Wind Symphony & Symphony Orchestra Concerto/Aria Competition

Competition Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024, 3-7 p.m.

  • Winners: Judges may select up to two winners to perform at the Nazareth University Symphony Orchestra winter/spring concerts and one up to one winner at the Nazareth University Wind Symphony winter concert.
Competition Guidelines

  • Concerto must be performed with a pianist playing the ensemble reduction. The pianist should make cuts to tutti sections when appropriate for audition timing purposes.

  • VERY IMPORTANT: Check the availability of your assigned studio pianist before filling out the application form.
  • Contestants must be full-time Nazareth University Undergraduate Music Major (12+ Credit Hours).
  • Contestants must be taking applied lessons (MUP 1 ) (MUP 2) and (MUP 3) in the semester they are competing.
  • Contestants must first obtain the permission of the applied teacher.
  • Students are allotted a 10-minute audition time. If your movement/piece exceeds the allotted time limit a judge will cut you off. You may also choose to select certain portions of the movement/piece that fits within the 10-minute time frame.
  • Judges will select 1 winner to perform in the spring Symphony Orchestra concert and 1 to perform in the spring Wind Symphony concert.
  • Contestants are required to supply a PDF of the score with piano reduction to Dr. Munguía at least a week before the competition. (Hard copies will not be necessary).
  • Previous winners will need to wait a full year before entering the competition.
  • The solo or concerto movement does not have to be memorized with the exception of pianists and vocalists. Know that memorized pieces demonstrate your ‘command’ of your piece, and allow you to be freer in musicality and interpretation.
  • Students and their instructors should select a solo, an aria, or a movement of a concerto considering the difficulty of the orchestral accompaniment and the availability of a wind ensemble/band accompaniment or transcription.
  • Applied instructors should make sure that orchestral/band parts are readily available and that they are reasonable to purchase or rent. Contact Dr. Raúl Munguía (rmungui7@naz.edu) or Dr. Jared Chase (jchase6@naz.edu) if you have any questions.
  • Each soloist will receive written feedback within a week of the competition.
  • Vocalists may sing two selections as long as they don’t exceed the 10-minute allotment.
  • All Programming decisions are left up to the discretion of both conductors.