The 2024 YCC
The Preston Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition commenced in 1988. The aim of the competition is to give young musicians the opportunity to play with a symphony orchestra under concert conditions.
- Key dates for the 2024 YCC are not finalised but will be available in early 2024
- Competition rules for 2024 are being reviewed and will also be available in early 2024
- Any queries should be directed to: ycc@prestonsymphony.org.au
Applications for 2024 are currently closed
Youth Concerto Competition rules 2023
Age Limit
The Competition is open to players of orchestral instruments and piano who are 19 or under on 1 July 2023.
Work
A complete work with orchestral accompaniment or selected movements may be submitted. Maximum duration should be about 15 minutes. For unusual works please check the availability of orchestral parts: if these cannot be obtained the orchestra reserves the right to request a change of work.
Applications (Applications are now Closed)
Applications for the 2023 competition opened on 24th April.
Applications closed on Tuesday 16th May at 5pm.
Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Secretary.
An audition fee of $10 will be charged on the evening of the audition, to defray the orchestra’s costs.
Previous winners and finalists’ lockout
In order to give as many young musicians as possible the chance to perform with the orchestra, finalists are not eligible to enter in the year following their concert participation; winners are not eligible to enter the following two competitions. This does not apply for entries with a second instrument.
Auditions
Entrants should prepare one or more sections of their selected work to demonstrate their potential as a performer.
All entrants are required to attend the audition.
Entrants should provide their own accompanists (assistance with names is available).
The audition will last about 7 minutes.
Auditions will take place during the evening of 24th May, 2023 at Bernie’s Music Land in Ringwood.
Finalists
At least 5 entrants will be selected to perform with the Preston Symphony Orchestra in the competition concert on 10th September 2023.
Rehearsals
Finalists will be required to rehearse with the orchestra on selected Tuesday evenings in the weeks before the concert. Each finalist will rehearse with the orchestra three times. The amount of rehearsal time for each finalist may vary to accommodate the complexity of the orchestral accompaniment of individual works.
Adjudication
Preston Symphony Orchestra will supply the adjudicator(s) whose decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Prizes
The winner receives $500; other finalists receive $100.
As well as the overall winner’s prize, there is an Audience Prize, chosen by ballot at the end of the concert.
Any queries should be directed to: ycc@prestonsymphony.org.au
This page was last updated on 19th Oct 2023
See the list of previous competition winners
Read about the 2022 Competition
Read about the 2018 Competition
Read about the 2019 Competition
The 2020 and 2021 competitions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
