Founded in 2019, the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition [YAC] is a unique opportunity for serious young instrumentalists, aged 18 to 26 years old, from the continental United States, to compete for a cash award and featured concerto performance with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra in Northwest Connecticut. Endowed by the esteemed WSO Chair, Mr. Thomas C. Clark, the annual competition's focus is chosen collaboratively by Mr. Clark and WSO’s Music Director, Maestro Leif Bjaland. For 2025, the competition will center on the saxophone, with selected applicants performing Glazunov's Concerto for Alto Saxophone in E-flat Major, Op. 109.
WSO's Executive Director, Doug Donato shares about the importance of this competition,
"I am thrilled to extend a special invitation to talented saxophone students, aged 18-26, to participate in the prestigious WSO’s 2025 Thomas C. Clark Young Artist Competition.
The competition represents a trememdous opportunity for emerging artists to demonstrate their prowess and gain a significant performance opportunity. The selected winner will have the unique chance to perform Glazunov Concerto for Alto Saxophone with the Symphony on June 1st, 2024 and receive a $2000 prize.
Those interested in applying, can download the WSO YAC Competition Flyer and the Invitation to Apply, along with the Application Form. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 7th, 2024, and the Audition/Competition is scheduled for Sat, April 5th, 2025 in Waterbury, Connecticut.
About WSO's Thomas C. Clark Young Artist Initiative
Each year, the Waterbury Symphony hosts an event for emerging instrumentalists as part of its new Young Artist Chamber Series and the Young Artist Concerto Competition - two treasured parts of the Thomas C. Clark Young Artist Initiative. Each year, the Clark Initiative focuses on a different orchestral instrument and a specific standard repertoire concerto.
Mr. Clark, now Board Chair, endowed these programs in 2019. With many years of experience serving on the boards of orchestras and performing arts organizations, Mr. Clark knows well the significance of this type of opportunity for young musicians for its performance, monetary, and credential values. “Having been involved for a long time with emerging musicians, I know how important it is for them to demonstrate their prowess in a performance with a symphony orchestra. The prize fund is a named endowment with real and enduring value for the winners and the Symphony. I’m happy that the Prize will advance these young artists throughout their musical careers,” Mr. Clark explains.
Prior year competition winners are cellist Yun Han in 2019, violinist Yoon Be Kim in 2020, and following the COVID lockdown, pianist Homan Cheng in 2023. In 2024, the competition centered on the clarinet performing ... and with 8 contestants competing from throughout United States the deserving winner was 19 year old from Texas, Chris Dechant, who is studying in Julliard under ...
About Waterbury Symphony Orchestra: Creating music since 1938, the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s core belief is that music, music education and shared cultural experiences are essential for humanity.
Three primary strands of the WSO include its MasterWorks Classical Concerts including its annual Symphony & Cinema Concert, its prodigious satellite performances of innovative concerts and smaller ensembles, and finally their celebrated educational programs for libraries, schools, and underserved communities.
Led by Leif Bjaland, now in his 30th season, WSO draws over one hundred talented professional musicians from across New England.
As orchestra in residence of the Fine Arts Center, Naugatuck Valley Community College, the Waterbury Symphony wishes to acknowledge the partnership of NVCC and the enduring legacy of the generosity and vision of Ruth Ann Leever.
For more information by telephone, call 203-574-4283 For tickets online, visit: waterburysymphony.org For ticketing by phone: 203-346-2000*
*Via box office partner, Palace Theater Ticketing Office