Concerto Competitions

The School of Music presents two annual competitions to showcase repertoire for soloist(s) and large ensembles. Participating students will perform 10-minute auditions; appropriate cuts should be made to maximize solo performance time during the competition time slot. The winners will be invited to perform their works in full with a School of Music large ensemble. 

Both competitions are open to all full-time graduate and undergraduate music majors with the approval of their applied teacher; any instrument or voice is acceptable. Full-time status must be maintained for both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, and prior winners are not eligible. 

University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

Thursday, October 30, 2025, 9:30am-3:40pm, Ted Mann Concert Hall

• Solo repertoire must be suitable for performance by a standard symphony, chamber, or string orchestra. Orchestral parts must be available.
• Shorter single-movement works or works requiring two or more soloists are acceptable.
• Memorization is required unless a waiver is approved by the student's applied teacher and the Director of Orchestral Studies. All performers must be accompanied by a pianist at their audition.
• 24 or fewer performers are able to compete; any additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.
• Winners may be selected to perform their work in full with University Symphony Orchestra and/or University Philharmonic Orchestra in spring 2026.

University Bands Concerto Competition

Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 9:00am-12:00pm, Ultan Recital Hall

• Repertoire must be originally composed or arranged by the composer, for solo instrument/s and wind accompaniment. Transcriptions, arrangements, or adaptations will not be considered unless created by the composer.
• The selected concerto must be composed for soloist/s with a standard concert band, wind ensemble, or large chamber ensemble (8 or more players that may include 1-4 strings/piano/electronics) accompaniment. The concerto can feature a solo instrument or duos, trios, quartets, and quintets as soloists.
• For concerto ideas, please consult the Wind Repertory Project (windrep.org) and scroll down to “Soloist Categories.”
• All performers must be accompanied by a pianist or digital accompaniment at the competition.
• Memorization is not required but strongly encouraged.
• 12 or fewer performers are able to compete; any additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.
• Winners may be selected to perform their work in full with the University Wind Ensemble and/or Symphonic Band in spring 2026.

Adjudication

• Both juries will comprise music professionals and/or School of Music faculty.
• Decisions are made based on readiness and programmatic and instrumentation capabilities, and the jury has the right to withhold the concerto performance if no contestant is deemed ready. All decisions are final.
• New for 2025-26: one undergraduate and one graduate winner will be chosen for each competition.

To Apply

• To apply for either competition, submit the 2025-26 Concerto Competition Registration Form using your University of Minnesota account. Applications will be accepted in the order they are received. (*USO competition registration is now full; any additional participants will be added to a waitlist)
• Students may only submit one application for each competition.
• Students should confirm their accompanist’s competition date availability before applying.

Questions

Contact Paul Schimming, Ensemble Librarian and Coordinator, at [email protected] or 612-624-5056.