Concerto Competitions
2023-2024 Concerto Competition Guidelines
The University Symphony Orchestra’s annual Concerto Competition returns for the 2023-24 academic year to showcase exceptional solo performances from within the School of Music. The competition is open to all full-time undergraduate and graduate music majors with the approval of their applied teacher. The winner will perform their work in its entirety in a performance with the University Symphony Orchestra and Mark Russell Smith on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
Also returning this academic year is the University of Minnesota Bands Concerto Competition, highlighting the wide-ranging repertoire for soloist and wind ensemble. Competition is open to all full-time undergraduate and graduate music majors with the approval of their applied teacher. The winner(s) will be invited to perform with the University Wind Ensemble on February 28, 2024 and/or Symphonic Band spring 2024.
USO Concerto Competition Past Winners
2022-2023
- Yilin Bao, piano
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor
2021-2022
- Jeduthun Kim, voice
Mahler: Rückert Lieder
2020-2021
- Competition not held due to COVID-19
2019-2020
- Seongkyeong Kim, piano
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
2018-2019
- Michael Min, piano
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
2017-2018
- Fanya Lin, piano
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 - Wayne Ching, piano
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor"
2016-2017
- Hannah Hickman, saxophone
Boutry: Divertimento for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra - Katrina Clements, clarinet
Copland: Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra
2015-2016
- Gabriel Quenneville-Bélair, piano
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
2014-2015
- Pei-Lei Lin, piano
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16 - Christine Killian, soprano
Dvorak: “Song to the Moon” from Rusalka
2013-2014
- Rosalind Leavell, cello
Elgar: Concerto for Violoncello
2012-2013
- Jing Chang, piano
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major
2011-2012
- Jessica Jasper, viola
Britten: Lachrymae - Laura Hynes, soprano
Bernstein: “Glitter and Be Gay” from Candide
2010-2011
- Preston Duncan, saxophone
Ibert: Concertino da Camera
2009-2010
- Eric Neseth, marimba
Creston: Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra - John Hammarback, oboe
Mozart: Oboe Concerto
2008-2009
- Natalia Moiseeva, violin; Nick Donatelle, violoncello; Ivan Koven, piano
Beethoven: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello, and Orchestra
2007-2008
- Denis Evstuhin, piano
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, op. 19
2006-2007
- Soojung Hong, piano
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1
Bands Concerto Competition Past Winners
2021-2022
- Cameron Vinson, saxophone - Maarten De Splenter: Concerto Comenia for Alto Saxophone and Symphonic Wind Band
- Michael Valois, cornet - Jean-Baptiste Arban: Fantaisie Brilliante for Cornet and Symphonic Wind Band
2019-2020
- Russell Sweet, saxophone
Maslanka: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble
2018-2019
- Ariel Detwiler, bassoon
Ewazen: Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble - Sofia Mycyk, piano
McPhee: Concerto for Piano and Wind Octet
2017-2018
- Judy Gaunt, trumpet
Stephenson: The Storyteller - Emily Green, horn
Hermann: Concerto for Horn