The Sempre Musick Concerto Competition is an opportunity for amateur and pre-professional musicians to perform as a soloist with a professional orchestra:
Concerto Repertoire
Our rich repertoire list includes not only Baroque, Classical, and Romantic concertos, but also contemporary works specially written for young musicians.
Compositions with Orchestra
Sempre Musick also offers young musicians the unique opportunity to play with professional orchestra without having to learn specific concerto repertoire. Sempre Musick commissioned professional composers to create orchestral accompaniment to popular classical masterpieces, without changing a single note in the original scores.
We also offer a list of original compositions by contemporary composers.
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About
- Submission consisting of a video recording of approved repertoire (see bottom of page).
- Winners will be invited to perform with the professional Sempre Musick Orchestra.
Eligibility
- Open to all ages.
- International applicants welcome.
- Repertoire selection: one movement or single composition from the pre-approved repertoire list (see bottom of page), or otherwise pre-approved (by special arrangement).
- Applicants are eligible to submit multiple applications and apply to multiple Sempre Musick events.
Age Categories
Applicants will be divided by age as of January 1:
- Elementary (10 and younger)
- Junior (11-14)
- Senior (15-18)
- Collegiate (19-24)
- Adult (25 and older)
Deadlines and Dates
- Application and video submission deadline: April 6, 2025
- Announcement of results: after April 12.
- Recital fee submission deadline: four days after results are announced.
- Master class with Conductor: April 20 – May 22
- Winners’ Recitals will be held:
- Sunday, May 4: Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Methuen, MA
- Saturday, May 24: Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Methuen, MA
- Sunday, May 25: West Parish Church, Andover, MA
- Monday May 26 (Memorial Day): West Parish Church, Andover, MA
- Saturday June 7: West Parish Church, Andover, MA
- Performance schedule will be determined by April 25 upon receipt of recital fees.
- Participants must be available to perform on any of these dates.
Fees
Application Fee: $160. (Late Fee: $50)
Winners’ Recital Fees:
- Performance with string orchestra: $115 / minute of performance time (including any orchestral introductions and interludes).
- Additional instrumentation, including winds, brass, and timpani: recital fees will be quoted.
- For performance at Methuen Memorial Music Hall, an additional fee of $180 will apply.
To reduce the cost of performance, Sempre Musick offers strings-only versions of many Concertos. Please Contact Us with any repertoire questions.
Recital Fees include:
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- Participants with repertoire over 8 minutes in duration will receive a complimentary masterclass with the Sempre Musick Orchestra Conductor (remote, 15 to 30 minutes, based on selected repertoire)
- All performers will have a live rehearsal with the orchestra on the day of the Recital
- Two complimentary tickets to Winners’ Recital (additional tickets will be available for purchase)
All fees paid are non-refundable.
Awards and Prizes
- All contestants will receive judge comments.
- Award Certificates will be distributed at the Live Winners’ Recitals only, and will not be mailed.
- First, Second, and Third Place Winners of the Competition will be invited to perform live with the Sempre Musick Orchestra.
- Grand Prix winner will be invited to perform with the NH Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2024-2025 concert season.
- Special Award: Solo appearance with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra (New Hampshire) in the 2024-2025 concert season: one contestant will be selected.
- Sempre Musick Rising Artist Award: one contestant may be selected to perform with the Sempre Musick Orchestra with a full scholarship.
- Additional awards will be determined by the judges after all live performances are completed.
Winners' Recital
- Winners must be available to perform on any of the listed dates, as will be determined by Sempre Musick after receipt of recital fees. Dates cannot be changed.
- No warm-up spaces will be available at the concert venues.
- Performers: formal attire required.
Rules
- No repertoire changes are allowed after registration.
- Decision of the judges is final.
- Additional details may be added closer to the event.
Sign up to receive occasional email updates about our events:
Pre-Approved Repertoire List
Participants are welcome to select any single movement from a Concerto on this list, or any single Composition for their competition video submission and potential performance with orchestra.
Please Note:
- Repertoire listed below does not require pre-approval.
- Sempre Musick will consider other repertoire on a case-by-case basis. Please Contact Us prior to submitting your application. Additional fees may apply.
- Sempre Musick reserves the right to disallow repertoire selections for logistical reasons, modify the instrumentation, and make orchestral cuts as deemed appropriate.
Any Instrument (including those not separately listed below)
- J. S. Bach – any Concerto
- A. Vivaldi – any Concerto
- W. A. Mozart – any Concerto
- F. J. Haydn – any Concerto
Piano
Concerto Repertoire
- Any Concerto by J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, or F. J. Haydn
- G. J. Vogler – Piano Concerto in C Major
- L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
- L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19
- L. van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
- F. Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 (string orchestra only, or including winds)
- F. Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 (string orchestra only, or including winds)
- F. Chopin – Andante Frederic Chopin “Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante”, Op. 22
- Robert Schumann – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
- Felix Mendelssohn – Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 25
- Felix Mendelssohn – Piano Concerto No.2, Op. 40
- Edward Grieg – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
- Camille Saint-Saens – Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
- S. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
- D. Shostakovich – Concerto in C minor, No. 1, Op. 35
- Robert Edward Smith – Suite Petite for Piano and Strings
- Timothy Brown – The Classical Concerto for Piano and Strings
- Alexander Peskanov – any Concerto
Compositions with Orchestra
- J. S. Bach – Minuet in G, from Anna Magdalena’s Notebook (Petzold)
- J. S. Bach – Italian Concerto in F Major, BVW 971 (by special arrangement – please Contact Us):
- I. Allegro
- II. Molto largo
- III. Presto
- J. A. Benda – Sonatina in A minor
- M. Clementi – Sonatina in C Major, Op. 36, No. 1:
- I. Allegro
- II. Andante
- III. Vivace
- M. Clementi – Sonatina in G Major, Op. 36, No. 2:
- I. Allegretto
- III. Allegro
- F. Kuhlau – Sonatina Op. 55, No. 1:
- I. Allegro
- II. Vivace
- F. Chopin – Waltz in A minor, B150 (posth.)
- F. Chopin – Waltz in B minor, Op. 69, No. 2
- Timothy Brown – Cassandra’s Harp
- A. Peskanov – Piano Solo:
- Africana (Piano Solo Only – Orchestra Version)
- Cinderella’s Dream (Piano Solo Only – Orchestra Version)
- Circus (Piano Solo Only)
- A. Peskanov – Piano Duet:
- Bambera (Piano Duet Only)
- Miami Burlesque (Piano Duet Only)
- Joyride (Piano Duet Only)
- Calliope (Piano Duet Only)
- Concertino in C (Piano Duet Only)
String Instruments (violin, viola, cello, contrabass)
Concerto Repertoire
Any Instrument:
- Any Concerto by J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, or F. J. Haydn
Additional options – Cello:
- Edward Elgar – Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
- Gabriel Fauré – Elegy, Op. 24
Additional options – Violin:
- A. de Beriot – Violin Concerto No.9, Op.104
- Ferdinand Kuchler – Concertino in D, Op. 15
- Felix Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
- Camille Saint-Saens – Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
- Friedrich Seitz – Concerto 2 in G major, Op. 13
Compositions with Orchestra
Violin:
- Jules Massenet – Méditation (Thaïs)
Brass Instruments (French Horn, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, etc.)
Concerto Repertoire
Any Instrument:
- Any Concerto by J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, or F. J. Haydn
Additional options – Alto Saxophone:
- Alexander Peskanov – Maryland Concerto
- Alexander Peskanov – Mama’s Blues
Additional options – Trumpet:
- N. Hummel – Trumpet Concerto in E (or E-flat) major, S. 49
- Alexander Peskanov – Royal Concerto
Woodwind Instruments (clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, etc.)
Concerto Repertoire
Any Instrument:
- Any Concerto by J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, or F. J. Haydn
Additional options – Flute:
- Alexander Peskanov – Irish Poem
- Alexander Peskanov – Equestrian Suite
Additional options – Oboe:
- This includes W. A. Mozart – Flute (Oboe) Concerto No.2 in D major, K. 314.
Compositions with Orchestra
Clarinet:
- Jules Massenet – Méditation (Thaïs)
Harp
Concerto Repertoire
- Any Concerto by J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, or F. J. Haydn
- Marcel Grandjany – Aria in Classic Style (for Harp and Strings)
- Georg Friedrich Handel – Harp Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 4, No. 6
- Robert Edward Smith – Concerto for Harp and Strings