Huntsville Symphony Orchestra

Education & Community

Young Artist Auditions

The Fortieth annual Young Artist Auditions will be held on January 8 and 9, 2011, at Roberts Recital Hall on the UAH campus.

Click here to meet the last year's winners.

Important Note

Due to sharply increased music performance costs, all applicants and their teachers MUST review repertoire selections with the HSO.

Music rental fees may be incurred by those selected to perform with the HSO.

Please call the HSO librarian at 256-539-4818 as soon as possible.

Purpose

The HSO Young Artist Auditions provide young musicians an opportunity to perform as soloists with a professional symphony orchestra and give recognition to these dedicated young musicians for their talent and accomplishments.

2010-2011 Dates

Friday, December 3, 2010, 5 p.m.—Application Deadline
Saturday, January 8, 2011, by appointment, Roberts Hall, UAH—Young Artist Auditions. These are CLOSED auditions.
Sunday, January 9, 2011, TBA by appointment, Roberts Hall, UAH—Winners' Recital, open to the public..
Wednesday, February 23, Thursday, February 24, Friday, February 25, and Saturday, February 26, 2011—Rehearsal and Young People's and Family Concerts

Applications

Click here to download an application (Acrobat Reader required). Applications are also available in the HSO offices or by calling 539-4818.
Click here to register online and submit credit card payment using our secure server.
Completed applications must be received in the HSO office no later than 5 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2010.
Each application must include 1) a payment for $40 (credit cards accepted online; checks made payable to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association) and 2) a brief bio to be used for publicity. These items should be submitted online or mailed to:

HSO Young Artist Auditions
Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association
P.O. Box 2400
Huntsville, Alabama 35804

Eligibility
Overall winners of the Young Artists Auditions selected to solo with the HSO are not eligible to compete in the auditions on ANY instrument during the season immediately following their selection.

Any student through twelfth grade in ONE of the following categories is eligible to compete:

A resident of one of the following counties: Alabama: Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Winston. Tennessee: Giles, Franklin, Lincoln.
A member of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, or Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
A son, daughter, or ward of a member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
A student of a music teacher residing in Madison County, Alabama.
A student of a member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

Adjudication

Judges will be drawn from prominent regional musicians.
Contestants will be judged on degree of difficulty, tone, rhythm, style, execution, memory, and musicianship.
Adjudicators reserve the right to chose more than one winner or not select a winner.
Contact with judges is not allowed by participant, parent or teacher. Students will be disqualified if any such contact is made.
Participants will receive comment sheets by mail.

Auditions/Selection

Auditions will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Roberts Hall on the UAH campus. These auditions are CLOSED to the public.
Contestants will be notified of their audition times.
All applicants must be available for the Winner Recital on Sunday, January 9, 2011 (open to the public) and the Young People's and Family Concert Series February 23-26, 2011.
Finalists will compete in the Winners' Recital for the opportunity to play with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra at the Young People's and/or Family Concert Series. Performers' schedules are determined at the discretion of the HSO.

Repertoire

Due to sharply increased music performance costs, all applicants and their teachers MUST review repertoire selections with the HSO.
Please call the HSO librarian at 256-539-4818 as soon as possible.
Music rental fees may be incurred by those selected to perform with the HSO. Please review the repertoire list below. Selections marked with an asterisk may incur rental fees.
Each contestant is to perform one movement of a concerto or long form piece with orchestral accompaniment from the list of approved works found below.
To qualify, selected repertoire must be an original composition for solo instrument with orchestral accompaniment. Ensembles and arrangements do not qualify.
Duration of repertoire selection must not exceed ten (10) minutes.
Selections must be performed from memory.

The performer must provide an accompanist to perform the orchestral part of the audition.

Each contestant must provide one high-quality copy and two original copies of his/her music to the judges (total two copies). If the contestant fails to do so, he/she will be disqualified.

Awards

Finalists will play at the Winners' Recital and will also receive a cash prize. The Winners' Recital will be held at Roberts Hall, UAH and is open to the public.

Overall winner(s) will solo with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra during the Young People's and Family Concert Series and will receive an additional cash prize.

List of Approved Repertoire
Works marked by an asterisk (*) may incur rental fees.

Violin

Viola

Cello

Bass

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet

Bassoon

French Horn

Trumpet

Trombone

Tuba

Harp

Percussion

Piano