Panama City Symphony Orchestra presents:

Emerging Artists Competition

June 8, 2024

The Panama City Symphony Orchestra
under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Sergey Bogza,
announces the inaugural Emerging Artists Competition.

A National College Division and Regional High School Division will identify,
adjudicate, and celebrate the talents of young artists.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

Winners of each division will receive a cash prize.

College Division $3,500
High School Division $1,000

Featured performance with the Panama City Symphony Orchestra during the 2024-2025 season.

A public solo recital in Panama City, FL.

A professional video and/or audio recording of the musician or vocalist performance.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

Finalists are eligible for the following awards.

Audience Choice Award
(if different than grand prize winner.)

Special recognition for 2nd and 3rd place finalists.

All finalists will receive a PCSO Emerging Artist Finalist Certificate and a $250 cash award.

IMPORTANT DATES

March 15, 2024

Application Submission Deadline

April 5, 2024

Finalist Notification

June 8, 2024

Live Competition

All applicants must be pianists, vocalists, or instrumentalists (string, woodwind, or brass).  For all pieces, the score and orchestral parts must be currently available for PCSO to purchase or rent.  All pieces must be composed specifically for the applicant's instrument or voice with orchestra accompaniment.  All genres and eras of music are allowed.

Eligibility

    1. All applicants must be enrolled full-time in a collegiate undergraduate program, or no older than 23 at the time of the application deadline.

    2. The College Division is open to any legal US resident.

    3. Instrumentalists must prepare a musical selection of 20-35 minutes or a complete concerto.

    4. Vocalists must prepare two (or more) selections (10-18 minutes in total length) of contrasting styles, performed in original language and key.

    1. All applicants must be enrolled in a secondary school program and no older than 19 as of the application deadline.

    2. All applicants must be a resident of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee.

    3. Instrumentalists must prepare a musical selection not to exceed 15 minutes in total length or a single movement of a concerto.

    4. Vocalists must prepare two selections (6-10 minutes in total length) of contrasting styles, performed in the original language and key.

LIVE COMPETITION

All finalists will perform before a professional adjudicating committee, chaired by the PCSO Music Director, Sergey Bogza. The performance will be video and/or audio recorded and open to the public. Memorization is required for the live competition. All finalists are expected to stay until the end of live competition and award ceremony. Each finalist authorizes Panama City Symphony Orchestra to use their name, photo, and biological information in all forms of media to promote current and future competitions/performances. The adjudicating committee’s decisions are final.

NOTE: The judges will provide written feedback to be shared with each finalist. Judges, at their own discretion, may be available after the competition for one-on-one feedback sessions.

ACCOMPANISTS

All finalists are welcome to use their own accompanists. PCSO will provide a list of professional accompanists located in this area; the selection of an accompanist, coordinating rehearsals, and payment of the accompanist is the sole responsibility of the finalist.

TRAVEL & LODGING

All travel and lodging (and any other miscellaneous expenses incurred) are the sole responsibility of the finalist. PCSO may offer lodging options at a discounted rate.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All artists must submit an online application form and a video recording of the complete work by the submission deadline, and, a non-refundable entry fee of $55 paid at the time of application submission. The video must be uploaded to a streaming platform (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and the link shared in the application form. The recorded audition will be judged by professional adjudicating committee chaired by Panama City Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Sergey Bogza.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

The video must be from a fixed point of view and cannot be edited.
All accompanists must be live performers and clearly visible on the recording.
Memorization is encouraged but not required for video submissions.

Applications are closed.

For questions, please contact operations@panamacitysymphony.org