2026 Concerto Competition Guidelines

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 current faculty member or staff member in a Department other than the Music Department; 

c) currently an active member of a Department of Music performance ensemble or program. 

Please note that all musicians who plan to audition on a standard orchestral instrument must be active participants in a Music Department ensemble during the 2025-26 season.   

UChicago alumni who are active in a Performance Program ensemble or program during the 2025-26 season are eligible to compete. Instrumentalists, vocalists, and performers of non-Western instruments are all eligible to enter the competition, as long as they audition on a piece suitable for performance with a symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, or wind ensemble, and for which accompaniment is readily available. Previous UChicago Concerto Competition winners are ineligible to compete again. Finally, only in-person auditions will be considered for the 2026 Concerto Competition: no video submissions.

Repertoire chosen for the 2026 Concerto Competition must be suitable for performance with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, or University Wind Ensemble in terms of the scope of the instrumental requirements and the difficulty of the accompaniment. The accompaniment parts must be readily available from some library, publisher, or other lending source:  information about the publisher, edition, and/or source should be provided on the application form for any non-standard repertoire.  All repertoire selections are subject to the approval of the USO, UChO, and UWE directors before a performance would be scheduled.

Either single movements or full concertos are eligible for consideration, although an approximate duration of 20 minutes applies for performances targeted for Spring Quarter 2026. Those who wish to perform an entire concerto must audition with excerpts from at least two different movements, in the case of multi-movement works. Excerpts that demonstrate contrasting musical skills are recommended. 

Vocalists who are considering auditioning are advised to consult with their private teacher and/or with one of the ensemble directors about their repertoire selections. Works specifically composed for voice plus instrumental accompaniment are suitable, as are carefully curated opera excerpts or song cycles with instrumental accompaniment. Individual songs of very short duration (i.e., less than 8 minutes) are not suitable for this competition.   

If you have questions about your chosen piece, contact Barbara Schubert, Director of Performance Programs, at least two weeks before the application deadline: b-schubert@uchicago.edu

A completed Concerto Competition Application Form must be submitted by 1 pm on Friday, February 6, 2026. Applications will be available on our website by January 20, 2026.

Concerto Competition Auditions will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Fulton Recital Hall. Auditionees may select which movement(s) or portions of movements to perform at their audition;  musical selections should total approximately 8 to 12 minutes in length, unless otherwise requested by the auditionee. Auditions will be scheduled at 10- or 15-minute intervals, depending on the audition length chosen on the application form. Individual audition times will be confirmed following submission of the application form. 

Auditionees may provide their own accompanist, if they wish, or may utilize the services of the staff accompanist who is available for these auditions. If requesting the services of the staff accompanist, auditionees must upload a copy of the accompaniment music for their chosen work (with cuts clearly marked) by 1 pm on Thursday, February 5, along with their official Concerto Competition application form. A rehearsal with the staff accompanist will be confirmed following submission of the application form. 

Pianists are requested to audition without an accompanist for the 2026 Concerto Competition. If you have questions about this policy, please contact Barbara Schubert. 

Audition repertoire for the 2026 Concerto Competition should be memorized, in most cases. Again, if you have questions or concerns about this requirement, please contact Barbara Schubert. 

The panel of judges for the 2026 Concerto Competition includes: Barbara Schubert, Director  
of Performance Programs and Conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra; Matthew Sheppard, Conductor of the University Chamber Orchestra; Nicholas Carlson, Conductor of the University Wind Ensemble; and one guest artist to be announced. The judges will provide follow-up comments for the auditionee(s), if requested.

The judges reserve the right not to select any winner(s) in the 2026 Concerto Competition, or to select more than one winner in each ensemble category. Winner(s) will be scheduled to perform with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, or University Wind Ensemble during Spring Quarter 2026, on one of the regularly scheduled ensemble concert dates or on a Concerto Showcase concert planned for Saturday, April 25. Additional winners may be invited to perform with one or more of the Performance Program ensembles during the 2026-27 season, at the discretion of the judges. Results of the 2026 Concerto Competition will be announced by Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Concerto Competition Winners will receive no financial compensation for their rehearsals, concerts, or livestream 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. Winner(s) will also receive a recording of their concerto performance(s). 

For more information on the 2026 Concerto Competition, please contact Barbara Schubert, Director of Performance Programs, in Logan 217-B; Telephone: (773) 702-7628; Email: b-schubert@uchicago.edu