Applications are invited for the opportunity to perform a concerto with Cambridge University Orchestra (CUO), Cambridge University Sinfonia (CUS), Cambridge University Wind Orchestra (CUWO) in the academic year 2020-21. Applicants must be in statu pupillari at Cambridge University at the time of the auditions. You do not have to be in statu pupillari for the academic year 2020-21.
There will be 2 rounds of auditions. The first round will be held in West Road Concert Hall on Monday 27 January 2020 (between 10am – 4pm). Candidates are asked to prepare one whole movement or two whole movements lasting no more than 10 minutes from a concerto, to perform to the panel. If you are successful in the competition you can choose a different concerto to perform next season. No accompanist will be provided; candidates must organise and bring their own accompanist. Pianists must also provide an accompanist for their audition. The panel may also conduct a brief interview with each candidate.
The final round will be held on Tuesday 11 February 2020 as part of the Cambridge University Lunchtime Concert series. It will be an extended concert so please be available from 12.30pm -2.30pm. The finalists will be asked to perform a movement lasting no more than 10 minutes from a concerto to perform to the panel and the public audience. This can be the same movement as performed in the first round. No accompanist will be provided; candidates must organise and bring their own accompanist. Pianists should also provide an accompanist.
Candidates should send their CV, together with a formal letter of application, by email to Chloe Davidson cnd26@cam.ac.uk, by 9.00 AM on Thursday 23 January 2020. All applicants will be able to take part in the first round of auditions. Please include details of the movement and concerto you will be performing and the name of your accompanist. Please note: applications received after the above time will not be considered.
There is a small budget to cover travel expenses and accommodation for winners who will not be in Cambridge at the time of their performance. This must be organised at the time of acceptance. For details please contact Chloe Davidson.
Following the Final of the 2020 Concerto Competition which took place on Tuesday 11 February, we are delighted to announce that this year’s joint winners of the competition are Leo Appel and Kevin Loh. The prize-winners are William Hu, Akihito Okuda and Ellis Thomas. We are very much looking forward to performances by these musicians next season.
Mention should also go to Lloyd Hampton, Will Harris, Alex Semple and James Tett, who were highly commended in the first round of the competition.
Many thanks to all those who have taken part in the competition, and to our judges John Rink, Dominic Doutney, Odile Ollagnon, Melanie Ragge and guest judge Jac van Steen.