American Protégé Music Competitions

REGISTRATION: See website for additional details

American Protégé offers a variety of music competitions and song contests for different music genres, instruments and levels of applicants’ qualification. All our music competitions are open for the musicians of any age, race, nationality or country and provide equal opportunities in a friendly, though very competitive, environment for those who want to demonstrate their talents and realize their dreams to perform at the world’s most prestigious venues such as Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Participation in American Protégé Music Competitions leaves a memorable experience to both young musicians and professionals and helps to build their confidence and strengthen their performance skills.

Golden State Concerto Competition

REGISTRATION: Early March | EVENT: Late April

The GSYO Solo Competition and Performance Program challenges young artists to master their art and themselves through the development of talent, character, confidence, and leadership skills. The piano portion of the competition is open to members and non-members of the Golden State Youth Orchestra, however, only members are able to participate in the “all-orchestra” competition for other instruments.

U.S. Open Competition

REGISTRATION: Middle of September | EVENT: Middle of February

Since 1992, The United States Open Music Competition has promoted the best of classical treasury among young musicians through its annual piano competition events and is committed to expanding the competition to include all aspects of classical repertoire in solo, duet, ensemble, and concerto events.

The contest ranges from open solos to pianistic merits, focusing on sight reading and accompaniment. The competition receives students from local, national, and international regions. The recommended starting contest is the “Open Solo” event while the “Showcase” is an event for exceptional students.

Syllabus with repertoire, deadlines, fees, etc. is released annually in early August.

Elite International Music Competition

REGISTRATION: Very early November | EVENT: Late November

Elite International Music Competition is an annual event that accommodates pianists and all instrumentalists, vocalists, and small chamber ensembles ages 6 through 22, who have successfully passed the preliminary audition and received an invitation to participate in the Winners Recitals. The first and second place winners will perform in the Winners Recital at Carnegie Hall, NY. Third place winners are invited to perform at either Caldwell University (NJ) or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The competition has several locations for preliminaries. The South Bay location is usually in Sunnyvale in November.

Nova Vista Symphony - Mary Jane Beck Young Artist Concerto Competition

REGISTRATION: Late November | EVENT: Early December

This Sunnyvale-based competition takes place annually in December, just a few weeks after registration is due. Contestants must be 13-19 years of age on the date of the competition, perform a COMPLETE concerto from an 18th-20th century repertoire for solo with orchestra. Judges may ask to hear any portion of the concerto.