Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition
An opportunity to perform a full-length concerto with the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra.
Held in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Music Service, the Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition takes place every other year and offers the county’s most talented young musicians the opportunity to win a cash prize and a solo concerto performance with the County Youth Orchestra.
Your time to shine
About the Junior Concerto Competition
The Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition is held every other year in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Music Service, alternating with the Senior Competition, and is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians to gain invaluable performance experience as soloists.
After an audition process and a semi-final in which competitors perform to our panel, three finalists proceed to perform one movement each from a concerto of their choice with the Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra. The winner, selected by our panel, will perform a full concerto with the County Youth Orchestra in the second half of the final the following year. Both the winner and runner-up will also be awarded a cash prize.
How to apply
Applicants to the Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition must be at least Grade 8 standard and be residents or students in Oxfordshire, in full time secondary education or on a gap year following A-levels. For the 2024/25 competition, applicants must be aged 19 or under on 31 August 2025.
Applications for the 2045/25 Junior Concerto Competition will open in September.
Please note that previous winners of the Junior Concerto Competition may not enter again.
Audition information
Date tbc, October 2024
Venue tbc, Oxford
Candidates only applying for the Oxfordshire Senior Concerto Competition and/or Young Artists’ Platform will prepare the following for the audition:
- Two contrasting pieces lasting no longer than 10 minutes in total (movements and excerpts of longer works may be performed)
For those also applying for the Side-by-Side or Orchestral Apprenticeship programmes, candidates will also play:
- Two orchestral excerpts provided 4 days in advance
- Sight-reading provided in the audition
If you have any questions about the Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition or any other student programmes, please contact Will Emery, Education Officer.