Calling all aspiring classical music instrumentalists under 25 and vocalists under 30. This is your opportunity to take part in the Young Virtuosos Competition.

The national Young Virtuoso awards have given many vibrant Australian performers a career-boosting experience. The grand winner receives a cash prize as well as recording opportunities.

The ACT regional finals will take place at ArtSound FM in late September. We encourage entrants to send in a three- to four-minute video of themselves performing before 5p.m. on Friday 26 August.

Below is information about the awards, and also an entry form.

YOUNG VIRTUOSO AWARD 2022 Entry Form and Agreement

 

THE YOUNG VIRTUOSO AWARDS 2022

After the cancellation last year and the year before of the Young Virtuoso Awards due to COVID 19, the awards are back on again this year. The National Finals will be held in Melbourne on 20 November 2022. There, the winner of the ACT Awards will compete against winners from other states.

Now known as The Young Virtuoso Awards, (previously Fine Music Youth Award) this competition has been held every year (except 2020-21) for the past 30 years. It brings to the winner broadcasting opportunities and cash prizes.

The competition is open to instrumentalists under 25 and vocalists under 30. Auditions will take place to choose the ACT regional entrant in the national award competition in Melbourne. During August, the judges of the ACT regional heats will chose four finalists from audition video recordings. Then, the ACT regionals will take place at ArtSound FM community radio studios in late September. ArtSound will broadcast the ACT Finals being broadcast, live.

The ACT regional winner will be flown to Melbourne, with accommodation provided, to attend the national finals.

There are four competing categories:

String; Woodwind & Brass; piano; and vocal.

Prize

Overall ACT winner will receive a cash prize along with the opportunity to record a 20-30 minute CD of music of their own choosing (including overnight accommodation at Rydges Hotel in Melbourne for the national finals).

The 2nd placed ACT entrant will receive a cash prize along with the opportunity to record a 20-30 minute CD with music of their own choosing.

All ACT finalists will receive a recording of their performance, and each contestant will receive an ArtSound Young Virtuoso Certificate of participation.

The National Winner will receive a cash prize of at least $5,000.

The following are requirements of entry:

Status

Permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand

Age: Under 25 for instrumentalists and under 30 for vocalists on 31 December 2021

Qualification to represent state

Either have resided or studied in the ACT or near surrounds for a minimum of 12 months by 31 December 2022

Contestants for the Finals will:

– provide three clean copies of the music to be performed on the day

– complete APRA/AMCOS forms

– agree to participate in promotional activities relative to the award

– give unconditional permission to produce a sound recording of the contestant’s performance for National broadcast through participating radio stations in the Fine Music Network. Furthermore, ArtSound FM reserves the right to record, video, and photograph the contestant and/or their performances for media, website, and social media use, live or delayed streaming, and for archival purposes.

Performance Time:

For auditions: a video recording of 3-4 minutes to be forwarded to ArtSound.FM via We Transfer.com or delivered to ArtSound FM Studios in the Manuka Arts Centre, before 5pm on 26th August.

For Finals: 20 minutes with a minute leeway to be determined prior to the performance by the judges.

Repertoire for Finals

– Instrumental contestants may choose two or more contrasting works to fit the allocated time

– Vocalists may choose a number of contrasting works from Opera and Art Song to fit the allocated time

Applications

Open from 9am, Monday 1 August 2022 and close 5pm, Friday 26 August 2022 through an entry form the ArtSound FM website. Entries may be emailed to ArtSound via admin@artsound.fm

YOUNG VIRTUOSO AWARD 2022 Entry Form and Agreement