2027 Concerto Movement Competition

The Palo Alto Philharmonic is pleased to announce our 2027 Concerto Movement Competition for performance of instrumental and vocal works with orchestral accompaniment.

The purpose of the competition is to recognize outstanding talent and provide an invaluable learning experience to music students.  This competition is open to ALL instruments, including voice.

  • Piano and String musicians must be 18 or younger as of December 31, 2026.

  • Vocal, Wind, Brass, Percussion and Harp musicians must be 25 or younger as of December 31, 2026.

The work to be submitted will be a movement of a concerto or other concert piece for soloist and orchestra, of approximately 5 to 15 minutes in length.  Solo sonatas or pieces for which orchestral parts are not readily available are not eligible.  Previous winners may not apply again on the same instrument. Applications must be submitted online by December 31, 2026. 

 

A group of finalists will be selected for Live Auditions, between 9:30 and 4:00, on Saturday, February 27, 2027, at the Palo Alto Art Center.  Finalists will perform the same piece at the live audition that was submitted with the application.  Each finalist must provide an accompanist to play the piano reduction of the orchestra score.  Three photocopies of the piano score with measures numbered at the beginning of every line are to be supplied to the Judges.  Winners will be announced within two weeks of the Live Auditions.

 

Winners will perform their chosen works with the Palo Alto Philharmonic in a concert on Sunday, May 23, 2027, at 3:00 PM in the Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA.  Winners must be available for rehearsals on the following dates: 4/19/2027, 4/26/2027, 5/3/2027, 5/10/2027, 5/17/2027 and dress rehearsal on Friday 5/21/2027 (all rehearsals start at 7:30 PM). All but the first Monday rehearsal are held in Los Altos (venue to be specified later); the final Monday night rehearsal and the dress rehearsal will be held in Cubberley Theatre.

 

IMPORTANT: Please check your schedule and MAKE SURE that ALL of these dates are FULLY available before you submit an application.

(If you have some other commitment covering any time closer than 2 hours before or 2 hours after these rehearsal or concert dates, then you are NOT fully available and you should NOT apply.)

 

Though memorizing is encouraged, sheet music may be used for audition and performance.  The decision of the judges is final, and will be based solely on the quality of the musical performance presented.

 

We encourage all interested musicians to apply online by following the instructions posted below. The application, non-refundable $40 entry fee, and URL link for the YouTube video audition must be submitted by December 31, 2026.

 

For additional information or questions about the orchestra, visit our web site at www.paphil.org. If you have questions about the competition, write us at cmc2027@paphil.org.

Application instructions:

  1. Check that orchestral parts are readily available for your piece.

  2. Record your piece for upload to YouTube or other online upload site. Take care to ensure high quality audio, and to minimize background noise and visual distractions. Record the solo part only, WITHOUT accompaniment, in one continuous take.

  3. After uploading your recording, ensure that the online link to your audition video is accessible to the public. (You can otherwise adjust the privacy settings so that your video cannot be searched for and found without the direct link; after the competition, you are free to delete your video.)

  4. Fill out the online entry form at < Click here for entry form > and save it as a Draft, without submitting it yet.

  5. Pay the non-refundable $40 entry fee using PayPal with the “Pay Now” button on the right side of this paragraph.  Please be sure to enter the applicant’s name exactly as it is entered in the online application form. Once you receive a confirmation email from PayPal, paste the date, time, and Transaction ID from the email directly into the online entry form.  (If you are paying entry fees for more than one applicant, please use one distinct PayPal transaction for each.)

  6. DOUBLE-CHECK your schedule to be SURE you are available for ALL rehearsals (4/19/2027, 4/26/2027, 5/3/2027, 5/10/2027, 5/17/2027), the dress rehearsal (Friday, 5/21/2027) and the concert (3pm on 5/23/2027). We ask that all performers arrive at the concert hall by 2:30pm, and stay for the entire concert (until 5pm). If you have a conflict with any of the above times, you are not eligible for this competition. NO EXCEPTIONS.

  7. Double-check your completed application, and submit it online by December 31, 2026. You will receive an email acknowledging your application shortly after it has been received and checked.

 
Applicant