Biennial Concerto Competition

The University of Chicago Concerto Competition is held every second year, during the winter quarter. The next competition will be held in February 2010.  The exact audition date will be announced at the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Auditions

Eligibility:
Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • a. currently registered as a full-time or a part-time student at the University of Chicago;
  • b. a faculty member or a staff member in a Department other than the Department of Music;
  • c. currently a member of a Department of Music performance organization.
  • Previous U of C Concerto Competition winners are ineligible to compete

Repertoire:
Repertoire chosen for the 2010 Concerto Competition must be suitable for performance with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, or University Wind Ensemble in terms of the instrumentation requirements and the difficulty of the accompaniment. The accompaniment parts must be currently available from some library, publisher, or other lending source. All repertoire selections are subject to the approval of the judges before an audition will be scheduled. If you have any doubts about your chosen piece, be sure to contact Barbara Schubert before January 1, 2010. Both complete concertos and single movements are eligible for the audition.

Application:
A Concerto Competition application form, available early January in the Music Department Main Office (Goodspeed 309), must be submitted 10 days before the audition date.

Audition:
Concerto Competition Auditions will be held in February 2010 in Fulton Recital Hall. Auditions will be scheduled at 10-minute intervals; specific audition times will be arranged after the application deadline. Each auditionee may select which movement(s) or portions of movements s/he will perform at the audition; the selections should not exceed 8-10 minutes of music. All audition repertoire should be memorized.

Auditionees may provide their own accompanist, if they wish, or may utilize the services of the staff accompanist who will be present for these auditions. If using the staff accompanist, auditionees must submit a copy of their music along with their official concerto competition application form; a rehearsal with the staff accompanist will then be scheduled. Pianists may audition without an accompanist if they so desire; a second (accompanist) piano will be available for the 2010 Concerto Competition auditions only if requested in advance.

Judges:
The panel of judges for the 2010 Concerto Competition includes members of the Department of Music performance faculty and staff, and one guest artist to be announced.

The judges will provide follow-up comments for the auditionee(s), if desired.

Selection:
The judges reserve the right not to select any winner(s) in the 2010 Concerto Competition, or to select more than one winner in each instrumental/ensemble category. Winner(s) will be scheduled to perform with the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, or Wind Ensemble during Spring Quarter 2010, in a Concerto Showcase or regular program. Additional winners may be scheduled to perform with the ensembles during the subsequent season, at the discretion of the judges.

Concert:
Concerto Competition Winners will receive no financial compensation for their rehearsals, concerts, or broadcasts with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, or University Wind Ensemble. The winners’ names and biographies will be included in all Department of Music publicity for the relevant concerts. Winners will also receive a CD recording of their concerto performances.

Information:
For more information on the 2010 Concerto Competition, please contact Barbara Schubert, Director of Performance Programs, Goodspeed 403; (773) 702-7628; b-schubert@uchicago.edu.