Young Artist Competition

The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is committed to enhancing our community’s quality of life through creative, artistically excellent performances and educational experiences for diverse audiences of all ages.

The CSO Young Artist Competition affords student musicians from the State of Indiana the opportunity to compete with their peers at the highest level of artistic excellence. The winner receives a cash prize and performs his/her concerto accompanied by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, as well as have the experience of performing in The Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts.

Registration for the 2018-2019 Young Artist Competition is coming soon.

See a list of past winners.

Entry Deadline
August, 18 2018

Finalist Notification
TBD. Announced via email.

Final Competition
September 9, 2018. Competition held at Meridian Music School.

Performance Date
November 18, 2018 at the Palladium.

Eligibility
Up to and including Grade 12. Former winners are not eligible to compete. Runners-up are eligible to enter.

Residency Requirement
Applicant's legal residence must be within the state of Indiana.

Music Selection and Application
Selection must be one movement of a concerto or other work for piano or orchestral instrument, and must not exceed 15 minutes. The CSO reserves the right to make cuts as needed for the concert performance. Audition submissions must be accompanied.  The audition must also be one unedited continuous performance.  All students must registration online this year. 

Due to the number of entries received, we are unable to provide comments or feedback related to the preliminary round.  

Final Competition

Following thorough review of the submitted entries and selection of finalists, the live competition finals will be held in the afternoon on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Winners will be announced that day. Audition times are assigned and will not be changed or adjusted by the CSO; however, finalists may mutually agree to change times with another contestant. All Final Competition performances MUST be from memory. Piano finalists will not have an opportunity to practice on the piano to be used in the final round.

Judges
A panel of judges comprised of outstanding teachers and performers will select the competition winner.

Awards
The winner will perform November 18, 2018 with the CSO at the Palladium. The student will also receive an award of $1,000, made possible by a generous sponsorship from Meridian Music, and six (6) complimentary tickets to the concert for his/her family. The winner must perform the same concerto movement that was performed in the competition, and must email a short biography and a color image of themselves in concert attire with their instrument no later than October 1.

The First Runner-Up will receive an award of $750, and the Second Runner-Up will receive an award of $500, both made possible by the CSO League.

Entry Fee
$25 (non-refundable)

All final competition performances must be from memory.