Young Artist Competition

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra and the Black Hills Symphony League are pleased to announce the:

33rd Annual Young Artist Competition
Saturday January 28, 2012

Deadline for applications, November 28, 2011

Competition is open to high school instrumentalists in grades 9 through 12 and living within a 180-mile radius of Rapid City. Junior division will be students in 9th or 10th grades and senior division will be open to those in 11th and 12th grades. Applicants must be recommended by their school music director or private music teacher. Entrants may only compete on one instrument per competition.

Competition will be open to the public. Symphony season ticket holders receive free admission. Non season ticket holder adults $5, students free.

YAC 2012 Info Sheet
YAC 2012 Junior Division Application
YAC 2012 Senior Division Application

Questions? Please call Karen Black – (605) 721.5859 or Toni Brumbaugh – (605) 718.5261, Young Artist Committee Co-chairs

Awards

The winner from the senior division will play his/her solo with the BHSO on March 3, 2012 and receive a cash award of $500. The second place winner in the senior division will receive $300. The first place winner in the junior division will receive $200. The second place winner in the junior division will receive $100. The second place winner of the senior division and both the first and second place winners of the junior division will play for the spring Symphony League Tea (date to be determined). An honorable mention may be awarded at the judges’ discretion. There will be no monetary award for this distinction. All competitors will receive an audio recording of their competition performance.

If, due to extreme circumstances, the winner is unable to perform with the orchestra on March 3, 2012 concert, the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra conductor may choose a replacement.

Questions?

Please call Karen Black – (605) 721.5859 or Toni Brumbaugh – (605) 718.5261, Young Artist Committee Co-chairs.

Rules

•  The first place winner of the senior division may not compete again on the same instrument but may compete another year on a different instrument. Junior division winners may compete the second year on the same instrument.
• The competition will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church located at 629 Kansas City Street, Rapid City, South Dakota.
• Applicants are to provide their own accompanist and three copies of their music for the judges. Applicants must bring the three copies to the Friday rehearsal or they will not be allowed to perform on Saturday.
• Solos must be memorized. Senior division solos must have published orchestral accompaniment. The conductor must verify this as indicated on the application (605-718-3867). The solo must be played in its entirety except for the standard cuts. All cuts must be approved by the conductor at time of application. The following pieces may not be submitted for this competition: Violin Concerto No. 3 in b minor, Op. 61 by Camille Saint-Saens, and Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor, OP. 26 by Max Bruch.
• Junior division solos must have piano accompaniment. Repertoire with orchestral accompaniment is not required in the junior division.
• A qualified, impartial judge (who does not have a student applying for the competition) will adjudicate the preliminary round. The top 10 applicants in each division will proceed to the competition on January 28, 2012. The CDs will be returned to musicians at their rehearsal time the day before the competition. All applicants will be notified as to the status of their application by December 16, 2011.
• All participants will be limited to a specified time to rehearse with their accompanist at First United Methodist Church on the day before the competition. They will not be allowed to rehearse in the church on Friday, January 27, 2012 or Saturday, January 28, 2012, except during the time scheduled for them. There will be specified warm-up rooms on the day of the competition.
• All decisions of the judges are final. Judges have the authority to declare no winner. Competitors will receive written comments from the judges. Winners will be announced at the completion of the competition.