Submissions for the 2025 Concerto Competition have closed. Please check back next year for more information on the 2026 Concerto Competition.
Musicians from the Middle Tennessee area are invited to apply for the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta’s 2025 Concerto Competition.
We will be accepting applicants from the following categories:
- Young Musicians
Students who are currently studying in a full-time program or school, whether high school, pre-college or college. - Adult Musicians
Musicians not currently enrolled in school and who do not make their living as a professional performing musician. MTS trusts that applicants will respect this guideline and use their own judgement accordingly.
Submissions for the 2025 Concerto Competition have closed. Please check back next year for more information on the 2026 Concerto Competition.
Round I: Virtual Submissions
To be eligible for submission, concertos must be submitted per the specific details outlined below. Submissions that do not abide by the rules and regulations will not be eligible for evaluation. Virtual submissions will be due by 11:59pm on Monday, October 7, 2024. Each virtual submission will be evaluated anonymously by members of the MTS Staff. Round I decisions will be announced on October 21, 2024.
- The entrant may submit only one concerto submission for their respective category
- The recording submitted should be a recent and up to date performance within two months prior of the deadline
- The recording is strongly recommended to have live piano accompaniment, although not required for the first round
- The applicant, hand placement, and instrument must be fully visible in the recording
- Previous Concerto Competition Winners are not eligible for consideration
Round II: Finalists
Selected finalists from the first round of virtual submissions will be chosen to compete in a live performance on Saturday, November 9, 2024 for a panel of judges. The winning concerto applicant from each category will be announced on December 1, 2024. Each winning applicant will receive a featured performance of their concerto at the Spring 2024-2025 Season Concert in March 2025, as well as an audio and video recording of the performance for personal usage and small stipend.
- Contestants will be responsible for providing their own accompanist and five copies of piano scores of their concerto selection for the anonymous judging panel
- Only judges, competition staff, applicants, and accompanists are allowed in the warmup and audition areas
- The winner from both categories must be available for subsequent rehearsals
Repertoire:
The concerto selection must be written for a solo instrument and orchestra. Concertos for two instruments and concerto premieres will be considered only by approval of MTS prior to the Virtual Submission deadline. The video submission should be the entirety of the movement or concerto. Cuts for an orchestral introduction and large sections of rest are allowed for the video submission. Works shorter than 7 minutes and longer than 25 minutes will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Works in the public domain are preferred, but those under copyright will be considered. Each contestant’s selection is subject to approval. Should they proceed to the final round, applicants must be prepared to perform the entire movement of the selection. The same piece must be performed during both rounds of the competition and performance, if selected.
Please contact our Director of Outreach, Erika Easterly at erika.easterly@mtsinfonietta.com with any questions.