• • The Competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate Wesleyan students, playing any musical instrument in a piece that can be accompanied by a string, chamber, or symphony orchestra.  
  • Up to three soloists/groups of soloists will be selected to be featured in a public performance with Wesleyan University Orchestra at the end of the semester. 
  • Winners will be selected in three categories: strings, woodwinds/brass/voice, and percussion/keyboard. No category will have more than one winner. Not awarding any distinctions in one of the categories in an option. 
  • Graduate students can win the competition one time over the course of their career at Wesleyan; undergraduate students can win the competition twice, once as lowerclassmen (frosh/sophomore), and the second time as upperclassmen (junior/senior). 
  • Repertoire: a movement (movements) of a concerto, a concert aria, a concert piece, a song from a musical, etc. All performance materials, including scores and orchestra parts, must be in public domain or available for purchase in the United States. This year, the Orchestra will not be able to accommodate any requests for copyrighted (rental) music. Both original compositions and published transcriptions and/or arrangements are acceptable. 
  • Not more than 15 minutes of music. No set minimum duration. 
  • Memorization is not required. 
  • All participants are strongly encouraged to enroll in the private lessons program.  
  • For performers of double/triple concertos, at least one of the soloists is encouraged to take lessons, with an agreement that the teacher will be able to devote lesson time to coach all soloists involved in that performance.  
  • In case the soloist plays an instrument for which no private lessons are offered on Wesleyan campus, coaching arrangements will be made with ensemble instructors or other faculty members in the music department.  
  • Participants are welcome to work with their own accompanists. If a participant is unable to secure their own accompanist, the music department will provide them with one/two hours (depending on the complexity of the piece) of rehearsal time with a professional collaborator prior to the competition. 
  • All participants must be available – or be ready to become available – on Monday nights after Spring Break, 6:30-9:00pm, for rehearsals with the orchestra.  

   

  SCHEDULE 

  • Application deadline is Friday, February 9th 2024. 
  • Competition: Wednesday, March 6th 2024 in Crowell Concert Hall (time TBD, but after 4:30pm) 
  • Results will be announced by Friday, March 8th 2024. 
  • Concert Performance for the Winner(s): Friday, May 3rd 2024; dress rehearsal at 5:00pm, performance at 8:00pm, Crowell Concert Hall. 
  • Jury: TBA 

Click here for the 2024 Application

Click here to print out the 2024 Concerto Competition Regulations