Calling all young musical string artists!
The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra is encouraging professional standards of performance among young musicians. February 4th, 2023 is the date for the next Young Artists Competition organized by the LSO. It will be held in Callaway Auditorium, located on the campus of LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. This year is only for string instruments because the specified instrument group rotates every third year. The competition in 2024 will be for piano, and the 2025 competition will be for wind instruments. Completing the rotation, the 2026 competition will again be for string instruments.
The First place winner will receive the Dorothy Allen Turner Award of $1,500. They will also be invited to appear with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra in concert at Callaway Auditorium on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. That concert is the 2022/23 season finale for the LSO entitled “Sustainability”. It also features another guest artist, Don Papenbrock, for the performance of Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 also known as the Organ Symphony.
The Second place winner will receive the Max Kaplan Award of $1,000, and the Third place winner of the NOTE Award will receive $500. More about the Young Artists Competition awards can be found below. Read more about the 2022/23 season of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra HERE. And, you may read more about the Young Artists Competition on the designated YAC webpage HERE.
A few highlighted details
Contestants are required to be under the age of 26 on February 4, 2023. They must also be residents or resident-students of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee. Submission materials include, but are not limited to, a video and resume of performing experience. All details and a full listing of required materials can be found on the application HERE.
To enter, the application and all materials listed on the application must be received electronically at the LSO office by December 4, 2022. The email to use for submitting materials is YAC2023@lagrangesymphony.org.
A little history and award descriptions
The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Dr. Barbara Kaplan, began the Young Artists Competition (YAC) in 1996 to encourage professional standards of performance among young musicians. Originally formed to serve residents or resident students within a 50 mile radius of LaGrange, the competition now serves talented young musicians from six southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Each year the contestants perform before nationally and internationally recognized judges. The first place winner is invited to perform with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra later in the concert season.
Participants in the Young Artists Competition compete for three awards:
First Place: Dorothy Allen Turner Award – $1,500
This award honors the memory of Dorothy Allen Turner. She was a longtime LaGrange resident, devoted supporter of music in the community, and widow of the late Dr. Render Turner. Dot’s daughter Isabelle Knight is a former member of the LSO and her granddaughter Callie Knight Hammond is the current assistant concert master of the LSO. Her son in law, Charles Knight, is a past President of the Symphony board. The Cash award of $1,500 includes the opportunity to perform as guest soloist with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra. 1st place winner appears with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra in Callaway Auditorium.
Second Place: Max Kaplan Award – $1,000
The second place award honors the memory of Dr. Max Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan, a university professor, author and lecturer, was a sociologist, violinist and member of the LSO board from 1992 to 1998. A resident of Meriwether County, he was deeply involved in LaGrange’s cultural life. His wide experience with orchestras as concertmaster and conductor, and as co-organizer of the famed Boston Youth Symphony, made him invaluable to the LSO board.
Third Place: NOTE Award – $500
This award was named by the donor, Eunice Connally Carr. The NOTE acronym designates an award which meets a Need, provides an Opportunity for young people, recognizes Talent, and rewards significant Effort on the part of the young performer. Contestant must be under the age of 26 on the date of the competition and must be a resident or resident student of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee.
Spread the word to all young artists
Here is a link to the official 2023 YAC poster that may be viewed, downloaded, and printed. Help us spread the word to all eligible contestants!
