MusicFest Northwest is happy to announce the Young Artist Competition for 2027!

May 15–16, 2027 – Location TBA (In Spokane)

Winners will perform with the Spokane Symphony during the 2027-28 season and receive a $500 cash prize. Specific concert date is TBA and will be posted prior to the competition.

Registration will open on November 1, 2026 and close on March 15, 2027.
(Scroll down to find the repertoire requirements)

Our MusicFest Northwest Mission

Connect, create, and celebrate with musicians and dancers of all ages through education, competition, and community partnerships.

MusicFest Northwest is happy to announce the Young Artist Competition Winners for 2026!

Winners will perform with the Spokane Symphony on November 12, 2026, 7:30pm at the Fox Theater. Our voice winner, Maegan Hoogerhyde will perform at the Labor Day Park concerts on September 5 & 7.

Voice

Maegan Hoogerhyde, soprano

Strings

Sage Sorensen, violin

Piano

Linda Ouimette

Reeds

Gabriel Roller, bassoon

Brass

Michael Perry, tuba

MusicFest Northwest Young Artist Competition – 2027

Select your division below for specific information and registration.
NEW THIS YEAR! Please choose one movement/work from the list of choices in your division. You will need to list that work on your registration form.

PLEASE NOTE: No personal choice repertoire is required. You will only be performing the concerto repertoire.

Division Dates:
  • Saturday, May 15, 2027: Piano, Reeds, Flute, Brass
  • Sunday, May 16, 2027: Strings, Voice
Registration Information:
  • Open: November 1, 2026
  • Close: March 15, 2027
  • Fee: $125
  • Accompanists: Participants must secure their own pianists.

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements – choose one movement from the following list:

  • Edvard Grieg – Concerto in a minor – any movement

  • Robert Schumann – Concerto in a minor – any movement

  • Camille Saint Saens – Concerto in g minor – movement I only

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements – choose one movement from the following list:

TRUMPET

  • J. N. Hummel — Trumpet Concerto in E♭ major, S.49
    • Allegro con spirito · II. Andante · III. Rondo (Allegro)
  • J. B. Neruda — Trumpet Concerto in E♭ major
    • Allegro · II. Largo · III. Vivace
  • A. Arutiunian — Trumpet Concerto in A♭ major (complete work)

TROMBONE

  • F. David — Concertino in E♭ major, Op. 4 – any movement
  • L. Grøndahl — Trombone Concerto – any movement
  • G. Jacob — Concerto for Trombone – any movement

HORN

  • W. A. Mozart — Horn Concerto No. 4 in E♭ major, K.495 – any movement
  • Haydn — Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, Hob. VIId:3 – any movement
  • Strauss — Horn Concerto No. 1 in E♭ major, Op. 11 – any movement

EUPHONIUM

  • J. Horovitz — Euphonium Concerto – any movement
  • D. Bourgeois — Euphonium Concerto, Op. 120 – any movement

TUBA

  • E. Gregson — Tuba Concerto – any movement
  • R. Vaughan Williams — Concerto for Bass Tuba in F minor – any movement

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements – choose one movement from the following list:

VIOLIN

  • M. Bruch – Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 – any movement
  • E. Lalo – Violin Concerto, Op.20 – any movement
  • C. Saint-Saens – Violin Concerto No. 1 in A major, Op. 20 – any movement
  • H. Wieniawski – Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 – any movement

VIOLA

  • C. Forsyth – Viola Concerto in G minor – any movement
  • F. Hoffmeister – Viola Concerto in D major – any movement
  • W. Walton – Viola Concerto – any movement
  • C. F. Zelter – Viola Concerto in E-flat major – any movement

CELLO

  • E. Elgar – Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 – any movement
  • E. Lalo – Cello Concerto – any movement
  • C. Saint-Saens – Cello Concerto No.1, Op.33 – any movement

BASS (solo tuning)

  • G. Bottesini – Double Bass Concerto No.1 in F-sharp minor – any movement
  • C. Dittersdorf – Double Bass Concerto No.2, Kr.172 – any movement
  • D. Dragonetti – Double Bass Concerto in G major, Op.1 – any movement

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements – choose one movement from the following list:

FLUTE

  • C. Chaminade – Concertino Op. 107
  • Howard Hanson – Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings, Op. 35
  • Bernhard Romberg – Concerto Op. 17/Mvt. III – Rondo allegretto

 

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements – choose one movement from the following list:

CLARINET

  • C. Debussy – Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra, L. 116
  • G. Finzi – Clarinet Concerto, Op.31 – Mvt. I only
  • G. Rossini: Introduction Theme and Variations in B flat major

BASSOON

  • W. A. Mozart – Concerto for Bassoon in B-flat Major, K. 191/Mvt. I. Allegro
  • C. M. von Weber – Andante e rondo ongarese, Op.35
  • E. Bozza – Concertino for Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra, Op. 49

OBOE

  • R. V. Williams – Concerto in A minor for Oboe and Strings – any movement
  • L. A. Lebrun – Oboe Concerto No. 1 in D Minor – any movement
  • J. Francaix – L’Horloge de Flore – (entire work/7 short movements)

SAXOPHONE

  • A. Glazunov – Concerto in E flat major for alto saxophone, Op. 109
  • P. Creston – Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 26 – Mvt. I Energetic
  • J. Ibert – Concertino da Camera – Mvt. II Larghetto-Animato molto

Young Artist Repertoire Requirements:

  • Participants must prepare two contrasting arias of their choice. Any aria that can be found on IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project) is acceptable for performance and submission.

Young Artist Rules & Regulations

  1. The MusicFest Northwest Young Artist Competition is reserved for those ages 16-27 (18-29 for Voice). Please note: Contestants may calculate the age requirements from either the competition date or November 1, 2027. The gold medal winner from each division performs with the Spokane Symphony in the Young Artist Concert at the Fox Theater during the 2027-28 season (Specific date TBA) and receives a cash prize of $500.
  2. This competition is open to any person whose principal means of livelihood is obtained from non-musical work, even though he/she/they accepts stipend or honorarium from time to time from musical services rendered.
  3. Participants must perform their concerto movement with a pianist (orchestra part) for the competition.
  4. MusicFest does not provide a pianist/accompanist for participants. Participants will be responsible for securing their own accompanists and arranging any fees/rehearsals.
  5. Memory is required for all divisions.
  6. Young Artist winners are not eligible to compete as a Young Artist in the same division in any subsequent festival.
  7. Young Artist participants may not participate in multiple Young Artist divisions in the same festival year.
  8. No late entries will be accepted.
  9. MusicFest Northwest has a No Refund Policy
    • Any exceptions must be addressed by sending a letter to the administrative team for MusicFest Northwest. Any approved refund will not include peripheral fees.
    • In the case of financial exigency, MusicFest Northwest will reimburse any registration fees.
  10. MusicFest Northwest reserves the right to close any particular division or class in the event of low enrollment, and refunds will be issued as seen fit by the administrative team.
  11. By entering the MusicFest Northwest festival you understand that your image, video or audio may be used in the media or in marketing material. You are giving MusicFest Northwest and their agents the right to use those images and likenesses. If you wish to not have your image used, please contact our office at office@musicfestnorthwest.org.

  1. MusicFest Northwest requires legally obtained music scores. It is the responsibility of teachers and students to be sure their music is in compliance with copyright laws. If you have questions about using scores downloaded from sources such as IMSLP, please refer to the ASCAP Licensing web page:https://www.ascap.com/help/ascap-licensing.
  2. Participants must report to their Check-in desk 15 minutes before the time specified in their schedule. For various reasons a participant’s order of performance might change without notice.
  3. Participants must give a copy of their music to the check-in Assistant when they report, opened at the proper page with measures numbered.
  4. Time limits are maximum; less time may be used but not more. Performances may not exceed 15 minutes. If a selection exceeds the time limit, the adjudicator may stop the performance.
  5. During the competition cell phones and pagers must be in “do not disturb” mode or “airplane” mode. Flash photography is not permitted. All video, photo and audio recording during class sessions is strictly prohibited, except by the official MusicFest Northwest photographers. Photos may be taken after the class is concluded.

Questions or concerns regarding adjudication, grading or awards should not be discussed with the Adjudicator and must be in writing to the Board President.

    1. The adjudicator is the sole judge, and that decision is final. Grading System: Superior (97 – 100), Excellent (94 – 96), Very Good (90 – 93), Good (80 – 89), Fair (75 – 79), Incomplete (>75)
    2. Awards:
      • One (1) Gold Medal may be given with a grade of 97 or above (Superior)
      • One (1) Silver Medal may be given with a grade of 94 or above (Excellent)
Note
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