WALGREENS NATIONAL CONCERTO COMPETITION
2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition was a success!
Information about 2024 competition will become available in the fall of 2024.
2023 Competition Format
Entrants in the 2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition may compete in person or virtually.
In person performances will be held December 28-30, 2023 at the Midwest Young Artists Center in Highwood, IL.
Virtual participants must submit their recording by 11:59PM CDT on December 1.
Both Virtual and In-Person auditions will receive equal comments and consideration.
Divisions, Levels, and Categories
There are 2 divisions:
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Orchestra Division*
Open Division
*Students in the MYAC Division must be active participants in the MYAC Orchestral Program. All other entrants will be entered in the Open Division, including MYAC Chamber Only, Jazz, and Choral students.
Each division has 2 levels:
JUNIOR LEVEL: for students in 8th grade or younger
SENIOR LEVEL: for students in 9th through 12th grades (students that are under the age of 18 and in college can enter the Senior division as well)
Each level of each division awards winners in five different categories:
String
Piano
Voice
Other Instruments
Early Music*
*Students are automatically entered in the Early Music category if the piece they are performing was written before 1800. Strings, harpsichord, recorders, gamba, winds, and brass are encouraged to participate in this category.
Selection Requirements
Music performed must be a movement from a concerto or a piece with orchestral accompaniment.
You will have 10 minutes to perform. If your selection is longer than 10 minutes, you will be stopped by the judges after the 10 minute mark so appropriate cuts in the accompaniment, not solo, sections are encouraged.
Entrants may submit more than one registration form. Each registration will count as one ten minute slot (both for in person and virtual performers). Multiple slots may be used to perform more than one movement from the same piece, more than one piece, or on more than one instrument.
To be eligible to win a prize, your piece must be memorized. Any piece not memorized will only be performed for judges' comments.
Performances must be accompanied.
You must provide two (2) clean, unmarked copies of your piece (without your name written on them) for the judges. You may use the accompaniment part as your clean, unmarked original copy.
Recording Requirements (virtual applicants only)
Recorded submissions must be submitted by 11:59PM CDT on December 1. Applications are due by 11:59 PM on December 1, 2023. Please send recordings to jeanmilew@mya.org
Videos must be submitted as Youtube links. No other format is accepted.
Judges will watch 10 minutes of video per registration form received. For example, if a participant submits one registration form and submits a 12 minute video, judges will watch the first 10 minutes of the video.
No video cuts or edits are permitted, including edits to sound like adding reverb, EQ changes, etc. Performers may choose to cut the score, but this cut must be a part of the live performance.
The video must include both the performer and accompanist at all times.
Awards and Prizes
Open Division Winners
The judges will select a winner in each category (Strings, Piano, Vocal, Other Instrument, Early Music)
The judges will select one overall winner from the Senior Level
The judges will select one overall winner from the Junior Level
The judges will select one Open Division Overall winner from either the Junior Overall or Senior Overall winners
The judges may select honorable mention recipients from each category
MYAC Division Winners
The judges will select a winner in each category (Strings, Piano, Vocal, Other Instrument, Early Music)
The judges will select one overall winner from the Senior Level
The judges will select one overall winner from the Junior Level
The judges may select honorable mention recipients from each category
Category Winner Prizes
Category winners will receive a MYAC Tuition Scholarship (valued at $375) to be used toward 2024-2025 academic year large ensemble tuition or 2024 Summer Music Festival programs.
Category winners will be chosen, at the discretion of the director, to perform at the Winter Orchestra concerts on February 24th, 2024 at Pick-Staiger Hall or Winners Recital at the MYAC Center on February 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
Winning soloists may also be recommended for performance opportunities with Midwest professional and community orchestras.
Overall Winner Prizes
The Open Division Overall winner and MYAC Orchestra Division winners of the 2023 competition will perform with the MYAC Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra (MYAC Junior Division Winner), on a concert sometime before the end of the season at a date TBD. The MYAC Orchestra Division Overall Junior Level winner will perform with the MYAC Concert Orchestra on February 24, 2024 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University.
The Open Junior and Senior as well as MYAC Junior and Senior winners will receive a Cash Award of $1000 plus a MYAC Tuition Waiver (valued at $750) to be used towards 2024 Summer Music Festival programs or 2024-2025 academic year large ensemble tuition.
Accompanists
Students must provide their own accompanist. The accompanist's name MUST be provided on the application form.
For a local accompanist, please visit www.privatemusicteaching.org (the zip code for MYAC is 60040).
Application and Entry Fee
The competition entry fee is $75 for the Open Division and $50 for MYAC students (MYAC students who are not a part of an MYAC Orchestra pay $75 and are entered into the Open Division).
Each application and entry fee is for one ten minute performance slot. Students who wish to perform longer than ten minutes (for example performing multiple movements or performing on more than one instrument) must submit an application for each desired performance slot.
*Please note: All entry forms must be submitted online. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid online by 11:59 pm on December 1, 2023.
Questions?
For additional questions about the Walgreens National Concerto Competition please contact jeanmilew@mya.org or call 847-926-9898.