Young Artist Competition

The Young Artist Competition, WAMSO's longest running education program, discovers and encourages exceptional young musical talent through a regional competition. Young performers come from eleven Midwest states and two Canadian provinces. The competitors can win scholarships and monetary awards, as well as an opportunity to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra.

January 15-16, 2011

Dates

Preliminary Competition | CD only

Semifinal Competition | Saturday, January 15, 2011

Final Competition | Sunday, January 16, 2011, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis

Eligibility

• Must be 25 years or younger as of the date of the final competition: January 16, 2011
• Must be performer of an instrument with a permanent chair in the Minnesota Orchestra
• Must be legal resident or student currently enrolled in school in one of the following:
  • Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, or Ontario

Repertoire

• Must prepare a concerto or significant concert piece from standard repertoire plus two additional solo works. The two solo works combined must be a minimum of 20 minutes.
• Click for complete repertoire requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

• Contains information about the application and CD recording: 
  Click to view FAQ

To Apply

• Application and $75 non-refundable fee must be submitted by September 27, 2010
• CD recording must be sent by certified mail and postmarked by October 18, 2010
• Click for online application OR Click to download copy of application

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2011 Competition Prizes:

• GRAND PRIZE (Awarded to the First Prize winner at the discretion of the Minnesota Orchestra music director or designee)
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  · $1,000 Award from the Minnesota Orchestral Association in memory of Isaac Stern for his 
         dedication to young artists
  
• FIRST PRIZE
  · $5,000 WAMSO Young Artist Award (funds provided by anonymous donor)
  · $2,500 WAMSO Achievement Award
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  
• SECOND PRIZE
  · $4,000 WAMSO Award
  
• THIRD PRIZE
  · $2,000 WAMSO Award

• OTHER

ELAINE LOUISE LAGERSTROM MEMORIAL AWARD - $1,000 Violin Award
MATHILDA HECK AWARD - $1,000 Woodwind Award
TWIN CITIES MUSICIANS UNION AFM AWARD - $1,000 Award
VINCENT R. BASTIEN MEMORIAL AWARD - $500 Cello Award
MARY WINSTON SMAIL MEMORIAL AWARD - $500 Piano Award

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES:

Concerto performance, St. Paul Civic Symphony

Recital Performance, The Schubert Club of St. Paul

SUMMER STUDY SCHOLARSHIPS:

ASPEN MUSIC SCHOOL, Aspen, Colorado
www.aspenmusicfestival.com

MADELINE ISLAND MUSIC CAMP, LaPointe, Wisconsin
www.music-camp.org

INTERLOCHEN ARTS CAMP, Interlochen, Michigan
www.interlochen.org

CHAUTAUQUA MUSIC FESTIVAL, Chautauqua, NY
http://music.ciweb.org/

APPLY ONLINE!

Still have questions? Contact WAMSO at:

WAMSO Young Artist Competition

1111 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis MN 55403

wamso@mnorch.org

phone: 612.371.5654

fax: 612.371.7176

2010 WAMSO YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS

FIRST PRIZE:  .................................Jonathan Cohen, 21, clarinet, Manhattan School of Music

SECOND PRIZE:  ...............................................Cahill Smith, 23, piano, University of Michigan

THIRD PRIZE:  .......................................Yoshihiko Nakano, 21, viola, Northwestern University

2009 WAMSO YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS

FIRST PRIZE:  .......................................Daniel Velasco, 22, flute, University of Northern Iowa

SECOND PRIZE:  ................................................... Aaron Tindall, 25, tuba, Indiana University

THIRD PRIZE:  ......................................................Char Prescott, 20, Northwestern University

2008 WAMSO YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS

FIRST PRIZE:  .............................................Fedor Amsov, 19, cello, Michigan State University

SECOND PRIZE:  .................................................Aubrey Foard, 25, tuba, The Colburn School

THIRD PRIZE: ...................................Ksenia Leletkina, 24, piano, Cleveland Institute of Music

Past Winners (archives)