The Young Artist Competition is held annually to promote and encourage talented student musicians across the 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. 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 non-refundable $50 fee to the Mid-Columbia Symphony office at 1177 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99352 by January 1, 2010. Forms are also available from the Mid-Columbia Symphony office.
• Application deadline: Friday January 1, 2010
• Application fee: $50 (non-refundable)
• Eligibility: Instrumental students from age 6 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, Adams, Grant, Columbia, Klickitat, and Yakima and the Oregon counties of Umatilla and Morrow.
• 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 (to determine proper division, the competitor's age must be as of the date of the competition)

Primary: ages 6 to 11
• Piano
• String
• Other instrument (wind, brass, percussion)

Intermediate: ages 11-13
• Piano
• String
• Other instrument (wind, brass, percussion)

Senior: ages 14 to high school senior
• Piano
• String
• Other instrument (wind, brass, percussion)

Repertory

• Performers should choose music from classical concert literature.

Competition and Judging Procedure

• The competition will be held at Central United Protestant Church, 1124 Stevens in Richland.
• 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.
• Copies of the music should be provided to the judges at the competition: an orginal copy, with any notated cuts, and two photocopies.
• 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.
• The two overall winners will perform with the Mid-Columbia Symphony on their March 20, 2010 concert.
• Both division and overall winners will be awarded a monetary prize.
• No recording (audio or visual) is allowed during competition or during the subsequent Symphony performance.
• Attendance at the competition is free and open to the public.

More Information

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