Concerto Competition

Applicants must be UA students currently enrolled in music individual studies (MUSI), studying with members of the School of Music performance faculty or GTAs.
Solo applicants will not have won the competition as a soloist in the immediately preceding academic year.
Solo applicants may win once per degree program.
Ensemble applicants may not have won in the preceding year as a member of an ensemble. Mixed ensembles must choose which area competition to enter.

Students must submit a Concerto Competition Application.
A completed online application must be submitted to Dr. Desbordes for approval no later than Monday, October 27 at 4:00 PM. Note: be in touch with your area competition coordinator as to the area deadline, as it might be different than the above. Dr. Desbordes will either approve or not approve the application based on the feasibility of performing this work with the Arizona Symphony in February, taking into consideration the difficulty of accompaniment, orchestral forces available, length, and the cost and availability of orchestral materials. Due to budget constraints, it is possible that a proposed work could be denied due to the cost of rental materials.
The maximum length of the movement or piece to be performed is 15 minutes, unless specifically approved by Dr. Desbordes.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applicants and coordinators will be informed of status soon after submission; then area competitions will proceed.

Each area (Strings, Keyboard, Voice and Winds/Brass/Percussion) will hold its own competition and may apply additional procedures, requirements or rules. Please check with the area coordinator.
The individual areas will select the competition date(s) and arrange for judges.
Student competitors will perform a solo work, a concerto or a movement from a concerto. Area competitions will be open to the public.
Because of a short preparation period in January, a first orchestral reading might occur in December. Therefore, area competitions should be completed by the Thanksgiving holiday.
One winner and one runner-up per area will be selected by the judges.

Area winners will perform only the movement(s) or work with which they competed in the President’s Concerts: Saturday, February 6 at 7:30pm and 7th at 3:30pm in Crowder Hall.
The winners/performers will be featured in social media and advertisements which will include the use of their images, biographies, written and video interviews. All winners must be available the entire weekend for both performances.

Deadline: Monday, October 27 at 4:00pm.

UA Orchestras