With three divisions open to North Dakota middle school through college students, the BMSO’s Young Artist Competition is committed to seeking out oustanding young musicians from the local region. The winners will receive a cash prize from the BMSO and an invitation to perform a movement from a concerto, as a featured artist with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra in the current concert season.
Enter the Young Artist Competition for your chance to perform with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra at the April 12, 2025 concert. The competition consists of three divisions: Junior, Senior and Vocal. An overview of the application process is below.
Application Deadline:
Preliminary application & recording must be received by Friday, October 4, 2024. Finalists will be notified by Monday, October 14, 2024 and invited to audition in Bismarck.
Finals:
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Universityof Mary - Arno Gustin Hall
The finals will be open to the public.
Award(s):
A performance as soloist (full concerto for Senior Division, concerto movement for Junior Division and one vocal selection for Vocal Division) with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra on its April 12, 2025 concert in the Belle Mehus Auditorium and a cash award of $500 (Junior division), $1,000 (Senior division) and $500 (Vocal Division.) Additional non-cash/acknowledgement awards may be determined at the judges’ discretion.
To Apply:
Eligibility:
- Junior Division:
- Currently enrolled in North Dakota high school, middle school, or elementary school in one of the following counties in south-central & western North Dakota:
Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, Lamoure, Logan, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Olivier, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Stutsman, Wells, Williams
- Middle school and high school ages 18 and under (as of November 4, 2024)
- Competition is open to the following orchestral instruments: woodwinds, brass, strings, harp, piano, percussion and classical guitar.
- The winner of the Junior Division competition will perform with the BMSO at the April 12, 2025 concert in the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck. The winner must be available for two rehearsals prior to the performance date: the evenings of Thursday, April 10, and Friday, April 11, 2025. Concert attire is a nice suit or dress. Travel to and accommodation in Bismarck is at the expense of the artist.
- Senior Division:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate in any North Dakota college or university or status as a high school senior in one of the following counties in south-central & western North Dakota: Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, Lamoure, Logan, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Olivier, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Stutsman, Wells, Williams.
- Between the ages of 17 and 24 (as of November 4, 2024)
- Competition is open to the following orchestral instruments: woodwinds, brass, strings, harp, piano, percussion and classical guitar.
- The winner of the Senior Division competition will perform with the BMSO at the April 20, 2024 concert in the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck. The concerto will be performed in its entirety, although only one movement will be played for the competition. The winner must be available for two rehearsals prior to the performance date: the evenings of Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11. Formal concert attire is required. Travel to and accommodation in Bismarck is at the expense of the artist.
- Vocal Divison:
- Currently enrolled in any North Dakota college or university
- Between the ages of 18 and 24 (as of November 4, 2024)
- The winner of the Vocal Division competition will perform with the BMSO at the April 12, 2025 concert in the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck. The vocal work will be performed in its entirety, although only one movement will be played for the competition. The winner must be available for two rehearsals prior to the performance date: the evenings of Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11. Formal concert attire is required. Travel to and accommodation in Bismarck is at the expense of the artist.
Past winners are ineligible to compete in the same division but may compete in the other division as long as they meet the age requirements. High school seniors may compete in either the Junior Division OR the Senior Division, but not both.
Repertoire:
Orchestral applicants should perform one movement from a standard concerto for their instrument or a similar work. Vocal Applicants should perform one selection (opera aria, art song) from the standard repertoire. Vocal contestants must provide their own accompanist. Orchestral accompaniment must be available for the work. The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra reserves the right to refuse a concerto selection based on its cost or availability. Please call prior to submitting CD recording to confirm if you wish to compete with anything composed after 1900.
Ideally, the work should be memorized, if invited to audition in Bismarck. However, for Junior Division, this is not a requirement. For the Senior and Vocal Divisions the movement must be memorized if competing in the finals. The winner of the Senior Division will have the option to use music in the April performance of the entire concerto.
- Junior Division: Maximum length of the solo should not exceed 10 minutes. Minimum length is 4 minutes.
- Senior Division: Maximum length of the solo should not exceed 15 minutes. Minimum length is 4 minutes.
- Vocal Division: Maximum length of the selection should not exceed 10 minutes. Minimum length is 4 minutes.
After the entry has been received, repertoire changes will not be permitted without the approval from the Music Director of the BMSO.
Contestants must provide their own accompanist. A list of Bismarck-area accompanists is available upon request.
Application Fee:
A $25 non-refundable application fee must be submitted with preliminary recording and completed application.
Judging Decision:
The winner will be announced following the final auditions. All judges’ decisions are final.
Questions:
Contact the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra
Return Applications:
Please submit a completed preliminary application & recording to the BMSO office by Friday, October 6, 2023.
Junior Division Application | Senior Division Application | Vocal Division Application
Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra
ATTN: Young Artist Competition
P.O. Box 2031
Bismarck, ND 58502