The 52nd Annual Young Musicians Competition/Scholarship Auditions was held January 7 & 8, 2012. This Competition for gifted student musicians throughout Arizona was begun in 1960 by the Phoenix Symphony Guild. Through this event, PYS awards five Junior and up to fifteen Senior Division scholarships to renowned music camps and festivals nationwide. For over twenty years the Grand Prize Winner has performed with The Phoenix Symphony. In 1997, through the efforts of Clotilde Otranto, then Conductor of the Youth Orchestra and Associate Director of the Phoenix Symphony, a second prize was added to let a member of the Orchestral Training Program with the highest score also perform with The Phoenix Symphony.

PHOENIX YOUTH SYMPHONY’S 52nd ANNUAL YOUNG MUSICIANS COMPETITION CONCERTO COMPETITION

Rules and Regulations

DATE Saturday, January 7, 2012
PLACE Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona

Eligibility

The Competition is open to all nonprofessional music students who reside in and attend school in the state of Arizona and who are in grades 6 – 12 on the dates of competition.  The music student must also be recommended by his/her private teacher, which is confirmed by his/her signature on the application.

Application Deadline

The $40 non-refundable fee and application must be postmarked by Wednesday, November 2, 2011.  Applications postmarked after November 2^nd will require a $25.00 late fee.  Applications postmarked after November 9, 2011 will NOT be accepted.  Your application WILL NOT be processed unless the application is complete.  Incomplete or illegible applications will be returned for completion and resubmitted applications must follow above deadlines.  Your scheduled performance time will be mailed by December 31, 2011.

Requirements

1. Each contestant shall be required to perform FROM MEMORY one movement of a standard concerto, or a composition for solo instrument and orchestra.

2. Contestants in the Junior Division may select from the Junior Repertoire or may also select from the Senior Repertoire, but only on recommendation of his/her private teacher.

3. The contestants in the Senior Division may select from the recommended Senior Repertoire list, or a solo with available orchestral accompaniment not on the list, only with prior approval by the Competition Director.  NOTE: To ensure availability, it is very important that the Competition Director, Sandra Rutledge (602-882-0401), be notified immediately if the solo selection chosen is not from the recommended Senior Repertoire list.  Senior Contestants have an option to compete in the Scholarship Auditions, but must designate their desire to do so at the time of application.

4. No student shall perform a composition which he/she performed in any previous Phoenix Youth Symphony Young Musicians Competition.  Any composition performed in a Phoenix Youth Symphony Young Musicians Competition may be selected by the same student for their contrasting piece for the Scholarship Auditions in subsequent years.

5. Each contestant must provide his/her own accompanist.  An accompanist is required for the competition, except for percussionist pieces that do not have an accompanist part.  If your accompanist can only play at certain times, you will need to advise us of the time restrictions at the time of application submission.  We may or may not be able to accommodate your accompanist’s request.  You must notify us if there is a change of accompanist. Note:Accompanists will be limited to 20, so only the first 20 complete and legible applications received for that accompanist will be accepted.  Additional applications for that accompanist will be returned and will need to be resubmitted before the deadline with a different accompanist listed.  Get your applications in early to ensure that you get the accompanist you want.

6. Maximum playing time will be ten minutes and must include the cadenza.  Cuts may be necessary and this should be done at the discretion of the contestant’s teacher.  Contestants will be stopped after 10 minutes and 30 seconds, without exception. Contestants who play longer than 10 minutes, 30 seconds may be disqualified.  Adjust your time to 10 minutes if you go onto the Scholarship Auditions.

7. No changes can be made to repertoire after November 23, 2011, and any changes must be reported to Sandy Rutledge at 602-882-0401.

8. Piano contestants will be allowed to play one scale only on the competition piano prior to playing the composition selection. Percussion contestants will be allowed to check their equipment prior to playing their piece.

9. Each contestant will be allowed 10 minutes in a practice room immediately before the contestant’s scheduled performance time.  Brass and woodwind contestants will be allowed 25 minutes.

10. Three originals, or three copies of the solo to be performed must be provided by the contestant for the judge’s use.  The copies must not contain any marks identifying the contestant or teacher.  The copies must have all measures numbered and any cuts clearly marked.

11. All copies will be destroyed after the competition.

Awards Convocation

Certificates of Merit will be presented to all junior and senior contestants.   All Junior and Senior Division winners will be announced and all awards presented at the end of each category/division (in the lobby at approximately one hour after the last competitor finishes).  THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES WILL BE FINAL!  Note: The judges reserve the right to not present an award in any category per their discretion.

Junior Division – Grades 6 through 8

The first place winner in each category (upper strings, lower strings, woodwinds, brass/percussion, and piano) will receive a $500 cash prize.

Senior Division – Grades 9 through 12

The winners of each category (upper strings, lower strings, woodwinds, brass/percussion, and piano) will be presented an award and will be eligible to enter the Scholarship Auditions on Sunday IF they have completed both applications on page 5 at the time of submission.  For additional information, please see page 4 of this brochure.  The Phoenix Youth Symphony requires first place winners to perform at the Competition Winners Luncheon on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.