Concerto Competition

Richard R. Deas Young Artists Concerto Competition

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Dr. Richard R. Deas, for whom the student concerto competition was named and in whose memory it continues, helped create the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra in 1971. As the then-Chair of the UNCW Department of Music he assisted in developing the competition in 1976 as a way to give talented young musicians an opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra.

The Richard R. Deas Young Artists Concerto Competition is open to 4th grade through college level music students. This competition provides an excellent challenge for students to hone their skills and knowledge, producing musicians who have gone on to conservatories and music studies in college. An online application is available along with a list of repertoires. The competition is in November with contestants performing for a three-panel judge, recruited from across the State.

The winners of the High School and UNCW Divisions will perform in concert at the Wilson Center accompanied by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. The winner of the Junior Division will perform in the spring accompanied by the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Application deadline: June 1, 2022
Competition date: November 5, 2022

Application fee: $15 (non-refundable)
(pay tuition here)

Eligibility

Junior Division - limited to instrumental and piano students enrolled in grades 4-8 during the 2022 Fall semester with a home address within New Hanover, Onslow, Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Brunswick, Pender, or Columbus counties.
High School Division - limited to instrumental and piano students enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2022 Fall semester with a home address within New Hanover, Onslow, Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Brunswick, Pender, or Columbus counties.
UNCW Division - limited to students currently enrolled as majors or minors in the UNCW Department of Music, studying with a UNCW applied music instructor both during the semester of the audition and the semester of the performance

Previous winners may not audition on the same instrument within the same division.

Rules
Audition pieces must be performed from memory. The contestant must provide an accompanist and bring three copies of the music for the judges (contestants are responsible for observing applicable copyright laws). The decision of the judges is final, and the winner must perform the composition played at the audition and be available for all rehearsals in preparation for the concert.

Repertoire
Time limit for submissions (including all orchestral passages)

Junior Division - 8 minutes
High School Division - 15 minutes
UNCW Division - 15 minutes

The suitability and availability of performance materials must be approved by the conductor prior to the acceptance of the application. Contact conductor@wilmingtonsymphony.org well in advance of the deadline if in doubt.

No composition may be entered if it appeared or will appear on any Wilmington Symphony concert the prior season or the current season. For the 2022 competition, works which may not be submitted include: