Education & Outreach
PSO Young Artist Competition 2025
2024-2025 Contest theme: Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns
This competition is open to student instrumentalists (piano, strings, winds, or percussion) under the age of 19 as of February 16, 2025 and a resident of one of the following Virginia counties: Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, King George, Madison, Orange, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, or Warren (or independent cities within those counties). Current PSO student musicians are eligible to enter. Students who have been a first-place winner in a previous PSO Young Artist Competition are NOT eligible to enter. Only one application per student is allowed. If selected for the final round, students must attend Tuesday evening rehearsals and the Saturday morning dress rehearsal leading up to the concert.
Required repertoire: one movement of any instrumental piece composed for solo instrument (piano, strings, winds, or percussion) and orchestra. The piece must be either in the public domain in the United States or available to rent or buy for less than $300. For help in determining if your piece is appropriate, contact Debbie Gilbert at jdgilbert99@gmail.com
Entry deadline: October 8, 2024 11:59PM EST submitted to this dropbox link:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/Q2Cko3GP1sMfgKGgs752
To enter, send to the above dropbox link the following:
1. A high-quality audio mp3 file consisting of the required repertoire played by the instrumentalist with piano accompaniment. (Pianists are not required to play with piano accompaniment.) Only mp3 recordings will be accepted. DO NOT send a video recording.
2. A completed pdf file containing the audition form and the photo/video release form.
3. Label the pdf file and your mp3 recording with your first and last names. This will be edited before sending to our judges.
4. Send your $35.00 non-refundable audition fee to the PayPal link posted below.
Pay the Application Fee Here:
Audition process:
1. Preliminary round: Audio mp3 files will be evaluated, and semi-finalists will be chosen. Semi-finalists will be notified by November 1, 2024.
2. Semi-final round: Semi-finalists will perform the required repertoire, with accompanist, before a panel of judges November 23, 2024. Each semi-finalist must provide his/her own accompanist (except for pianists). Three finalists will be chosen from this audition.
3. Final round: The final round will be held as a live performance with the PSO Orchestra at the February 16, 2025 concert. The concert will be held at Highland’s Center for the Arts, Warrenton, VA. A panel of judges will evaluate the finalists at the February 16th, 3:00 p.m. concert and award first, second and third place prizes.
First Place Grand Prize Winner will receive $3,000.00 scholarship prize.
Second Place Winner will receive $1,500.00 scholarship prize.
Third Place Winner will receive $1,000.00 scholarship prize.
Scholarship money will be paid by the PSO directly to the college, summer music program, or other valid non-profit organization that will further the music education of the winner. Winners are responsible for notifying PSO of the name of the non-profit organization and address where the check should be sent. If the PSO is not provided the name of a non-profit organization by July 31st of the year of the award, a check will be issued to the winner on July 31. Please see IRS Topic No. 421 on scholarships for information on tax filing.
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Stay tuned for official entry forms.