Concerto Competition

Applications have closed for the 2026 Concerto Competition

Dates and Deadlines

2026 Competition Guidelines

ELIGIBILITY

The Concerto Competition is divided into two divisions: Undergraduate and Graduate. It is open to only full-time music majors currently studying with a member of the OU applied faculty in undergraduate division (junior through senior) or graduate division at the OU School of Music.

Contestants must:

• Have full-time student status at the School of Music
• Be making satisfactory progress towards the degree program: To be in good standing with the College and eligible to graduate, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 (3.0 for Graduate students) as of their most recent Spring semester in both their combined GPAs.
• Have been fully admitted to a School of Music degree program. The eligibility of students accepted to the School of Music conditionally will be at the discretion of the Concerto Competition Committee.
• Be matriculating with normal progress and studying in the degree program at the School of Music at the time of the competition and concert.
• Be enrolled in applied lessons during the semester of the competition and concert:
  • Undergraduate students:
    • 12+ hours
    • Be a Junior in class standing or above and have the teacher's permission to complete
  • Graduate students:
    • With GA: 5 hours
    • All other Graduates commensurate to 9 hours and up
    • Graduate students not falling into the previous categories may petition the committee to participate.
• Previous winners selected to perform are not allowed to compete in the same division.
  
• Select an accompanist available to perform at both the Semifinal and Final Rounds.
• Confirm with their accompanist prior to applying for the Concerto Competition. Accompanist MUST be available for ALL rounds of the competition.
• Determine that orchestra/wind band parts and scores are available for purchase or rental. Please consult with your applied teacher and Dr. Jonathan Shames / Dr. Caroline Hand.
• Piano reductions/scores (with cuts) must be submitted to the online application.

MUSIC: All Divisions

• A composition with orchestral or band accompaniment.
  
• Memorization is optional and determined by each area.
  
• Time limit on repertoire: Graduate: 20 minutes; Undergraduate: 12 minutes
• Instrumental entrants may perform a single or multiple movements of a given work up to the prescribed time limit.
• Undergraduate voice competitors may compete with any aria or art song with orchestral accompaniment.
• Graduate voice competitors should choose a substantial work for voice and orchestra. This could be a single concert aria or song cycle for voice and orchestra. If in doubt, contact your department chair.

PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Each department determines the procedure for its own preliminary round, but the rules and requirements of these guidelines must be observed. If the initial number of applicants is lower than the established quota, no preliminary round is necessary, but each department is encouraged to send only highly prepared performers to the Concerto Committee Chairs (Matthew Reynolds and Jeongwon Ham) by 11:59 pm on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND: Sunday, February 1, 2026

• The maximum audition time for each Undergraduate entrant is six (6) minutes.
• The maximum audition time for each Graduate entrant is nine (9) minutes.
• Eight (8) judges will judge each division: one from each Performance Department (7) and one (1) from the combined divisions of MEGE/TCT (Musicology, Ethnomusicology, General Ed. Studies / Theory, Composition, Music Technology).
• Considering time constraints, orchestral tutti should be kept to a minimum.
• Names of the finalists will be announced at the end of the semifinal round.

FINAL ROUND: Sunday, February 8, 2026

• The maximum audition time for each Undergraduate entrant is twelve (12) minutes.
• The maximum audition time for each Graduate entrant is twenty (20) minutes.
• Judges for the final round will consist of three guest musicians from outside OU.
• Winners and alternates of each division will be selected and announced at the end of the competition.

CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS:

• Decision of the judges is final.
• Winners will perform with the OU Symphony Orchestra or Wind Symphony.
• All programming decisions will be at the discretion of the OU Symphony Orchestra and/or Wind Symphony conductors.
• The conductor has the option not to program a work due to inability to procure rental parts in a timely manner, programming, and rehearsal demands.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please contact one of the following members of the Concerto Committee, beginning with a chair / co-chair of the committee:

Myles Boothroyd
Justin Cook
Lorraine Ernest
Les Flanagan
Jeongwon Ham, Co-chair
Hyun Kim
Matthew Reynolds, Co-chair
Jonathan Shames
Anthony Stoops