Concerto Competitions

Concerto competition winner Yilin Bao performs with the University Symphony Orchestra

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