2009-2010 “STARS OF TOMORROW” CONCERTO COMPETITION

Rules and Regulations

Eligibility

• All applicants must be aged 18 and under as of October 1, 2010.
• All applicants must reside, or attend a school, in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.
• All applicants must provide proof of age and residency or school attendance with their application.
• All applicants must submit the application fee.
• The competition is open to any orchestral instrument falling under the following categories; strings, winds, percussion, and piano.

Guidelines

The competition takes place in three rounds. The preliminary round is by recording only.  Selected applicants from each instrumental category will be invited to participate in a live, semi-final round on February 27, 2010.  The top competitor from each instrumental category will be selected as a finalist and will be invited to perform live with the WSO on April 11, 2010 at the Presbyterian Church of Westfield, NJ, to compete for the grand prize.  Following the finalists’ performances, the Maestro, a panel of judges and the audience will determine the grand prize winner and prizes will be awarded at the end of the concert. 

Preliminary Round

• Applicants must submit an application form, $45 fee and recording, postmarked by February 1, 2010 .
• Recordings can be on either cassette tape or CD.
• Applicants must submit an unedited recording demonstrating a work from the classical, romantic or modern era, of no longer than 20 minutes.

Semi-Final Round

• Selected applicants from the preliminary round from each will be invited to attend a live, semi final audition on February 27, 2010 in New York City.    
• Competitor must play a fifteen minute section from the concerto movement intended to be played at the finale.

 Grand Finale

• The top competitor from each instrumental category from the semi-final round will be invited to play live with the WSO on April 11,2010 at the Presbyterian Church of Westfield for the Grande Finale concert and compete for the grand prize.
• Cash prizes will be as follows: grand prize winner- $3,000; semi-final winners from each instrumental category- $500. The audition committee may award Honorable Mentions to select applicants from the semi-final round.  Applicants who receive this award will receive mention at the April 11, 2010 concert, and will be awarded a pair of complementary tickets to a WSO subscription concert of their choice and a Certificate of Accomplishment.
• Rehearsals for the Grand Finale are currently scheduled for Friday, April 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm, and from 2:30 pm-5:00 pm.  Applicants must make themselves available during these times.  These dates and times are subject to change.

2009-2010 STARS OF TOMORROW CONCERTO COMPETITION

Policies

1. All applications must be completed and postmarked by February 1, 2010. 
2. It will not be possible for the WSO to return recordings.
3. Application fees are non-refundable.
4. For auditions, rehearsals and performances, applicants must provide their own instruments at their own expense, with the exception of the piano.
5. All Applicants concerto selections will be reviewed by the WSO for suitability of orchestration for the WSO on the night of performance.  The WSO will notify any applicant of the lack of suitability of the applicant’s concerto selection within 14 days of the application deadline.  WSO reserves the right to disapprove concerto selection of any applicant.  In such event, the applicant will be provided with the opportunity to select a different concerto.  In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the applicant and the WSO as to the suitability of the concerto for the orchestra, the applicant may withdraw the application and WSO will reimburse the application fee.
6. The semi-final auditions will be conducted without a screen, and in view of the judges’ panel.
7. Applicants selected for the semi-final auditions are to provide three copies of the music being performed for the jury at the time of the audition. 
8. Applicants must provide their own accompanist at their own expense. The WSO is able to provide an accompanist for a fee with sufficient advance notification.
9. The decisions of the audition committee are final.  Neither the WSO nor the judges can enter into any correspondence, written or oral, about the audition or competition results.
10. The scheduling of the grand finale rehearsals and performance is at the sole discretion of the Music Director.                                                                   
11. Rehearsal and concert dates and times may be subject to change.
12. Applicants may be required to give interviews and be photographed at any stage during the competition.  Interviews and performances may be recorded for possible use on radio or television and on other media outlets for non-commercial use.  By entering into the competition, applicants consent to do any promotional interviews and for photos to be used for the purposes of publicizing the competition and the Westfield Symphony Orchestra.
13. Transportation to and from auditions, rehearsals and/or performances is the responsibility of the applicant.
14. WSO reserves the right to preclude any instrumental category winner from performing with the WSO on April 11, 2010.

Click here for application