Biennial Young Artists Competition

Audition Requirements

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. MST on November 13, 2026.

Montana Connection Requirement

Applicants must have a current or established connection to Montana and meet at least one of the following criteria:

Currently live, work, or study in Montana
Hold an auditioned position with a MASO member symphony
Be originally from Montana and currently attend a college or university outside the state

Video Audition Specifications

Upload your audition video to YouTube as an Unlisted video and include the link in your application.

Videos may be no longer than 20 minutes.
The performance must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take.
The video should clearly show your face, both hands, and as much of your instrument as practical.
The performance must include an accompanist. The accompanist does not need to appear on camera.
The preliminary video audition does not need to be memorized. However, musicians selected for the live final round must perform their repertoire from memory.
Before submitting your application, confirm that your link works and can be viewed without requesting access.

Repertoire Selection

Select a work or movement with a performance time of no more than 20 minutes. One movement of a concerto is often an excellent choice.

The orchestral score and parts must be available for purchase or rental in the United States. Repertoire must use standard orchestral instrumentation. Applicants and teachers are encouraged to contact MASO with questions about repertoire suitability before recording.

Required Dates

Applicants selected as finalists must be available to participate in the live final round. Division winners must also be available for the Montana Symphony Summit:

January 9, 2027: Live Final Round at the University of Montana Music Recital Hall in Missoula
May 21–23, 2027: Montana Symphony Summit at the Mother Lode Theatre in Butte, where the winner of each division will perform as a featured soloist with the Summit Festival Orchestra

Finalists are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses for the live final round in Missoula. MASO will provide travel and lodging for division winners participating in the Montana Symphony Summit.

Apply for the 2027 Competition

Enrich. Engage. Educate.

Montana’s Next Musical Generation

The Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras (MASO) is committed to investing in the future of music in Montana by supporting the next generation of musicians. To nurture the development of young talent, we launched the biennial Young Artists Competition in 1991. Designed as both a performance showcase and a scholarship opportunity, our goal is to inspire Montana's young musicians to pursue their dreams and aspire to professional heights.

Mark Your Calendar!

September 1, 2026 – Young Artists Competition applications open

November 14, 2026 – Young Artists Competition applications close at 11:59 p.m. MST

December 4, 2026 – Young Artists Competition finalists notified

January 9, 2027 – Young Artists Competition Final Round at the University of Montana Music Recital Hall

May 21 – 23, 2027 – Montana Symphony Summit

Festival Orchestra: professional musicians from MASO Orchestras
Professional Development: Sessions for participating musicians
Educational Outreach: Opportunities for four YAC winners
Culminating Concert: Public orchestral performance featuring the four YAC winners and the Montana Youth Symphony Composition Competition Winners

View Schedule

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!

Junior

Ages 13-15
Prize: $500

Senior

Ages 16 through high school graduate
Prize: $750

Collegiate

Ages 18 through undergraduate graduation
Prize: $1,000

Emerging Artist

Undergraduate degree completion through age 30
Prize: $1,250

Apply for the 2027 Competition

The Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras’ Young Artists Competition is the first step in a statewide pathway connecting Montana’s most promising young musicians with professional performance opportunities through the Montana Symphony Summit. Each biennial cycle, student musicians from across the state compete for the rare opportunity to perform as soloists with the Summit Festival Orchestra, made up of musicians from Montana’s seven symphony orchestras. For many participants, this represents an early professional milestone that can shape future artistic goals and careers.

The competition is open to Montana musicians ages 13 – 30 who perform on orchestral instruments. Divisions include Junior, Senior, Collegiate, and Emerging Artist. Past winners may not compete again in the same division. Applicants submit an application and recorded audition, which are reviewed by preliminary judges. Based on those evaluations, selected finalists advance to the live final round.

Finalists perform before a panel of nationally recognized adjudicators, who provide professional feedback and select one winner from each division. Those four winners are then featured as soloists with the Montana Symphony Summit Festival Orchestra during the culminating public concert.

Beyond prizes and recognition, the Young Artists Competition develops stronger musicians by encouraging disciplined preparation, artistic growth, confidence, and leadership. The live final round also offers audiences the chance to experience some of Montana’s finest emerging musical talent, while the Summit concert showcases these young artists alongside professional musicians from across the state. Together, the Competition and Summit celebrate excellence, mentorship, and the future of orchestral music in Montana.