October 22, 2023 - Preliminary Round   |   November 5, 2023 - Final Round

Concerto Competition Goal

The goal of the BW Concerto Competition is to encourage outstanding student performance in the Conservatory through public performance with the BW Symphony Orchestra or BW Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

The winner(s) of the Lauria Competition will (each) receive a one-time monetary award applied to the following Fall Semester tuition bill (if the winner is a sophomore or junior) or a cash award at the end of the Spring Semester (if the winner is a senior).  In the case of a winner who is a senior, the prize will be provided to the Lauria Competition winner in the form of a check at the end of Spring Semester with the intention that the Lauria Prize is to be used to advance the student’s professional training or work. The amount of the award is based upon the interest income from the endowed Lauria Concerto Competition fund. In Competition years when there is both an orchestra and a symphonic wind ensemble winner, the prize will be divided equally among the two winners.

Student Eligibility

Participants must be enrolled at BW during the semester of the competition. If the winner has graduated, they will be invited back to campus the following academic year for the performance.

Participants must be in good academic standing, as defined in Section IV of the University Catalog.

Previous winners of the competition are not eligible.

Repertoire Requirements

Repertoire must be written for one or more instruments or voice(s) with large ensemble. Opera scenes are not permitted.

Repertoire must be substantial and appropriate as determined by the ensemble conductor and studio teacher. The piece must be memorized and performed in its entirety. Individual movements or songs are not permitted.

Repertoire with more than one solo part must have all solo parts performed by students eligible for the competition at all rounds of the competition.

Works must be approved by the conductor of the BW Symphony Orchestra or the BW Symphonic Wind Ensemble. A full score and recording of the work under consideration is to be provided to the appropriate ensemble conductor. Piano reductions are not acceptable. Faculty and students are encouraged to consult with the conductor well in advance of the application deadline. Normally, repertoire will be approved within two weeks, but additional time may be required.

Application Procedure

Eligible students must submit a completed Concerto Competition Application. A signature indicating repertoire approval from the appropriate ensemble conductor and studio teacher is required. Normally, repertoire will be approved within two weeks, but additional time may be required. Early applications are encouraged. Forms are available in the Conservatory Dean’s Office.

Participants may enter on more than one instrument. A separate application for each instrument is required.

 Preliminary Round

All students entering the Concerto Competition must perform a preliminary audition for departmental faculty. Each department (keyboard, strings, voice, winds/brass/percussion) will advance students from their departments who are fully prepared at the time of the preliminary round to perform the work in its entirety. Departments are responsible for upholding artistic integrity by advancing only performers who are demonstrably prepared. The results of all departmental preliminaries are announced simultaneously by the Conservatory Dean, with a total of at least three finalists necessary to hold a final competition with external judges.

1. The Preliminary Competition in all departments is to be held no later than two weeks prior to the Competition date. The dates for the Preliminary Round and Final Round will be set at the annual January scheduling meeting for the following academic year.

2. Judging:

A. A minimum of three faculty members must judge the preliminary round for each department.

B. Departments may use faculty judges from other applied music or academic departments
    as necessary.
C. There must always be an uneven number of judges.

3. Participants must perform works in their entirety and from memory. Judges may elect to cut tutti sections.

4. Participants must provide at least two original scores for the judges. Piano reductions are acceptable; legal photocopies are allowed. Participants will be disqualified by submitting illegally photocopied scores.

5. Departmental Responsibility

Departments are responsible for upholding artistic integrity by advancing only performers who are demonstrably prepared to perform the piece at the time of the preliminary round.

Final Round

The final competition is open to the public. Seating is reserved for the judges on the ground level. Public seating in the balcony.

The Conservatory Dean secures a three-judge panel with preference given to judges who are professional conductors or musicians who possess a varied background. The Conservatory Dean will solicit recommendations from faculty when compiling a list of appropriate judges.

The Conservatory Dean serves as chair of the final round or appoints a faculty chair who is responsible for all logistics of the final round. Participants and judges accept the decisions of the chair as final, and the chair is responsible for the confidentiality of all judging information.

Conservatory faculty and students should avoid contact with the judges before and during the competition.

Participants are expected to know works in their entirety and know them from memory. The Conservatory Dean will allot an equal amount of time for each contestant based on the number of finalists. Allotted times will be a minimum of 15 minutes. Contestants, in collaboration with their studio teacher, are responsible for selecting representative excerpts from their repertoire. All tutti sections will be cut.

Up to one winner with each ensemble is permitted.

Participants must provide at least two original scores for the judges. Piano reductions are acceptable; legal photocopies are allowed. Participants will be disqualified by submitting illegally photocopied scores.

Click to download the rules.