YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
Held annually each spring
The 2024 Young Artist String Competition will be held at 12:00 noon on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at The University of St. Thomas.
The Minnesota Sinfonia’s Young Artist Competition (YAC) is held each spring and is an outlet for young talented string players to play in front of and receive quality feedback from Sinfonia judges. The Senior Division winner receives the All Strings Attached cash prize of $500 and a solo at the Sinfonia’s Youth Outreach Week season-ending grand finale at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. The Junior Division winner is awarded a solo piece accompanied by the Sinfonia at its annual holiday concert.
The competition is designed to be friendly and challenging whereby participants receive instruction from judges – who are, in fact, Sinfonia musicians – and its conductor. The feedback always includes compliments on the many good aspects of the performances, as well as constructive suggestions of things to improve technique and musicianship. Over the years, many of the contestants have gone on to receive undergraduate and graduate music degrees, with several embarking on professional music careers. During the past twenty years of the competition, a few winners actually have come back to play in the Sinfonia!
2024 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2024
To register online, click here.
To download a registration form that can be printed and completed by hand, click here.
For both divisions, there is a non-refundable $25.00 registration fee. Scholarships to reduce or eliminate the fee are available. Call us for details at (612) 871-1701.
ENTRY INFORMATION
- Residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin ONLY.
- Competition NOT open to the public.
- Previous winners not allowed to win the same division a second time.
- Click here for Senior Division repertoire.
- Up to age 14, all repertoire is acceptable.
PRIZES
- Junior Division winner: solo appearance with the Minnesota Sinfonia
- Senior Division winner: solo appearance with the Minnesota Sinfonia AND All Strings Attached $500 cash prize
