Concerto competition

Applications for the 2024-25 competition are now closed. Please check back in Spring 2025.

Eligibility

This competition is open to any high school musician from Washington or Oregon on any orchestral instrument, including piano. Students must be actively enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) during the 2024-2025 academic year and available to participate in two rehearsals and perform with the orchestra in February 2025.

Timeline

  • August 1, 2024 - All application materials are due including an unaccompanied video recording for the preliminary round.

  • September 15, 2024 - Live final round. Upon reviewing all applications and videos from the preliminary round, the panel will select a limited number of candidates to perform in the final round.

  • February 1 & 2, 2025 - Winner(s) perform with NOCCO.

2023-24 competition winner Tokuji Miyasaka, violin

Repertoire Requirements

It is extremely important that the repertoire requirements be followed. Students with submissions that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered for the final round in September.

Please prepare one movement of a concerto (or similar work for solo instrument(s) and orchestra) written in the time of Haydn or Mozart. Music written before this period and shortly after are most likely acceptable. We encourage the performance of music in the public domain, but will accept works outside of that as long as the performer is willing to assume the cost of music rental ($500-$1000). All repertoire selections will be subject to review and approval by the NOCCO competition committee prior to submitting a recording for the preliminary round. Please email Blayne Barnes at blayne@nocco.org and we will confirm repertoire eligibility.  

Note - works performed by competition winners the prior season may not be used for submission:

W. A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218, 1st movement

Application Materials

  1. Application form below, including a link to an unaccompanied video recording of your concerto

  2. $40 application fee which can be added to your cart below

  3. A letter of recommendation from your private lesson teacher emailed to blayne@nocco.org

NOCCO acknowledges that we operate, rehearse, and perform on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

North Corner Chamber Orchestra is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID 47-5149780