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 2022/23 competition, applicants must be aged 19 or under on 31 August 2023.
Applications for the competition are now open. Complete the form at the bottom of the page by Monday 10 October, 10:00 to apply. You will receive a confirmation email within two working days.
Please note that previous winners of the Junior Concerto Competition may not enter again.
Audition information
Saturday 15 October, 08:30-13:30 at the Centre for Music, Bayswater Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9FF
Applicants will perform two contrasting pieces unaccompanied lasting a total of no longer than ten minutes. Movements and excerpts of longer works may be performed.
If you have any questions about the Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition or any other student programmes, please contact William Emery, Education Officer.
Please note that the auditions for the Oxfordshire Junior Concerto Competition are the same as the auditions for the Young Artists’ Platform. If applying as a soloist for both schemes, please only fill in the Concerto Competition form and tick the box stating that you are also applying for YAP.