Anoa Green
Wind Studies Chair / Symphonic Wind Ensemble Director / Baltimore School for the Arts
Concerto Competition
The Concerto Competition provides an opportunity for Towson University students to gain experience in preparing and auditioning as professional musicians, furthering their musical studies and receiving public recognition for their work. The competition is open to all TU students registered in a music ensemble in the Department of Music during the fall-spring 2024-25 semesters.
Students must receive their applied instructor's permission to compete and receive approval on the specified piece from the TU Symphony Orchestra/TU Wind Ensemble director.
Please note: An accompanist is not required but certainly welcome.
Important Dates
Application Open Date
- Monday, September 16
Application Due Date
- The application must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 21.
Event Date
- Tuesday, November 12, 6 - 10 p.m., Recital Hall
If you have questions or would like more information about the competition, please contact Dr. Webb at lwebb AT_TOWSON
Conditions and Rules for the Concerto Competition 2024-2025
Eligibility
The concerto competition is a contest for Towson University students. Participants must be a member of a TU music ensemble registered in the Department of Music and be enrolled in applied studio lessons at the time of the application submission and during the Spring of 2025 semester.
The Concerto Competition is open to both singers and instrumentalists. Students may submit 1 solo entry OR 1 small group entry (duet, trio, etc.). Every member must submit their own application for the small group entry.
A student who has previously won the TU Concerto Competition may not compete, even if on a different instrument.
The TU Concerto Competition will be held on Tuesday, November 12 in the Recital Hall and judged by a live panel. The application deadline for the 2024-25 competition is 11:59 p.m., Monday, October 21. This is a hard deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
Winners must be available to perform in any spring 2024-25 concert of the TU Symphony Orchestra/Wind Ensemble, as agreed upon by both the winner and conductor. Winners must be free for rehearsals with the performing ensemble.
Approval by the applied studio instructor for the selected repertoire constitutes agreement that the student will both be prepared to perform the specified work in the spring of 2025 with the TU Symphony Orchestra/Wind Ensemble and will benefit from maintaining that work in their program of study over the course of that time.
Repertoire
The complete applications will be sent for approval by the applied studio instructor and the director of the Symphony Orchestra/Wind Ensemble. If approved, students will receive an email confirmation granting permission to officially participate in the competition.
Students may enter the repertoire for either full orchestra or wind ensemble accompaniment. It must be noted in the application. If the work is available for both, students must select the ensemble with which to perform. No student may compete with repertoire in both categories.
Winners must perform the work in which they won for the TU Concerto Competition.
Applicants must investigate and include in the competition form the cost of any music rentals or purchases that may be necessary should they be chosen as winners. The director of the TU Symphony Orchestra/Wind Ensemble reserves the right to restrict repertoire based on the cost of such rentals and expenses.
In the voice category, an aria and repertory originally written for voice and orchestra/wind ensemble is acceptable.
The winner may perform up to 15 minutes from their selected concerto at the winner's showcase concert. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of major standard concerto/song repertory.
Use of sheet music is allowed for both the audition and performance although memorization is highly encouraged.
Competition Juries
Members of the Department of Music or outside professionals will constitute the jury. The jury will listen only to 10 consecutive minutes of the piece selected. If your selection is longer than 10 minutes, please select contrasting sections to play.
Jurors will only consider the November 12 performance and will rank-order the competitors. The decision of the juries are final.
A maximum of 3 winners will be selected (band, orchestra, voice-for either ensemble).
Judges:
Marina McLerran
Visiting Assistant Professor / Music Education / Towson University
Brian K. Schneckenburger
Music Specialist (Instrumental) / Office of Performing Arts / Baltimore County Public Schools
Awards
The winners of the TU Concerto Competition will perform their repertoire or portions thereof, in a public concert with the TU Symphony Orchestra/Wind Ensemble during the spring semester of the current fiscal academic year. Winners must be free for rehearsals leading up to the concert.
Competition Attendance
Attendance at the competition is open to anyone interested. We encourage the Department of Music faculty/staff, family, friends and applied studios of those competing to support and cheer on the participants.
Application Information
Submitting Your Application
Please gather all of the following items before submitting your application:
- personal contact info
- program of study
- studio instructor contact info
- accompanist (optional)
- details about the piece of music
- title, composer (birth/death), movement titles and numerals, duration (per movement/s and entire piece)
- instrumentation
- ensemble (orchestra/wind band), complete instrumentation (e.g. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, etc.)
- music agency
- TU music library, another library, publisher, rental agency, cost of piece