Mercyhurst University

      Concerto/Aria Competition

      Sunday, February 5, 2023Eastern Standard Time UTC -05:00


      Mercyhurst University
      501 E 38th St
      Erie, PA 16546
      United States

      The Mercyhurst Civic Orchestra Concerto/Aria Competition consists of two divisions: 1) University, and 2) High School/Mercyhurst Civic Orchestra member.

      1. University Division
        • The University division is open to any actively enrolled Mercyhurst student currently participating in private music instruction.
      2. High School/MCO Division
        • The High School/MCO division is open to:
          • Any high school-aged student playing an orchestral instrument
          • High school-aged pianists who participate in Mercyhurst programs
          • Any adult community members of the MCO
      • Auditions will be held in person on February 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall
        • Memorization is required.
        • Accompaniment is required and is the responsibility of the applicant to organize.
        • Audition length is ten minutes maximum (please use cuts in accompaniment).
        • Up to one High School/MCO division and up to two University division winners will be chosen to perform with the MCO in concert on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 5 p.m. If there is not an eligible High School/MCO contestant, then it is possible to have 3 University division winners, if so qualified.
      • Repertoire (for both High School/MCO member and University divisions)
        • Total performance time at the concert may not exceed 20 minutes. Performance time for the concert is increased beyond that of the audition intentionally.
        • Instrumentalists: a single movement or a through-composed solo concerto/concert piece; or multiple movements if the total length stays within the 20-minute limit. In most cases, the latter example would be for a concerto with shorter movements than is the norm. NB: If a particular movement is not performed at the initial competition on Feb. 5, then it would not be eligible for the May 7 concert should the contestant be chosen as a winner. You can only perform with the orchestra what you audition with on Feb. 5.
          • Vocalists: maximum of two contrasting works for solo voice and orchestra.
          • Repertoire may be limited by availability/budget. In this case, the conductor would work with the contestant to find a comparable substitution.
      If you have any questions or concerns, please check with Matthew Salvaggio, MCO Director, at msalvaggio@mercyhurst.eduThe application deadline is Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 5 p.m.

      Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed.