Young Artists Competition – 2026-2027 Season

The Utah Valley Symphony invites talented young musicians to participate in our annual Young Artists Concert Series! Since 1990, this cherished event has celebrated and supported the next generation of music lovers in our community.

Two Exciting Ways to Get Involved:

  • As a Soloist, performing an aria or a movement from a concerto with the Symphony
  • As a Group Performer, playing a featured ensemble piece

Solo Competition

Aspiring soloists are invited to prepare a movement from a concerto or aria and submit a video audition during the month of October. A group of semifinalists will be selected to perform with an accompanist for a live judging panel in mid-November. Finalists will then be invited to take center stage, performing their concerto with the Utah Valley Symphony in our February Young Artists Concert, and potentially at our daytime concert for school-age audiences. 

See below for Solo Audition Timeline and Rules & Regulations.

Group Piece Performance

Each year, we rotate featured instruments on a three-year cycle:

  • Violin & Cello — 2026
  • Viola & Bass — 2027
  • Harp & Flute — 2028

When your instrument is featured, you’ll be invited to submit a video audition of the selected piece. Chosen musicians will perform together with the Symphony in our February School Concert, designed especially for school-aged children.

See below for Group Piece Audition Timeline and Rules & Regulations.

We can’t wait to hear from the next generation of musicians—come share your talent and be part of a Utah Valley tradition!

Solo Audition Timeline

  • Registration Opens: Wednesday, October 1, 2026
  • Registration Closes / Audition Upload Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026
  • Semifinalists Announced: Monday, November 9, 2026
  • Live Auditions with Judges Panel: Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 10:00am at Summerhays Music, 1006 S. State St., Orem, Utah
  • Young Artist Concert with UVS: Friday, February 26, 2027 at 7:30 PM

Solo Competition – Rules & Regulations

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 25 years old or younger.
  • Applicants must have attended public, private, charter, or homeschool in Utah Valley.
  • At least one parent must have established permanent residency in Utah Valley for a minimum of two (2) years during the applicant’s elementary or secondary school years.

Note: Students from other counties, including Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Box Elder, Cache, Iron, and Washington, are not eligible.

Solo Competition Categories

A Young Artist may perform as a winner in the Young Artist Concert up to two times by winning in two of the three categories, with at least three years between appearances. The three categories are:

  • Elementary: Grades K–6
  • Junior: Grades 7–9
  • Senior: Grade 10 through age 25

Selected Young Artists will perform their concertos at the Young Artist Concert. No more than three winners from each of these categories will normally be chosen, although the Musical Director reserves the right to select fewer or more based on the quality of the auditions. 

Young Artists from the Elementary or Junior categories may also be selected to perform in the morning School Concert. 

Solo Audition Requirements

  • Audition repertoire must be a solo work with orchestral accompaniment.
  • Provide accurate details on the registration form: composer, title, movement, rental information.
  • If orchestral rental parts exceed $500, performer must cover the extra cost.

Selection Criteria

Finalists are chosen not only for performance quality but also engagement suitability. The Symphony seeks variety in styles, composers, instruments, and ages. Very long pieces may need to be cut to a reasonable performance length. 

Ineligible Repertoire for 2026–2027

Violin

  • Bach – Two Violin Concerto in D minor (2023)
  • Saint-Saëns – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (2023)
  • Wieniawski – Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22, I. Allegro Moderato (2024)
  • Ravel – Tzigane (2024)

Cello

  • Saint-Saëns – Allegro Appassionato (2023)
  • Bruch – Kol Nidrei (2025)

Piano

  • Beethoven – Concerto No. 3 in C minor, III. Rondo Allegro (2023)
  • Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2, I. Moderato (2023)
  • Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26, I. Andante (2024)
  • Haydn – Piano Concerto No. 11 in D, III. Rondo all’Ungarese (2024)
  • Poulenc – Concert for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, FP 61, I. Allegro ma non troppo (2026)
  • Saint-Saëns – Piano Concert No. 5, Op. 103 in F major “The Egyptian”, I. Molto Allegro

Harp

  • Handel – Harp Concerto Op. 4 No. 6 in B♭ Major, I. Andante Allegro (2023)
  • Henson-Conant – Baroque Flamenco (2024)

Viola

  • Walton – Viola Concerto, Op. 68, III. Andante comodo (2024)

Voice

  • Mozart – Aria “Che Voi Sapete” from The Marriage of Figaro (2026)

Winds

  • Stephenson – Concerto for English Horn and Strings, II. Lento ma rubato — Allegro, III. Molto Vivace

Registration

Registration Period: October 1 – October 30, 2026

  • Fee: $30 per participant
  • Sibling discount: First child $30, additional children $15
  • Solo Registration

Video Submission

  • Upload deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026
  • Submit excerpt up to 5 minutes
  • Must be memorized, with accompanist
  • Professional attire required

Audition Procedure

  • Semifinalists announced Monday, November 9, 2026
  • Live auditions: Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Summerhays Music, 1006 S. State St., Orem, Utah, each semifinalist much provide their own accompanist.
  • Winners perform Friday, February 26, 2027 at Ashton Auditorium 

Group Piece Audition Timeline

  • Registration Opens: Wednesday, October 1, 2026
  • Registration Closes: Monday, January 4, 2027
  • Participants Announced: Wednesday, January 13, 2027
  • School Concert: Friday, February 26, 2027

Rules & Regulations: Group Piece Performance

Group Piece Rotation

  • 2026–2027: Viola (Telemann Concerto in G Major, 2nd mvt, age ≤14); Bass (Sweet Georgia Brown, age ≤17)
  • 2027–2028: Flute (Devienne Concerto No. 2 in D Major, 3rd mvt, age ≤16); Harp (Salzedo Tango, age ≤17)

2025–2026 Group Piece Details

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have attended public, private, charter, or homeschool in Utah Valley.
  • At least one parent must have established residency in Utah Valley for 2+ years during applicant’s school years.

Dual Auditions

  • Standard registration: $30
  • Second audition (solo or group): $15

Registration Process

  • Opens October 1, 2026; closes January 4, 2027 
  • Fee: $30 (discount $15 for sibling/additional entry) 
  • Submit registration, payment, and video upload 

Audition Procedure

  • Record with live pianist
  • Piece must be memorized
  • Professional attire
  • Video excerpt ≤ 5 minutes

Selection

Outstanding musicians will be chosen to perform in the School Concert with the Utah Valley Symphony.

For questions, please email: youngartists@utahvalleysymphony.org

Solo Registration | Group Registration