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.

2012 Young Artist Competition Winners

Grand Prize Award – Matthew Lipman, Viola

First Prize – Matthew Lipman, viola

Second Prize – Hans Goldstein

Third Prize – Vicki Powell

Mathilda Heck Award – Richard Narroway

Vincent R. Bastien Memorial Award – Richard Narroway

Twin Cities Musicians Union Award – Benjamin Lash

Summer Study

Aspen Music School – Hans Goldstein

Madeline Island Music Camp – Hans Goldstein

Chautauqua Music Festival – Richard Narroway

Performance Opportunities

Concert Performance, Saint Paul Civic Symphony – Richard Narroway

Dates

Preliminary Competition | CD only (deadline has passed)

Semifinal Competition | Saturday, January 14, 2012

Final Competition | Sunday, January 15, 2012, 1:00pm Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis The Finals are free and open to the public.

Eligibility

• Must be 25 years or younger as of the date of the final competition: January 15, 2012
• 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
• Click for CD Requirements

To Apply Online

• Please click here to fill out the application by September 24, 2011.
• Mail-in applications: click here to download (.pdf) or click here to download (.doc).
  *Note: Applicants with Repertoire consisting of more than four movements, please use the .pdf or .doc forms listed above.  Thank you.
  

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2012 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/

Past Winners

2011 WAMSO YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS

FIRST PRIZE:  .................................Robin Scott, 24, violin, New England Conservatory, Boston

SECOND PRIZE:  .................................................Joseph Peters, 24, oboe, Yale School of Music

THIRD PRIZE:  .............................................Ansel Norris, 21, trumpet, Northwestern University

Past Winners (archives)