2025 Concerto Competition

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its third annual international concerto competition. The contest is geared to give young artists a chance to perform with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) during the 2024-2025 season. The LCO is a chamber orchestra, so we are unfortunately limited to which concertante work we can produce; while contestants can apply with any work they wish, they are encouraged to consider less standard works for smaller instrumentation before applying. Please visit our video section to survey the size of the ensemble.

Prizes:

First Place

Performance during the 2025-2026 season
Professional video recording
Cash prize of US$1000
Travel stipend up to US$300 to attend rehearsals and concert

Second Place

Cash prize of US$500

Third Place

Cash prize of US$200

Requirements:

Contestants must be born on or after August 31, 1995 (contestants born after August 31, 2007 require a parent or legal guardian to enter)
The competition is open to the following instruments: piccolo, flute, oboe, english horn, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, piano, harpsichord, harp, guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, any voice classification (soprano, contralto, alto, mezzo-soprano, tenor, counter-tenor, baritone, bass, etc.)
Contestants must be available the day of the in-person round (read below)

Timeline:

The competition will take place over two rounds: an initial virtual round, and an in-person round. Fifteen contestants will be invited to the in-person round, which will take place in Lowell, MA, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Invited contestants will be responsible for all their travel, lodging, and accompanist expenses. The winner will be announced that same day in this page.

All contestants must submit:

A link to one video of the contestant playing a concertante work, showcasing the best of the contestant's playing ability
- Video must be continuous, unedited, clearly showing the contestant and their accompanist(s).
- Video must be at least 7 minutes long
- Video must have been recorded within a year of submission
- Contestant must be accompanied by a piano, or an ensemble. No unaccompanied video or pre-recorded/electronic accompaniments will be considered.
Payment of the US$35 entry fee (click here to pay)

Deadline for submission:
Sunday, January 12, 2025, 11:59 pm UTC/GMT -5

Email us with any questions. We will use these to populate a Q&A below the form

Contestant's Name

First Name

Last Name

Email (Parent or legal guardian's email when applicable)

Full name of parent or legal guardian if contestant is younger than 18 y.o.

Instrument, voice classification, or group name

Link to video submission

Proof of Age Click here to upload

Checkbox

By checking this box, the contestant (or legal guardian in case of a contestant born after October 8, 2005) agrees that they have read and understood the rules and regulations stated above. Contestant understands that incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Contestant will accept the results of the judges, and understands that the judges decision is final and non-negotiable. Contestant understands that the fee is non-refundable for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to not advancing to the in-live person or winning the contest.

I agree with the rules and regulations

Q & A (populated as questions are received)

Can I only submit concertos?
- No. Any concertante piece will be accepted - one movement pieces, multi-movement pieces, opera arias, etc.

For the first and final rounds, do I need to submit the concerto I will perform if I win?
- No. You can submit any video for the video round, and you can perform any pieces for the final round if advancing. However, the winner will need to chose a work that can be produced by the limited instrumentation of LCO

Can a group apply?
- Yes: groups can apply by submitting one submission packet.

Can I submit multiple videos?
- No: one entry per contestant, please.

Are the videos supposed to have piano accompaniment?
- Contestants can submit a video made with a piano accompanist, or from a past orchestral performance: The judges need to evaluate how the contestant works with other collaborators. For that reason, pre-recorded or electronic accompaniments are not acceptable.

Do you give financial aid or waive the competition fee for any reason?
- No, we don’t.