The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA's 31st Young Artist Concerto Competition Open Nationwide
Students across the country vie for $24,000 in prize money in piano, strings and woodwinds/brass categories
[Vancouver, WA. April 8, 2025] – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA opens its 2025 Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition with a National Call for Entries, announced by VSO’s CEO Dr. Igor Shakhman. Based in Vancouver, WA, the VSO has become a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest’s arts community and works to highlight and celebrate great student musicianship through this competition. For the fifth year in a row, applications are open to entrants nationwide across the piano, strings, and woodwinds/brass categories until August 1, 2025 at 4 p.m. (PST). Nine finalists will be selected from the initial application pool to compete at the highly anticipated VSO Young Artist Concerto Competition Finals for generous cash prizes and the opportunity to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on January 17 and 18, 2026 under the baton of VSO Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons. Past esteemed judges for the competition include GRAMMY winner Zuill Bailey, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra solo English horn Pedro Diaz, former Artistic Director for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center David Shifrin, Concert Artists’ Guild President Tanya Bannister, Director of Lucy Moses School Dr. Igal Kesselman, and others.
In response to the growing demand of the VSO Young Artist Concerto Competition, the VSO expanded the pool of eligible candidates to all 50 states in 2022. The VSO also increased the amount of prize money for all winners in each category, and the same amounts will continue to be offered for the 2025 competition: Gold Medalists, $5,000 each; Silver Medalists, $2,000 each; Bronze Medalists, $1,000 each.
Application Deadline: August 1, 2025 at 4 pm (PST)
How to Apply: Complete information and application forms are available at vancouversymphony.org
Eligibility
Students of 18 years of age or under as of January 1, 2026 and who are citizens or legal residents of the United States of America are eligible to compete in the categories of piano, strings and woodwinds/brass. Following the initial judging of application video links, the three top candidates in each category (nine total) will compete on October 12th, 2025 in front of an audience and panel of judges in Vancouver, WA for prizes of $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. First place winners have the opportunity to perform their winning selections with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Brotons on January 17 and 18, 2025 at Skyview Concert Hall.
About Salvador Brotons
Maestro Salvador Brotons returns for his 35th season as Music Director and Conductor of the VSO. In addition to the VSO, he is presently the principal conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica Sant Cugat. Brotons has also been the Music Director and Conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears “Ciutat de Palma” (1997-2001, 2009-2013), the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (1997-2002), and the Conductor of the Barcelona Symphonic Band (2007-2018). In 2005, he received the Arts Council award from Clark County and the City of Vancouver as well as the Kiwanis Rose Award. He has guest conducted orchestras in the U.S., Israel, France, Germany, China, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia.
About The VSO
The VSO, now in its 46th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.
About our Sponsors
The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Realvest Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, AC Hotel by Marriott, United Grain Corporation, Columbia Credit Union, All Classical Radio, Gravitate, Dick Hannah Dealerships, The Columbian, Michelle’s Piano Co., Pacific Office Automation, Steinway & Sons Portland, The VIC, Kiggins Theatre, and Opsahl Dawson.
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THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PO BOX 525 VANCOUVER, WA 98666 PHONE 360-735-7278 FAX 360-906-0355
www.vancouversymphony.org