Kamuela Philharmonic conducting 12th annual Youth Concerto Competition

The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra is now accepting applications and video files for its 12th annual Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition for 2022-23.

This season’s competition will be held virtually via recorded auditions, focusing on the winds, brass, percussion and piano families of instruments.

Applications and video files must be received no later than Dec. 16, 2022.
     
During the competition, contestants will perform — by memory — one movement of a piece chosen from standard orchestral repertoire with piano accompaniment.

A panel of judges will select one winner from each age category: 12 years and under, 13-15 years and 16-18 years.

The competition winners will perform their solos with the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra during its winter concert: “The Talent that Surrounds Us” on Jan. 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea (Kamuela).

Competition winners also will receive cash rewards.

Founding Artistic Director Dr. Madeline Schatz-Harris recognized and admired the talent exhibited by many young music students in Hawai‘i and came up with the idea of holding the yearly concerto competition as a showcase for that talent.

Like his predecessor, current Artistic Director and Conductor Brian Dollinger has a passion for teaching, conducting and mentoring young students; and he has embraced the competition as an opportunity to continue Schatz-Harrisʻ legacy. 

“I have always believed that having a concerto competition for our young musicians is a critical aspect of an education program for a symphony orchestra,” Dollinger said. “Many talented young students dream of performing with a symphony orchestra, and this opportunity could be life-changing for them.”

The competition gives the student an objective to work and practice towards. It also exposes children to the audition process, and ultimately the concert performance.

“The emotional growth these students experience going through the process, whether they win the competition or not, has exponential positive influences on their day-to-day confidence and problem-solving skills,” Dollinger said.

Instrumentalists interested in learning more about the competition should visit the Concerto Competition page on the Orchestra’s website: www.kamuelaphil.org.