Young Artist Competition Guidelines - Junior Division

Eligibility and requirements:

  • High school students (including homeschool) from Missouri and neighboring states*
  • Community/Junior college students from Missouri and neighboring states*
  • One movement of a solo selection with orchestra or band accompaniment of approximately 10-20 minutes in length. Orchestral accompaniment parts must be readily available and not rental material. Questions about repertoire should be directed well ahead of time to the Young Artist Competition Committee at voskoboynikovaa@umsl.edu

Preliminary Round:

  • The preliminary round is by video only, submitted online (unlisted on YouTube)
  • Application (online submission) and video must be received on or before Saturday, November 1st.
  • Performance for this round must be with piano accompaniment. Performance by memory is strongly recommended.
  • All videos will be reviewed by the UMSL Concerto Competition Committee. Finalists will be announced via email by November 7th.

Final Round:

  • The Final Round will take place in the Touhill Lee Theater on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. 
  • Performances must use piano accompaniment. Performance by memory is strongly recommended
  • Three copies of the score, with cuts marked, must be provided for the judges, at the final round.
  • This round is open to the public.

Winner:

  • Decision of the judges is final. The number of winners will be determined by the ensemble directors.
  • The winner will perform as soloist with UMSL Orchestra or Wind Ensemble on the spring concert (March) along with the winner of the College Division.
Judges:
  • Director of Instrumental Ensembles, David Wacyk, along with two other members of the UMSL faculty will determine the winner of the high school division. (UMSL faculty who are private instructors of any participant are ineligible to serve as a judge.)

Eligibility Note for Previous First-Place Winners
We enthusiastically welcome previous first-place winners to participate and perform in this year’s Young Artist Competition. While they remain eligible to receive written feedback from the adjudicators, they will not be considered for the first-place award.

 

MSL Young Artist Competition Committee:

Alla Voskoboynikova, Chair Director of Keyboard Studies

David Wacyk Director of Instrumental Ensembles, Assistant Teaching Professor of Music

Bethany Worrell Director of Voice Studies, Vocal Arts

Corinne Stillwell, Associate Professor of Music, Strings

 

*”Neighboring states” is defined as states that are members of the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP): Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Any travel expenses incurred for participants/winners are the responsibility of those individuals.