PARTICIPANTS MUST:
- Be a full-time undergraduate music major at University of Missouri - St. Louis
- Have been making satisfactory progress towards the degree program. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required.
MUSIC: Applied instructors should confirm the programming feasibility of the repertoire with the conductor of the University Orchestra or Wind Ensemble.
- Vocalists may offer up to 20 minutes of music that is accompanied by orchestra/wind band. The following repertoire options apply:
- If vocalists choose to offer a variety of arias (Opera, Oratorio) or MT songs, the selections must feature two languages at minimum.
- If vocalists offer a stand-alone work for voice and orchestra/wind band, they will enter with that one piece (in one language). (For example, Samuel Barber Knoxville Summer of 1915, James Mobberley’s Words of Love, Haydn’s Arianna a Naxos, etc.)
- Art songs that are performed on a standard basis with orchestra may be offered. (For example, Mahler Ruckert Lieder, many songs by Richard Strauss, etc.) If offering orchestrated art songs, a complete set or a programmatic set is required. If choosing a programmatic option, a singer could choose a variety of orchestrated Concert Spirituals, for example.
- Memorization is required for all Operatic, MT, and art song literature.
- If a student chooses a sacred work or work from an Oratorio, they may use sheet music, as this is the professional industry standard.
- Instrumentalists: One movement of a solo selection with orchestra accompaniment of approximately 10-20 minutes of length.
- Pieces for small ensembles will be considered by the committee on a case-by-case basis.
- Memorization is required for piano, string and vocal area students and suggested (not required) for wind, brass and percussion area students
PRELIMINARY ROUND: To be completed within each area by November 1, 2025
- Each area (voice, strings, piano, winds, brass, and percussion) will submit a video by by Saturday, November 1st. Three Finalists will be announced via email by Friday, November 7th, 2025.
- Areas are encouraged to send only the highest level performers to the final round.
FINAL ROUND: Friday, November 21, 2025, from 3:00–6:00 p.m., Lee Theater (This round will be open to the public.)
- Finalists must perform from memory (except wind, brass and percussion areas) with piano accompaniment
- Two copies of the score, with cuts marked, must be provided for the judges at the finals.
- Judges for the finals will be highly respected professionals not affiliated with UMSL as instructors nor who have been the private teacher of any finalist.
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS:
- Decision of the judges is final. The number of winners will be determined by the ensemble directors.
- Winner(s) will perform on the Spring 2025 concert of the appropriate UMSL ensemble.
- All programming decisions will be at the discretion of the ensemble conductor.
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.
UMSL 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
