The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra sponsors an annual competition among the best music students in the area. Students work with their teachers to select and prepare a solo piece, then perform it for members of the BSO. We then award the top performers a scholarship and arrange for them to play their chosen piece as a soloist with the BSO during our regular concert season. Violinist Joshua Bell was one of our first winners!
Check out the 2024 winner winner Catelijne Hunt, violin, who will play Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens with the BSO in March 2025.
Our January 2025 winner, Solar Manley, will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Mvt 1: Molto allegro con fuoco with the BSO in October 2025
BSO Youth Concerto Competition Information
We are changing the timeline of our competition. The next round of auditions will be October 2025 so that the winner can have a change to perform with the BSO during our March 2026 concert.
Applications and auditions will be in October 2025. Exact dates and location will be announced by August 2025.
Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict.
Apply here: 2025 BSO YCC Application – coming soon
General BSO YCC Rules of Participation
October 2025 Rules of Participation
Eligibility:
1. Entrants can include any instrumental musician up to high school graduates of Spring 2026, and must be under 20 years old at time of audition
2. The competition is open to Indiana residents of Monroe, Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Morgan, or Owen counties.
3. Previous BSO Youth Concerto Competition winners are not eligible to compete.
Application
1. This application is due in October 2025. Date will be announced by August.
Audition:
1. The competition time and location will be announced by August.
2. Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict. Send a link to a file or video on Google Drive, Dropbox, or Youtube. Make sure settings allow for anybody with the link to be able to view it. Also send a PDF of the music for the judges to follow along. Send all info to ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
3. There may be two in-person rounds: a preliminary and final round. Both may be recorded for judging purposes.
4. Applicants will perform a piece of music that has an orchestral accompaniment, not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
5. An accompianist will not be provided, but a piano will be available if you want to bring your own accompianist. A 2nd piano (professional electronic keyboard) will be available for piano concertos
6. Entrants must provide five copies of their musical score for the judges.
Judging/winnings:
1. The results of the competition will be announced by the end of February 2025. All entrants will receive a phone call from the BSO Music Director after a decision is confirmed, and all entrants will receive notes from the judges. All decisions by the judges are final. The panel of judges includes the BSO Music Director Ryo Hasegawa, and other musicians of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
2. The BSO Youth Concerto Competition winner will receive a $300 cash prize. The Runner-up will receive a $200 cash prize. The judges reserve the right not to award a winner or runner-up.
3. The winner and runner up may be offered the opportunity to perform live with the orchestra during the 2025-2026 season.
Please contact us if you have any questions, need help choosing appropriate music, or need any other support. We will make every effort possible to assist you.
ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
812-369-4212
Apply here: 2025 BSO YCC Application – coming soon
Many thanks to our corporate sponsor, Baird Private Wealth Management for making this event possible!
Please contact us at ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com for more information on the BSO Youth Concerto Competition, or any of or other education and outreach programs.