The Pro Arte Concerto Competition is open to all instrumentalists born after October 4, 1990. Finalists will perform with the orchestra in its Finals Concert on November 30, 2008, as part of the subscription season. All finalists will also receive recordings of their performances. The winner will be chosen at the conclusion of the concert.
Repertoire chosen for the competition must be suitable for performance with a chamber orchestra — Baroque, Classical, and many new works lend themselves especially well for this purpose. Selections should be one movement of a concerto (or a self-contained piece of similar length). Suggestions for repertoire can be found here.
The competition will consist of three rounds: an initial pre-screening round based on recordings submitted with applications, a live semifinal round (on October 4, 2008), and the Finals Concert (on November 30, 2008). Submitting an application does not guarantee a place in the live semifinal round.
Applicants may choose different selections for the pre-screening round than for the semifinal and final rounds, but these selections should be limited to 12 minutes in length. Applicants must arrange their own accompanists for the pre-screening and semifinal rounds.
To participate, please fill out and submit an application along with a $35 application fee, two letters of recommendation, and a CD or cassette for the pre-screening round. The deadline for applications has been extended to July 11, 2008. If you are unsure about your pre-screening or competition selections, please consult with your teacher or contact Nina Moe at (617) 779-0900 or moen@proarte.org before submitting your application.
Pro Arte will consider waiving the $35 application fee for those who can demonstrate financial need. Waivers will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Nina Moe before submitting your application if you would like to apply for a fee waiver.
Finalists will be announced by October 11, 2008.
All decisions of the jury will be final.