RULES

54th Annual Young Artist Award

Strings

Rules of the Concerto Competition, 2023–24

Eligibility:

Open to string soloists born after April 1, 2000. An applicant may not be employed full time as a professional musician. Documentation of age and/or employment may be required at the discretion of the coordinator.

Requirements:

1.  Applicants must submit a video recording of a memorized concerto of the applicant’s choosing, with an accompanist, for possible selection to participate in the final round in January 2024.

2.  At the competition finals, the entire piece must be performed from memory with an accompanist provided by the applicant.

Registration:

Send the $25 application fee, the completed application form, and link to YouTube video recording to the competition coordinator.

Deadline:

The application must be postmarked no later than December 23, 2023. File uploading of the YouTube recording must also be completed by December 23, 2023.

Schedule:

The recordings will be reviewed to determine which applicants qualify for the competition. Checks of applicants not selected will not be returned. Competition acceptance will be announced in January 2024. A scheduled time for each contestant will be mailed at that time.

Competition:

The final round of the competition will take place at 5 p.m. on January 7, 2024, at the Steinway Gallery, 1605 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek. The Diablo Symphony cannot provide accompanists, so contestants should bring their own.

Judges:

The judges’ decision is final.

Awards:

First Prize: $1500 Honorarium and a contract to perform the previously auditioned composition in two concerts with the Diablo Symphony Orchestra in Walnut Creek, one at the Lesher Center for the Arts on March 3, 2024, and one at Rossmoor on a nearby date to be determined.

Second Prize: $750.

Audience:

Contestants are encouraged to invite friends and relatives to the competition. No one may enter or leave during performances.

For further questions about the competition, please e-mail Christine Hsia at [email protected].