Young Artists Competition
The Fort Dodge Area Symphony has sponsored a Young Artists Competition since 1966, where young artists from across Iowa compete for music scholarships and the opportunity to perform as featured soloist with our Orchestra. As of our 2022-2023 season, we have had the pleasure of sharing the concert stage with 213 Young Artist soloists.
Those selected to perform with the Orchestra receive a music scholarship through funding from the estate of Eva Paterson.
2024 Young Artists Competition
Our Young Artists Competition consists of two rounds: a Preliminary Video-Only Round and a Final In-Person Round.
Preliminary Round (Video Submission)
Auditioning Musicians will submit a performance video (with accompaniment), which will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting on the Conductor and members of the Fort Dodge Area Symphony. The selection committee will select up to six (6) finalists to compete in the final in-person round in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Any Fort Dodge Area Symphony musician who has a student participating in the competition will not be involved in the selection process.
The Fort Dodge Area Symphony reserves the right to limit the number of applications it accepts for the preliminary round if there is an unusually large group of applicants. Such a restriction shall be based on the chronological order in which the applications were received and the time available for the selection committee to view videos.
Final Round (In-Person)
Musicians invited to participate in the final round will audition in-person on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In the event of inclement weather, an alternate audition date has been scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2024.
The selection panel for the Final Round will consist of the Conductor and at least two music professionals.
Audition times for the Final Round will be provided by the first week of January allowing finalists adequate time to confirm schedules with their accompanists and plan for the in-person audition day. The in-person audition day is generally divided into two sessions: pre-college (high school) division in the morning and college undergraduate division in the afternoon. In the event of needing to use the scheduled snow date, musician finalists must make every effort to audition in-person and with their accompanist.
Eligibility
Participation is open to any instrumental, piano or vocal musician who is either an Iowa resident or currently attending an Iowa high school, college or university. Participating musician must be 23 years of age or younger on the day of the in-person Final Round.
Applicants are responsible for meeting the age and eligibility requirements and for accurately completing the required audition form. An applicant that is post undergraduate or outside the age requirements will not be considered. Previous winners may not audition until at least the third season after the original performance, regardless of classification.
Competition winners will perform in concert with the Fort Dodge Area Symphony. The auditioning musician and their teacher select the piece for the audition, which must be the same as the intended piece for the concert. In the audition process, the performer is judged on musicianship, technical ability and stage presence. Musicians chosen to perform with the orchestra must be available for the dress rehearsal and concert (Sat Apr 27 and Sun Apr 28, 2024). We ask that musicians please double check their availability for these dates before applying.
PERFORMANCE AND PIECE REQUIREMENTS
For both the Preliminary and Final Rounds, audition pieces must be memorized and performed with an accompaniment. It is the responsibility of the auditioning musician to provide their own accompanist.
Total competition time must not exceed 10 minutes. Concertos are limited to one movement. Auditioning musicians with brief compositions may audition and perform more than one work. In the event the piece has an extended orchestral introduction prior to the entrance of the soloist, the introduction may be abbreviated. Selections from musicals (show tunes) are not accepted as audition pieces.
Musicians participating in the final round must provide music for the performance piece to the selection committee. (Photocopies are acceptable providing that the musician owns an original copy).
Please know that performance comments are not provided.
The Audition and Selection Process
APPLICATION PROCESS
Audition forms and videos for the preliminary round must be submitted no later than Monday, December 18, 2023. Applications received after the indicated deadline or received incomplete will not be accepted.
Audition Forms
Use the link below to complete an online audition form
2024 Young Artists Competition Online Audition Form
Fort Dodge Area Symphony 2024 Young Artists Competition Audition Form
Musicians are also welcome to mail their audition application form to Fort Dodge Area Symphony, PO Box 1291, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or emailed their form to FortDodgeAreaSymphony@gmail.com.
Video Submission
Use the link below to upload your video to our Dropbox Account. Video files should be titled using the following format: Performer Name/Composer (ie: JohannaSmith/Mozart).
Competition Entry Fee
There is no competition entry fee for the preliminary round. There is a $20 fee for musicians invited to participate in the in-person final round.
COMPETITION WINNERS
The number of soloists chosen is determined by the selection committee with the idea that both the High School and Collegiate Undergraduate categories are represented in the final selections. The Fort Dodge Area Symphony makes no guarantee that the selection of performers will be evenly distributed between the two categories. The Symphony also reserves the right not to choose any soloists if it is determined that all applicants fail to qualify.
Soloists selected to perform in concert with the Fort Dodge Area Symphony will also receive a music scholarship award from the Eva Paterson Scholarship Fund. There are no place levels (i.e. 1st, 2nd, etc.); however, Honorable Mentions may be awarded at the discretion of the selection committee.
If you have any questions about our Young Artists Competition, please contact us at FortDodgeAreaSymphony@gmail.com.