Ottumwa symphony young artists' competition rules
Eligibility
  • For strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano, voice, harp and guitar.
  • Must be in high school (grades 9-12) and have not reached 19 years of age on the application deadline date.
  • Contestants must be a resident of Iowa.
  • Previous winners who have performed with the orchestra are not eligible to compete on the same instrument in successive years.
  • Contestants may audition in one medium (piano, voice, instrument)
Audition Requirements    
  • All contestants are expected to perform either a movement of a concerto or a composition for solo instrument/voice and orchestra.
  • Those auditioning are encouraged to perform from memory.
  • The use of piano accompaniment is required for all contestants. Each applicant is expected to provide their own accompanist. Please abbreviate lengthy tutti passages in the accompaniment.
  • Compositions must be no longer than 15 minutes.
  • One original score of each selection to be performed must be provided to the judges on the day of the competition. No photocopies are allowed.
  • All submissions must be received by February 4, 2022.
  • All contestants must attach an unedited audio file (mp3) recording of the contestant performing their audition piece. If more than 12 contestants enter, an audio preliminary round will be held using the recordings. Contestants will be notified on February 5 as to whether a preliminary round is being held.  
NOTES: 1. Because of the difficulty and cost of obtaining some orchestra parts, acceptability of your selection is at the discretion of the Ottumwa Symphony. 2. Entrants must be available on Friday evening May 6 for rehearsal, and Saturday, May 7 for rehearsal and concert. Other rehearsals may be arranged.
The Competition
  • Will be held Sunday, February 27, 2022, at Temple of Creative Arts, 529 E. Main St. Ottumwa, Iowa beginning at 1:30 PM.
  • Each contestant will receive their performance time by February 20, 2022.  A panel of judges will select the winner.
  • First Prize is $300 and a performance on the spring concert of the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra*
  • Second Prize is $200
  • 3rd Place is awarded $100.
Note: Decisions of the Ottumwa Symphony Young Artist Competition committee are final and as a stipulation of participation, applicants agree to abide by those decisions.
*Performance with the Orchestra will be at the discretion of the Conductor and the panel of judges.

2022 young artist competition downloads

Application
2021-2022_young_artist-lettertodirectors.pdf
File Size: 99 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Flyer
young-artist-flyer2022.pdf
File Size: 2259 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Young Artist ONline Application

    Student information

    Selection information

    Accompanist Information

    Audio File Upload
    All contestants must attach an unedited audio file (mp3) recording of the contestant performing their audition piece. If more than 12 contestants enter, an audio preliminary round will be held using the recordings. Contestants will be notified on February 5 as to whether a preliminary round is being held.
    Max file size: 20MB

    Parental Permission
    As legal parent or guardian of the above applicant, I give the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra permission for the applicant to participate in the Ottumwa Symphony Young Artist Competition and grant the Ottumwa Symphony permission to publish the applicant's name and image in news releases as well as the Symphony’s Facebook page and website. By entering this competition, I accept the rules and decisions of the Ottumwa Symphony Young Artist committee as final.