15th Annual Young Artist Competition
Rules and Requirements

  1. The competition is open to soloists on all orchestral instruments and piano. Compositions selected must be for solo instrument and orchestra.
    First place winners from previous years are not eligible to participate in the same division.

  2. Candidates will provide two copies of the composition for the judges at the time of the audition. The candidate may be asked to perform a particular movement
    and/or passages from all movements (senior division). The decision of the judges is final. Winners will be notified by phone or email within 48 hours of the competition.

  3. Eligibility:

    The junior division candidate’s primary residence (home of their parents or legal guardian) must be located in Alameda or Contra Costa County.                        
    OR                                                                             
    The candidate’s private teacher (at which the candidate takes weekly lessons) has his/her teaching studio in Alameda or Contra Costa County.
    OR                                                                             
    The candidate is a full-time student participating in a music program at a school in Alameda or Contra Costa County, is a participating member of
    a youth orchestra or wind ensemble in those counties.

The region for senior division candidates is expanded to Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties.

If at any time during the competition it is discovered that none of these eligibility requirements are fulfilled, the candidate will be disqualified.

Age Divisions:

Junior Division (10 to 15 years)

Senior Division (16 to 22 years)

Age determined as of May 22, 2011

     4. Awards:

     Junior Award: $500 cash prize and a solo performance with the Oakland East Bay Symphony at the Young People’s Concerts or an OEBS Family Concert.                  

     Senior Division: $1,000 cash prize and solo performance as guest artist with the Oakland East Bay Symphony at a subscription concert during the
     2011/2012 season at Oakland’s 3,000 seat Paramount Theater.

     Honorable Mention: Candidates awarded Honorable Mention are given performance opportunities.
     These may include performing at the Paramount Theater at the Pre-Concert Series with an accompanist, and/or perform as a soloist with the
     Oakland Civic Orchestra during the 2011/2012 season.

     5. Repertoire: 

     Junior Division: One movement of a concerto or concert work for soloist and orchestra from the standard repertoire.

     Senior Division: A full concerto or concert work for soloist and orchestra from the standard repertoire.                                                                                                                         

    The concerto must be approved by OEBS. If the concerto listed on your application is unacceptable, OEBS will contact you.
    Senior Division candidates should note the list of concertos performed recently by OEBS. Please avoid choosing one of these works for the competition.

    6. Candidates must provide their own accompanist (piano accompaniment only).

    7. This year’s competition will be held at the Crowden Music Center and California State University, East Bay.
        The preliminary round will be held on Sunday May 22, 2011 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Crowden Music Center in Berkeley.
        The final round will be Sunday June 5, 2011, beginning at 9:00am in the music building at California State University, East Bay in Hayward.

    8. All candidates must complete the online registration process by the deadline of May 6, 2011. A $35 non-refundable application
        fee must be paid at the time of registration. The fee will only be returned if the candidate is not invited to audition.

    Senior Division candidates should avoid selecting the following concertos for the competition (these works have been performed recently at OEBS subscription concerts):
    Barber                         Cello Concerto                                               
    Beethoven                   Piano Concerto No. 1                                    
    Beethoven                   Violin Concerto                                              
    Brahms                       Violin Concerto                                              
    Khachaturian              Violin Concerto                                              
    Mozart                         Violin Concerto No. 4                                     
    Ravel                           Tzigane                                                          
    Tchaikovsky                Piano Concerto No. 1