Concerto Competition
Each year, the Cambridge University Musical Society, now in partnership with the Centre for Music Performance, hosts a Concerto Competition for excellent University instrumentalists.
Prize winners have the opportunity to perform a concerto with one of the university orchestras, working collaboratively with the CMP to choose a concerto for their performance.
We are delighted to announce the 2022-23 winner as Madeleine Brown (piano), with Jenny Ryan (oboe) as the runner-up and Calvin Leung (piano) as highly commended.
Applications
Applications for the annual concerto competition will open at the start of Lent Term. Successful candidates receive the opportunity to perform a concerto with one of the University orchestras in the academic year 2024-2025.
Keep an eye out for further details to come but here are a few important things to note if you are hoping to apply in January:
- Applicants must be current students at the University of Cambridge at the time of the auditions, but you do not have to be a student for the academic year 2024-25.
- The competition consists of 2 rounds
- For the first round (expected to be in week 3 of Lent term) you need to prepare ½ movements no m than 10 minutes
- All candidates, including pianists, must organise and bring their own accompanist
- As part of your aplpication form, you will be asked to provide a brief CV
- The final of the competition will be held later in Lent term 2024 as part of an extended concert in the CULC series
The competition consists of two rounds. Round 1 (date and details to follow) Candidates are asked to prepare one whole movement or two whole movements lasting no more than 10 minutes from a concerto, to perform to the panel. If you are successful in the competition, you can of course choose a different concerto to perform next season. Candidates must organise and bring their own accompanist. Pianists should also provide an accompanist for their audition. The judging panel may also conduct a brief interview with candidates.
The final of the competition will be held in Lent term 2024 as part of the CULCS. It will be an extended concert, so finalists must be available between 12:30-2:30pm. Finalists are asked to perform a movement from a concerto, lasting no more than 10 minutes, to the panel and a public audience. This can be the same as performed in round 1. No accompanist will be provided; candidates (including pianists) must provide their own accompanist.
Keep an eye out for applications in late Michaelmas with more details to come soon. Any questions email info@cmp.cam.ac.uk.
Previous winners
2021-22
Competition Winner: Mark Zang (piano)
Competition prize-winners: Patrick Pan (piano) and Jacqueline Seki (violin)
2020
Competition Joint Winners: Leo Appel (violin) and Kevin Loh (guitar)
Competition Prize-winners: William Hu (piano), Akihito Okuda (piano) and Ellis Thomas (piano)
