Youth Concerto Competition
Northwest Sinfonietta is delighted to offer a Youth Concerto Competition to Puget Sound area high school students.
The winner will perform with Northwest Sinfonietta on a subscription concert, and will receive the Ben Faigin Young Artist Award, established 2021.
Eligibility
The Youth Concerto Competition is open to any Puget Sound area high school violin, viola, cello, string bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet or percussion student who has received the recommendation of his/her high school band or orchestra director. Participants must be members in good standing of their high school music program. Home-schooled students are encouraged to participate, with the recommendation of their music instructor.
Benefits and Responsibilities of the Winner
Perform as a soloist with the Northwest Sinfonietta and work with a Northwest Sinfonietta Artistic Partner on a subscription concert, March 2 & 3, 2024.
Receive the $1,000 Ben Faigin Young Artist Award, underwritten by the Ben Faigin Music Opportunity Fund.
BEN FAIGIN YOUNG ARTIST AWARD
The Ben Faigin Young Artist Award (BFYAA) was established in 2021 in memory of a gifted and passionate musician who left this world too young. Ben began his classical training in cello at age 9, played in orchestras from elementary through high school, and was especially inspired by his time playing in chamber music quartets. Through this Northwest Sinfonietta award, we recognize the love of classical music which Ben Faigin expressed throughout his life.
This award of $1,000 is underwritten by the Ben Faigin Music Opportunity Fund.
Requirements (Read Carefully)
The student must perform a live solo audition on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 4, 2023. The piece performed must be of high musical and technical substance and quality. The piece must be approved in advance of the competition by the Northwest Sinfonietta.
The piece or movement from a piece must be performed in its entirety: cuts will not be permitted.
The performance time must not exceed 12 minutes.
The soloist must be accompanied by piano at the audition. The soloist is responsible for providing their own accompanist.
The solo performed at the audition must be the one intended for the performance with the Northwest Sinfonietta.
The piece selected must have an orchestral accompaniment no larger than 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bsn, 2hrn, 2 tmpt, 1 timpani/percussion, strings. Music available as "rental only" will not be acceptable. If the selected piece is not approved by NWS for the competition, the student must select a different piece.
The student must be available for daytime rehearsals during the week of February 28 - March 1, 2024 (dates and times to be specified)
Not all applicants will be selected to audition.
Application
Complete the on-line application by September 6, 2023 using the button below.
Include in your application a URL to a video 4-5 minutes long showing your best work. This video does NOT have to be your audition piece. The video may be either accompanied or unaccompanied. This video submission will serve as our tool to determine who will be invited to the live auditions, so make it impressive.
Pay the $25 non-refundable application fee.
Orchestra at Work
One of the greatest gifts a professional orchestra can give a community is a strong education program, particularly as music education is increasingly being cut from school budgets. Our educational program was conceived to answer the question: “How does an orchestra work?” The Orchestra at Work program offers students the opportunity to closely observe and experience the artistic and practical considerations that guide the rehearsal process.
Students attending a rehearsal will observe the preparation of a professional orchestra, hear the conversation between the conductor and musicians, gain an understanding of how musical choices are made and implemented, as well as a familiarity with the composers and pieces being rehearsed. Students receive discounted or complimentary tickets to the culminating concert so that the students can see the concert preparation process from start to finish. For many students, Orchestra at Work may provide their first or most meaningful experience of classical music, and we strive to inspire them to stay involved with music, make it a part of their lives, and consider themselves patrons of the arts.
The director of Pierce College Puyallup’s music programs, Kenneth Owen, D.M.A., had this to say about the program: “Having the Northwest Sinfonietta at Pierce College gave students an incredible opportunity to see the fine arts happen in person, and in our community. Students in Humanities classes were able to see what they are learning about first hand at the highest level. Music students had an invaluable chance to observe a rehearsal on that level and to speak with professional musicians about what they do, and what is expected of them.”
If you are interested in scheduling a field trip for your music, arts, or humanities students to attend one of our rehearsals in Tacoma or Puyallup, please contact us at office@nwsinfonietta.org or call (253) 383-5344. Grades 4-12 and collegiate classes are welcome from both public and private institutions.
Musical Outreach
supporting under-served communities
Heartstrings
Through the HeartStrings program, Northwest Sinfonietta partners with a broad spectrum of social service agencies to deliver free concert tickets to community members who struggle with economic, physical, or mental challenges in Pierce and King Counties.
We are always looking to expand this program. If your organization would like to participate, please contact us at office@nwsinfonietta or call (253) 383-5344.
Testimonials from participants
“Unless you’ve experiences a sense of the isolation that is an inevitable part of deafness, you can’t imagine how important it is to know that the Association of Late Deafened Adults is welcomed at Northwest Sinfonietta.”
–Christine Seymour, former National President, ALDA
“I work with women in recovery. These women seldom have the opportunity to enjoy an event such as this; they are the indigent and the working poor. They give everything to their families and ask little in return. Thank you for this generous opportunity and the healing that this event provides the community.”
–Arlene White, CACDP, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
HeartStrings program participants
YWCA Pierce County
South Sound Outreach
Pierce County Tacoma Health Dept
Assoc. of Late-Deafened Adults
St. Leo's Food Connection
Alliance of People w/disAbilities
Whole Child Access Pass
Pierce County AIDS Foundation
Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Oakridge State Community Facility
TACID
Piece County Housing Authority
REACH Tacoma
Hearing Speech & Deafness Center