaching.org.

Application & Entry Fee

The competition entry fee is $55 for the Open Division $35 for the MYA Orchestra Division.

Please note: All applications must be submitted on-line; fees are non-refundable and must be paid on-line or by check, postmarked by December 1st.