Talented, young musicians up to age 26 travel across the United States each year to Jonesboro or a chance to compete in the DSO's prestigious Young Artist Competition. Five music divisions award cash prizes in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass/percussion and voice. Winners have transitioned to successful careers within education, administration and performance. The Delta Symphony Orchestra is proud to be a part of their past on the way to their future.At end of each division, winners are announced, winning $500 in cash prizes.

At end of day, two Grand Prize Winners are announced, winning:

• $750 cash prize each, and a performance as guest artists with the Delta Symphony Orchestra.

Also awarded:

• $100 cash prize and the Neale King Bartee Young Artist Award for Outstanding High School Student (grades 9-12).

• $50 cash prize and the Outstanding Student younger than 9th grade.

All cash awards are presented at the spring concert . ​ Former Grand Prize Winners are not eligible to audition. ​

31st Annual Young Artist Competition (2022)

Piano, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass/Percussion, and Voice

For questions contact Neale Bartee at enbartee@suddenlink.net or call 870-243-0273

Deadline for Application: January 22, 2022

Finalist Notification: January 29, 2022

Deadline for Request for Accompanist: February 5, 2022

Deadline for Submission of Accompanist Payments: February 12, 2022

Audition Date: March 5, 2022

Concert Date: April 24, 2022

Eligibility

Entrants must be no more than 27 years of age as of March 5, 2022.

Former Grand Prize winners of the Young Artist Competition are not eligible to audition.

Prizes

Grand Prizes of $750.00 will be awarded to two winners, each of whom will be selected from different categories. (Grand Prize winners will be featured as guest soloists with Delta Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Prizes of $500.00 will be awarded to winners in categories from which Grand Prize winners were not selected. (Note: Judges may elect not to award a prize in any category.)

The Neale Bartee Young Artist Award ($100.00 prize) may be awarded to one outstanding Northeast Arkansas student (grades 9-12) from any performance category. This award recipient may be asked to perform as a soloist with the Delta Symphony. A $50.00 cash award may be given to an outstanding student younger than ninth grade. Cash awards will be presented at the April 24, 2022 symphony concert. Grand Prize winners must appear with Symphony in order to receive their prize money. All other winners are encouraged to attend concert; however, if they are unable to attend, they will receive their award by mail.

Entry Fee

A non-refundable entry fee of $50.00 must accompany entrant's application.

Preliminary Requirements

Piano and orchestral instrument entrants must perform one movement of a concerto or concerto-type composition.

Vocal entrants must sing two songs from opera, oratorio, or art song repertoire.

All selections must be accompanied by piano on the preliminary recording and have orchestral accompaniment available. Total time of musical selections should be between 8 and 15 minutes.

Digital recordings and YouTube examples should be sent to Neale Bartee at enbartee@suddenlink.net by January 22, 2022

Applications should be sent to Neale Bartee, 3713 Burdyshaw, Jonesboro, AR 72405 and postmarked no later than January 22, 2022.

Finalists from preliminary recorded auditions will be chosen and notified by January 29, 2022.

The finalists must perform the same piece in live auditions that was used for preliminary audition.

Final Audition Requirements

Accompanists will be required for final live auditions. If finalist cannot bring an accompanist, one will be provided for a fee of $75.00 only if the DSO is notified by February 5, 2022, by email (enbartee@suddenlink.net). Checks for accompanist fees and copies of their music must be received by February 12, 2022.

Entrants must provide judges with one original copy of music to be performed.

All selections must be performed from memory at audition.

Grand Prize winners will perform the same piece with Delta Symphony that was performed in the live audition.

Final Audition Procedures

All finalists will be assigned performance times via e-mail.

Division winners will be named at the close of each division of the competition.

Grand Prize winners will be announced at end of day.

Note: Finalist will provide all expenses for live audition. The Delta Symphony Orchestra will select all judges. Winners must provide a photo and biographical sketch for publicity. For questions contact Neale Bartee at enbartee@suddenlink.net or call 870-243-0273.