Eligibility

The 2024 YMC Competition event has concluded. Please watch this space in December for information about the 2025 YMC Competition.

The Competition will have two divisions: a Senior Division and a Junior Division. The Junior Division is open to all non-professional music students who reside in the state of Arizona and who are in grades 6 through 8 on the dates of competition. The Senior Division for the 2024 YMC will be open only to current members of PYSO grades 9-12 at the time of the application deadline. The music student must be recommended by his/her private teacher, which is confirmed by his/her signature on the 2024 YMC Rules and Regulations document. Applicants must complete both the online application and the YMC Rules and Regulations signature page (in the confirmation email once you have submitted the application).

For questions, visit our Contact page and choose “Competitions” to send a message.

Application and Fee Deadline

The 2024 YMC Competition event has concluded. Please watch this space in December for information about the 2025 YMC Competition.

The $90 non-refundable fee for Senior Division and $65 non-refundable fee for Junior Division and application must be completed online by December 9, 2023. After December 9, applications will be $115 for Senior Division and $90 for Junior Division. No applications will be accepted after 11:59 pm on December 19, 2023.

Rules and details subject to change.

Application Closed

64th ANNUAL YOUNG MUSICIANS CONCERTO COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

Application Closed

The 2024 YMC Competition event has concluded. Please watch this space in December for information about the 2025 YMC Competition.

UPLOAD SIGNED FORMS by DECEMBER 19, 2023

Junior Division

Senior Division

IMPORTANT DATES

Important Dates: Senior Division

  • First Round of the competition will be held in person on Saturday, January 6, 2024 (in person).
    • Location: Mesa Community College, Performing Arts Center. 1520 South Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202.
    • Time: TBD – Please hold availability for the full day.
      * Time frames will be sent closer to the date. The full span of day for our judges will be 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Time slots will be sent out December 21, 2023. Factors included in scheduling: Accompanists working with multiple musicians, musicians auditioning on multiple instruments, unavoidable time conflicts. If a musician has a time conflict, it must be identified at the time of application.
  • Finalists will be directly notified of their advancement by the end of the day on January 6, 2024. A general announcement of finalists will also be made by the end of the day on Saturday, January 6, 2024 via email.
  • Finals will be held in person on January 7, 2024.

Important Dates: Junior Division

  • Competition will be held in person on Saturday, January 6, 2024 (in person).
    • Location: Mesa Community College, Performing Arts Center. 1520 South Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202.
    • Time: TBD – Please hold availability for the full day.
      * Time frames will be sent closer to the date. The full span of day for our judges will be 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Time slots will be sent out December 21, 2023. Factors included in scheduling: Accompanists working with multiple musicians, musicians auditioning on multiple instruments, unavoidable time conflicts. If a musician has a time conflict, it must be identified at the time of application.
    • Winners will be notified at the Award Ceremony on Sunday January 7, 2024, at the Mesa community College Performing Arts Center as well as via email

For Both Divisions: 

Application Open: November 3, 2023

Application Due: December 9, 2023 (by 11:59 pm MST)

Late Application Due: December 19, 2023 (by 11:59 pm MST)

Upload Signed Rules and Regulations Documents: By end of the day December 19, 2023.

Main Contact:

Patrick Murphy, Operations Manager

Complete the Contact form on our Contact page and choose “Competitions”.

The 2024 YMC Competition event has concluded. Please watch this space in December for information about the 2025 YMC Competition.

 

ELIGIBILITY

The Competition will have two divisions: a Senior Division and a Junior Division. The Junior Division is open to all non-professional music students who reside in the state of Arizona and who are in grades 6 through 8 on the dates of competition. The Senior Division for the 2024 YMC will be open only to current members of PYSO grades 9-12 at the time of the application deadline. The music student must be recommended by his/her private teacher, which is confirmed by his/her signature on the Rules and Regulations document sent in your email confirmation once you submit your application.

APPLICATION and FEE DEADLINE

The $90 non-refundable fee for Senior Division and $65 non-refundable fee for Junior Division and application must be completed online by December 9, 2023 (11:59 PM MST). After December 9, applications will be $115 for Senior Division and $90 for Junior Division. No applications will be accepted after 11:59 pm on December 19, 2023. Upload the Rules and Regulations document by December 19, 2023.

Rules and details subject to change.

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS
  1. Each contestant shall be required to perform one movement of a standard concerto, or a composition for solo instrument and orchestra from memory.
  2. Contestants in the Junior and Senior Divisions may select from the Repertoire List. https://pysorchestras.org/ymc/repertoire/ Contestants may select a concerto or solo with available orchestral accompaniment not on the list, but only with the recommendation of his/her private teacher and only with approval by PYSO’s Artistic Director.
  3. To request a concerto not on the repertoire list please complete the Repertoire Request Form by December 15, 2023. PYSO reserves the right to deny any requests made after this date.
  4. No student shall perform a composition which he/she performed in any previous Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras Young Musicians Competition.
  5. An accompanist is required for each division and round of the competition. Each contestant must provide his/her own accompanist. Percussionists are exempt from having an accompanist if their piece does not have an orchestral accompaniment. If this is the case, they will not be eligible to perform with The Phoenix Symphony.
  6. Maximum playing time will be ten (10) minutes and must include the cadenza (if applicable). It is highly recommended you consult your private teacher on any necessary cuts. For the final round on Sunday, January 7, 2024 contestants will be stopped at ten (10) minutes, without exception.
  7. Any change(s) to a contestant’s repertoire must be reported to the Operations Manager by December 19, 2023. Complete the Contact form on our Contact page and choose “Competitions”.
  8. Piano contestants will be given one minute to become familiar with the piano on stage prior to beginning their audition. Junior Division and existing PYSO Students competing in Senior division are the only applicants able to compete on piano.
  9. For the finals, contestants will be scheduled in a manner that will allow them a maximum of 30 minutes of warm-up time prior to performing.
  10. For the Junior Division and Senior Division first round, each contestant must provide three (3) hard copies of their music (with all the cuts clearly indicated) for the judge’s consideration.
  11. For the finals (Senior Division Only), contestants must provide three (3) copies of the solo to be performed for the judges’ 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. 
AWARDS

JUNIOR DIVISION – GRADES 6 THROUGH 8

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


SENIOR DIVISION – GRADES 9 THROUGH 12

Up to twelve finalists will be selected to perform in the final round on Sunday January 7, 2024. The top two winners will receive the opportunity to perform their concerto with The Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall on February 7, 2024. In order to perform with The Phoenix Symphony, the winner must be available for all scheduled rehearsals:

  • February 3 – 1:00pm to 3:30pm
  • February 6 – 6:30pm to 9:00pm

All rehearsal and performance dates / times are subject to change.

All finalists will win a scholarship to a camp or festival in order of their final ranking.* For additional information, please see Scholarship Rules. The Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras require the top five finalists to perform at the Competition Winners Luncheon – Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 11:30 AM, at the Paradise Valley Country Club.

*For a winner to receive the summer scholarship they must remain in good standing as a member of PYSO through the end of the 2023-2024 season.

*All Rule and Regulation details subject to change with or without notice.

Application Closed

An accompanist is required for each division and round of the competition. Each contestant must provide his/her own accompanist. Percussionists are exempt from having an accompanist if their piece does not have an orchestral accompaniment. If this is the case, they will not be eligible to perform with The Phoenix Symphony.

A list of potentially available accompanists for competitors in the Young Musicians Competition conducted by the Phoenix Youth Symphony is provided as a public service to those inquiring. The Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras does not endorse or recommend any particular accompanist or make any representation as to their abilities or affordability for this purpose.  Please contact the Operations Manager if you desire the list. Visit our Contact page and choose “Competitions”.

* Rules and details subject to change.