Young Maestro Competition

Classical Category Rules 

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• Classical category applicant must indicate if they are a solo or ensemble applicant on the electronic application.  

• Applicant may submit their Preliminary Audition recording by the Audition deadline; it is not necessary to submit the recording at the same time as the application.  Preliminary Audition Recordings must be sent to YoungMaestroAuditions@gmail.com with the performers name in the Subject Line.  There is no time limitation for the Preliminary Round; judges reserve the right to stop a performer during their secondary piece during Live auditions. 

• Ensemble applicants can initiate the application with one applicants' name. Ensemble representative will be required to submit all performer names for our Winners Concert Series programming. 

• Applicants entering as duet groups or ensembles need to submit only one application and application fee.  

• Please note the PER PIECE time limitation in each age category.  Extended duration must be expressly permitted by the Young Maestro Board. 

• Appropriate cuts to pieces that exceed the time limitation may be made for the Preliminary Round Auditions as well as the concerts.  Please advise with your teacher or feel free to contact the Young Maestro Board and consult with a committee member.

• The participant must enter with a work or works from the standard classical repertoire: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary/21st Century.  Works outside of the standard classical repertoire are welcome as a contrasting or secondary piece only. 

• Applicants entering the competition in separate categories (for example: Classical and Composition, OR Jazz and Composition) must  submit separate applications and application fees for each performance category.

• A second, contrasting, piece is not required but suggested to provide the judge(s) a well-rounded impression of the performer during the Preliminary Auditions. ​

• Recordings: Recorded submissions for the Preliminary Round Auditions are welcome. The results for applicants who chose to submit recorded auditions versus a live audition are in no way affected.  

• Students performing additional movements at the concerts that were not previously approved by the committee will be immediately disqualified. 

• Students MUST perform the same piece in the Winners Concert Series as the piece they presented to the Judges in their Preliminary Round Audition.  If a performer needs to change their piece, an official Repertoire Request Change must be approved. Students who perform a piece on their concert event that is different from their Preliminary Round Audition piece without consent will be immediately disqualified.    

• Soloists must perform selections from memory. Chamber ensembles and duet groups may use the score. 

• All live audition participants must provide 1 copy of their score to judges panel in the Preliminary Auditions.  This will be returned to the performer right at the end of their audition. 

• Vocalists and Instrumentalists must provide their own accompanists for both the Preliminary Round Audition and the Winners Concert Series. 

• Performers wearing inappropriate attire (in either round/live or recorded categories) will be disqualified.  This includes but is not limited to jeans, sportswear, t-shirts, sneakers, ripped or torn items, etc. Performers in any recording MUST be wearing appropriate attire with a professional setting background. 

• Appropriate cuts to pieces that exceed the time limitation may be made for the Preliminary Round Auditions as well as the concerts.  Please advise with your teacher or feel free to contact NYMC and consult with a committee member.

• Performers outside of the Continental USA are responsible for the Shipment Fee's for Winner's Boxes. 

• Application fees and Concerts fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.  In the event of an unforeseen catastrophic event, all live concert events will be rescheduled, and all recorded events will be re-released. 

• Judges decisions are final and can not be appealed.