CBU Concerto/Aria Competition
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2025-26 Concerto/Aria Competition
The Concerto/Aria Competition provides students the opportunity to showcase their artistry as soloists with the symphony orchestra. Open to all full-time music majors, the competition allows artists to present movements from concertos, operatic arias, or comparable works drawn from the standard orchestral repertoire. Its purpose is to encourage excellence in performance, preparing students to the highest standards of craft and character, preparing them for professional-level auditions and celebrate outstanding talent. Winners of the competition are featured in concert with the CBU Symphony Orchestra in its Spring gala concert.
Rules and Details
(IMPORTANT: Dr. Moon must approve repertoire selection by Oct. 15, please see application link below to submit repertoire approval form)
ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to all music majors enrolled full-time and registered in applied lessons during the semesters of the competition and performance. Applied teacher approval is required and will be obtained by the Director of Orchestral Studies upon receipt of the repertoire approval submission by student. Previous winners are not allowed to re-enter the competition, though previous participants not chosen are allowed to re-enter.
SEMI-FINAL ROUND: The semi-final round will be held via video recording submissions arranged and recorded by the SoPA office. Recordings are due to Dr. Moon by Friday, November 21, 11:59 pm. The recorded performance must be done by memory and be presented with collaborative pianist. Submissions past this date will not be considered for the final round held in January.
FINAL ROUND: The final round for the Concerto/Aria Competition will be a live recital presented by the School of Performing Arts on January 16, 2026 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Room 101. Finalists must perform the same selection performed in the semi-final round. The judging panel will consist of Dr. Moon and guest adjudicators. Winners will be chosen to perform with the CBU Symphony Orchestra on April 12, 2026.
REPERTOIRE APPROVAL FORM: Applications must be submit the repertoire approval form via the link below by October 15, 2025. The form allows the Director of Orchestral Studies to confirm factors related to the repertoire selection including feasability for orchestral preparations and availability and costs related to performance materials. Director of Orchestral Studies will notify of repetoire approval within 48 hours. It is recommended that students submit their form as early as possible.
ACCOMPANISTS: It is the student's responsibility to procure the services and arrange for payment of an accompanist for both the recording and, if chosen, performance in the final round. Participants without a pianist will be not be allowed to compete.
REPERTOIRE: Appropriate competition repertoire can be one movement or collection of movements from a multi-movement work or the entirety of a single-movement work (including single operatic aria). Students may not enter with multiple arias from a given opera or multiple operas, nor is a student allowed to enter with multiple movements from varoius concerti. The Director of Orchestral Studies as the final say in repertoire approval. The duration of the selected repertoire must be less than 12 minutes. Durations exceeding the time limit may be granted permission by the Director of Orchestral Studies. The participant's repertoire must be approved by the Director of Orchestral Studies by Oct. 15.
MEMORIZATION: Contestants are required to memorize their repertoire for all rounds including, if chosen, guest appearances with the symphony orchestra. Chamber concerti (such as Beethoven's Triple Concerto, Brahms' Double Concerto) do not fall under the memorization requirement.