The Young Artist Competition is held annually to promote and encourage talented musicians who reside in the Mid-Columbia region. Young musicians may compete in one of nine divisions. A jury of regional professional musicians evaluates the competitors. Up to two musicians are selected to perform with the Mid-Columbia Symphony at a concert. For information about the Young Artist Competition, contact the Symphony office at (509) 943-6602.

Applying to Compete

• Application form: print form and mail with $50 fee to the Mid-Columbia Symphony office at P.O. Box 606, Richland, WA 99352 by January 1, 2009. Forms are also available from the Mid-Columbia Symphony office, (509) 943-6602. Registration will be approved when the orchestral rental music cost is confirmed.
• Application deadline: January 1, 2009. Note: We are limited to about 30 entrants. If we receive more applications than we can schedule, earlier applications will receive precedence. A standby list will be used in case of cancellations. The $50 fee will be returned if a late registration must be cancelled.
• Application fee: $50 (To apply for one of two Mildred Finney Scholarships to be awarded this year to pay for applications, call 943-6602.)
• Approval. The Concert Manager or Orchestra President must approve music before the final application of registration. The cost of the orchestral rental of the music for the overall winner to perform at the concert must not exceed $150.
• Eligibility, Location: Instrumental students through grade 12 who reside in the Mid-Columbia area of Washington and Oregon. This area includes the Washington counties of Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, and Yakima and the Oregon counties of Umatilla and Morrow -- in locations of up to approximately one hour travel time one way.
• Past Winners: Overall winners who have performed with the Symphony are ineligible to win in the same division again, but they may apply with a different instrument or age category. Previous division winners who have not performed with the Symphony may enter again in the same division.

  Divisions

Primary
• Piano: age 6 to 11 as of January 24, 2009
• String: age 6 to 11 as of January 24, 2009
• Other instrument: age 6 to 11 as of January 24, 2009

Intermediate
• Piano: age 11 after January 24, 2009 to age 13 as of or before January 24, 2009
• String: age 11 after January 19, 2008 to age 13 as of or before January 24, 2009
• Intermediate, other instrument: age 11 after January 24, 2009 to age 14 as of or before January 24, 2009

Senior
• Piano: age 14 to high school graduation, 2009
• String: age 14 to high school graduation, 2009
• Other instrument: age 14 to high school graduation, 2009

Repertory

• Performers should choose music from classical concert literature. Semi-classical and popular music are not appropriate.
• Students' teachers should make sure the music is available for the orchestra and realistic in terms of the present capacity of the Mid-Columbia Symphony. The rental fee for the orchestral music must not exceed $150. If it's more than $150, a sponsorship will be required to pay the difference.

Competition and Judging Procedure

• The competition is January 24, 2009, at Central United Protestant Church, 1124 Stevens, Richland, from 9 AM to 5 PM. The award ceremony is 7 PM that day.
• Each young artist has 12 minutes to perform. Movements may be abridged to fit the time limit for the competition.
• All music must be performed from memory.
• Music will be given to the judges at the competition: An orginal piece of the music played, with cuts noted, and two copies which will not be returned. The original piece will be returned to the performer.
• Judges will look for expressive ability, empathy of musical style, faithfulness to specific indications of the work (tempo, dynamics, phrasing), and technical security.
• Winners may be selected in each of the divisions, but the judges are not obligated to choose a winner in any division. Division winners, as well as two overall winners from different divisions, will be announced at the award ceremony. Division winners will be awarded $25 at the award ceremony, at 7 PM on the day of the competition. Judges will give performance notes to each young artist.
• The two overall winners will perform with the Symphony in the March 21, 2009 concert and will each be awarded an additional $100. All winners will be announced at the award ceremony or notified by mail if not in attendance.
• No recording (audio or visual) is allowed during competition or during the Symphony performance.

More Information

Mid-Columbia Symphony office: (509) 943-6602 or cmgr@midcolumbiasymphony.org.