The Rockford Symphony Orchestra invites young musicians up to 21 years of age to compete in this annual competition.
Cash prizes are awarded for the top three competitors and the first prize winner is expected to perform with the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra at its spring performance on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Registration for the 2023/24 Competition is full! Thank you for your interest!
2023 Competition Information
Date:
Saturday, October 7, 2023 Afternoon (individual time slots will be assigned after registration is closed)
Location:
The Music Academy in Rockford
226 S 2nd St, Rockford, IL 61104
Entry Fee: $40
1st Prize
$350 and appearance as soloist with the RSYO on their Spring Concert
2nd Prize
$250
3rd Prize
$150
Competition Guidelines:
Entries will be accepted in Piano, Strings, Voice, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion.
For the purpose of the audition, the competition piece should not exceed 10 minutes (excerpts acceptable) and must be appropriate to perform with a youth orchestra, such as a movement from a concerto or an aria for voice. The RSYO reserves the right to determine suitability and may contact the applicant if their piece is deemed unsuitable for any reason. The final performance piece may be up to 15 minutes.
The competition piece does not need to be memorized.
The applicant is responsible for obtaining their own accompanist.
The applicant must bring three copies of their music for the judges.
An entry fee must accompany the application.
Past Winners
2023
Selina Wen, piano
Camille Saint-Saëns, Piano Concerto No. 2
2022
Sofia Radovic, violin
Sergei Prokofiev, Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor
Zoe Hart, flute
W.A. Mozart, Concerto No. 2 in D major
2021
2020
Elena Stavropoulos, piano
Edvard Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor
2019
Claire Arias-Kim, violin
Antonin Dvořák, Concerto in A minor
2018
Kodai Speich, piano
Robert Schumann, Piano Concerto
2017
Annaliesa Caswell, violin
Edward Lalo - Symphonie Espagnol, Op. 64
Anna Stenzel, violin
Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
2016
Margaret O'Malley, violin
Max Bruch - Concerto No. 1 in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra
2015
Sofiya Kyrylyuk, violin
Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
2014
2013
Kristiana McCombs, cello
Dmitri Kabalevsky - Cello Concerto No. 1
2012
Joanna Nerius, violin
Felix Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor
2010/11
Hannah Bingham, violin
Felix Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto, Op. 64
2009
Genevieve Smelser, violin
Edward Lalo - Symphonie Espagnol, Op. 64
2008
Colette Metras, French horn
Camille Saint-Saëns - Morceau de Concert
Sam Battista, violin
Samuel Barber - Concerto for Violin, Op. 14; Allegro molto, moderato
2007
Kyle Krause, piano
Felix Mendelssohn - Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor
2006
2005
Hellen Weberpal, cello
Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85