John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition

Written By Josh Cohen

Entries Close 30 June 2024

The 2024 John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition (JCNYCC) Finals Week takes place from Saturday 28 September to Sunday 6 October 2024.

The JCNYCC is recognised as the most prestigious competition in Australia for string soloists aged up to 18 years. It was established by Queensland Youth Orchestras in 1976 to encourage the development of young Australian string players.

The competition is made possible through generous support from a group of donors called the ‘Friends of JCNYCC.’ This includes the provision of Prizes in memory of one of the competition’s most generous donors, Veronika Butta.

Teresa Yang, Winner of JCNYCC 2023

2024 String Sensations - JCNYCC Finals Concert

Sunday 6 October 2024 3pm
The Old Museum Concert Hall

Three of Australia’s most outstanding young violinists - Finalists in the 49th John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition - perform popular concertos with the Queensland Youth Symphony conducted by Simon Hewett.

Concert program details to be released in August 2024.

About the Competition

For the first round of the competition, each applicant records and submits audio files of audition works to be judged by a panel of professional musicians. Up to three finalists and four recitalists are then invited to Brisbane to take part in the JCNYCC Finals Week from 28 September to 6 October 2024.

The finalists compete for the first prize with their chosen concerto (preferably performed from memory) in the public JCNYCC Finals Concert titled ‘String Sensations’. This concert takes place at the Old Museum Concert Hall, Brisbane on Sunday 6 October 2024 where finalists perform their concerto with the Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS).

All finalists must perform a minimum of one public recital in addition to their solo concerto performance. The recitals are not an eliminating round and will not be judged, but failure to give a recital will disqualify a finalist from the Finals Concert.

All recitalists must perform a minimum of three public recitals in Brisbane and join the Queensland Youth Symphony as orchestra members for the concerto rehearsals and the Finals Concert. It is compulsory for recitalists to play in the orchestra at the Finals Concert, and to attend all rehearsals and other commitments.

QYO provides an accompanist for all recitals, including one rehearsal with each finalist and recitalist.

Prizes - Veronika Butta Memorial Prizes

In addition to performance opportunities during the JCNYCC Finals Week, the following prize money is allocated:

  • Winner: $3,000

  • Other Finalists: $1,200

Prizes will not be awarded if the judges consider that the finalists are not of the required standard. The judges’ decisions are final and no feedback will be given regarding any part of the application; both for the first round and the finals round.

Additional Information

All finalists and recitalists are required to reside in Brisbane during the entire JCNYCC Finals Week (28 September to 6 October 2024). Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) provides one return airfare, and accommodation with a host family (if required) for each finalist and recitalist. QYO reserves the right to choose which airline flights are booked with.

QYO cannot pay for additional airline costs for instruments that airlines consider over size, e.g. cellos and basses. While accommodation and airfares are not provided for family members of finalists or recitalists, QYO can recommend hotels near the rehearsal venue, The Old Museum in Bowen Hills. QYO can assist with transport from The Old Museum to and from recital venues, but QYO does not provide or pay for transfers to and from airports.

For enquiries, please contact the JCNYCC Coordinator:
Phone: (07) 3257 3028
Email: info@qyo.org.au

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Applicants must be string players aged 18 years or under on 6 October 2024. Applicants must be school students, living in Australia, and either studying at an Australian school or undertaking home schooling. Tertiary students are not eligible to enter.

2. Entry is restricted to Australian residents and citizens, or musicians who have been resident in Australia for no less than two years prior to the closing date of 30 June 2024.

3. Winners of previous JCNYCCs may not enter. Applicants to previous JCNYCCs may not repeat the same works unless they can show that they have exhausted the repertoire for their instrument.

4. Applicants must submit un-edited (within any movement) MP3 files (bit rate of 320 kbps) sent via a Google Drive link (see online application form for more information). No other audio format will be allowed. Piano accompaniment is required with the concerto. No other form of accompaniment is permitted. Audition works must include the following:

  • A complete concerto of the applicant’s choice.

  • Violin - The first and any other movement of one of J. S. Bach’s solo sonatas or solo partitas.

  • Viola & Cello - The first and any other movement of one of J. S. Bach’s solo suites for cello.

  • Double Bass - Two contrasting movements from one of J. S. Bach’s solo suites for cello.

  • Violin, Viola & Cello - Two works of the applicant’s choosing; one from the 19th and one from the 20th/21st centuries.

  • Double Bass - One work of the applicant’s choosing, in contrasting style to the selected Bach solo suites.

5. Applicants should ensure that the recording submitted is of the highest possible quality. Works are to be recorded in order (ie. concerto first) and listed with the title of the piece. Please do not put your name on the audio file.

6. QYO retains all broadcasting and recording rights for JCNYCC performances.

7. Applicants must submit a proposed recital program that is showy and provides interest to audiences of all ages. Individual pieces should not exceed five minutes. See online application form for more details.

8. Applicants must supply via online application form:

  • Proof of Australian citizenship or residency (copy of birth certificate or passport)

  • Resume

  • 150-word biography

  • High resolution image of applicant with their instrument

  • Proposed recital program

  • $55.00 application fee. The preferred payment method is direct transfer to:
    Qld Youth Orchestras
    BSB 014 245
    Acc. 4950 31908
    with “JCNYCC” and your surname and first name initial in the comments field.

  • Audio recording as per conditions 4 & 5 above.

9. Applicants must comply with all relevant Government health directions.

10. Applications must be received by 10pm Sunday 30 June 2024.

Josh Cohen https://www.squarely.com.au
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