John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition
2026 NYCC
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.
Sharon Zhao, Winner of the 2025 JCNYCC
About the Competition
For the first round of the competition, each applicant records and submits audio files of the audition works. These submissions will be judged by a panel of professional musicians. Up to three finalists and a further three recitalists will be selected and invited to Brisbane to take part in the JCNYCC Finals Week, 2 - 11 October 2026.
The winner will be selected at the JCNYCC Finals Concert, String Sensations, where each finalist will perform their chosen concerto (preferably performed from memory) with Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS). A panel of judges will select the winner, who will be announced at the conclusion of the concert. This concert is open to the public, and will be held at the Old Museum Concert Hall on Sunday 11 October 2026 at 3pm.
Three recitalists will be chosen during the application process to join the finalists in rehearsals and performances throughout the week. Recitalists will not compete for the prize in the String Sensations concert.
Applications for this competition will open Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 9am.
Additional Performances
During JCNYCC Finals Week, a range of recitals will be organised for the finalists and recitalists, ranging from concerts at schools to private events for donors and QYO’s Morning Music concert on 8 October. Performers can choose to play either a movement of their concerto or other recital repertoire (up to 15 minutes), subject to approval by QYO. Finalists and recitalists will also get to experience playing in a high level youth orchestra by joining the Queensland Youth Symphony for their rehearsals on Saturday 3 and 10 October.
QYO provides an accompanist for all recitals.
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 are required to reside in Brisbane during the entire JCNYCC Finals Week (2 - 11 October 2026). Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) will contribute up to $600 towards flights for each finalist depending on their home location. QYO reserves the right to nominate a preferred airline. Finalists must organise their own accommodation.
QYO cannot pay additional airline costs for instruments that airlines consider oversize, e.g. cellos and basses. 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 Zoe Seeley:
Phone: (07) 3257 3028
Email: zoe@qyo.org.au
Conditions of Entry
1. Applicants must be string players aged 18 years or under on 2 October 2026. 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 residents in Australia for no less than two years prior to the closing date of 26 June 2026.
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 is accepted. Piano accompaniment is required with the concerto. No other form of accompaniment is permitted. Audition works must include the following:
a) A complete concerto of the applicant’s choice.
b) 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.
c) Violin, Viola, Cello & Double Bass - One work of the applicant’s choosing, in contrasting style to the selected Bach solo suites.
5. Applicants should ensure that the recordings submitted are 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 will only accept audio files, videos will not be accepted.
7. QYO retains all broadcasting and recording rights for JCNYCC performances.
8. Applicants must supply via online application form:
a) Proof of Australian citizenship or residency (copy of birth certificate or passport)
b) Resume
c) 150-word biography
d) High resolution image of applicant with their instrument
e) $75.00 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.
g) Audio recording as per conditions 4, 5 & 6 above.
9.Applications must be received by 5pm Friday, 26 June 2026.
