I plan to apply this year on Euphonium for the Classical Music discipline. I made a tape last year, but it didn’t turn out so well and I was not selected for anything.
Other than playing very well, are there any former winners that can give me tips on how to make a more competitive audition video?
Thanks in advance!
Has your teacher or another teacher you know, even in another musical discipline, had previous winners? That would be your bet source of info.
The level of this competition is very high, as you undoubtedly know. The playing must be well beyond what would be considered “good” high school playing. Many of the winners intend a music career and will be auditioning for the absolute top music conservatories and top teachers in the country. Also, be aware that as with any competition, results can sometimes be inexplicable.
Piggybacking onto that–the first cut is made by local teachers in Miami (unless they have changed the system recently.) After that, the judges are national caliber musicians. When my daughter went through this she was surprised to see that some national caliber peers who submitted audition videos did not make it to the honorable mention level. But all of the winners are elite players. In other words, being a first-rate player will not guarantee that you progress, but at the highest level the playing is more than excellent.
@Momofadult Unfortunately, neither my teacher nor anyone else in my area has had any previous winners. A friend of mine received an Honorable Mention one year, but that’s the closest I’ve got.
I will fully admit that the quality of of my tape last was pretty much just what you described: “good” high-school playing. Now, if it gives any indication of my skill level, I auditioned and was accepted into all 6 music schools I applied to last year, most of which were top-ranked for my particular discipline. I know that this information means nothing when it comes to my audition - I need to sound top-notch on my recordings for anything to matter.
Now, the euphonium guidelines leave a considerable amount of freedom regarding the selection of repertoire, especially compared to last year’s almost impossibly constrictive composer list, now widened to “any piece after 1950”.
I suppose my real question is; does having a diverse program (in terms of musical style) actually improve my odds or are they just looking for solid musicians regardless of variety? I currently have planned to play a rather “international” program, that is, music written by composers across multiple time periods, nations, and cultural influences. But does any of that actually weigh into my selection?
Hi. My D was a 2017 winner in jazz voice. She is auditioning for jazz voice again for 2018 as well as popular voice. She also auditioned last year for singer/songwriter and didn’t make the cut. I have heard that once you are a winner you automatically bypass the first round of adjudication and go onto the national judges. I think there is a LOT of subjectivity as you undoubtedly know from music in general. That being said. I have googled YoungARts Finalists and have watched them perform in Miami and haven’t seen anyone that I didn’t think was exceptional vocally. Maybe try googling YoungArts Euphonium? You might find some videos. For vocalists, song choice is everything. Probably for every instrument as well but I can only speak from vocals.
I was planning to start a YoungARts 2018 thread like the one I started in 2017 and found this so hopefully kids/parents will come on here and let people know what they auditioned for and when they hear. Last year notifications went out just before Thanksgiving. D is finishing up the last of all of her auditions at the same time she finishes her prescreens for colleges.
Good Luck!
I sent the OP a private message, since I referenced a specific previous winner on his instrument.
I’l follow anything on YoungArts with interest, as my daughter is planning to apply. Since results are published online and a limited number are accepted on her instrument, posting any acceptance feels a little like doxing my own kid.
I found out about YA last week and immediately decided to submit. I applied to both Theater and Writing: Stage Play or Screen Play. Can any past winners give insight to what their application process was like and when they heard back?
Hi! My D sent in auditions last year for jazz voice and singer/songwriter. She was a winner in jazz voice. They published the results last year the week before Thanksgiving. If you search YoungArts 2017 on this forum you’ll find a thread with a ton of great info on it from current and former winners. Best of luck!
BrasswindMusic Congratulations on your acceptances. Are you attending a school now? Just a general comment: I am not a fan of competitions in the arts. As an undergrad, presumably at a good music school, can you explain why you are putting energy towards this? I genuinely want to know
What exactly are you not a fan of as far as competition in the arts? I can say this, the competitions that my D has been selected for have broadened her horizons, connections, friendships and overall scopes of performance far and away more than any of the summer programs she attended including the 5 week program at Berklee. Additionally, if selected for YoungArts, there is significant money to be awarded to many of the winners that attend the regional programs and finals which is very helpful given the expenses of recording auditions and travel. D has had amazing workshops with mentors who are Grammy award winners, music industry professionals, vocal professors from top schools like UMich and others from these competitions. So, from our perspective, D has had far and away more growth, learning and networking from these competitions versus anything she has had in her high school and summer programs.
My question was for BrasswindMusic since he/she is already a student at a good music school.
I know the “why competitions” question wasn’t directed at me either, but I have a few thoughts.
First, I get the distaste for music competitions. Music is inherently a collaborative art, not a competitive sport. My son shares the distaste for competitions. That said, he has entered some, both as a college student and following graduation. As best I can tell he has three reasons (not necessarily in this order):
Second, with respect to YoungArts, I’m not sure I’d really view it as a competition so much as a program with competitive admissions. My son applied when he was age-eligible - he was not selected as a finalist (though he did get an honorable mention). But he knows musicians who were selected, and they all say the experience of playing with the other finalists in Miami was terrific. So I would never question or second-guess the decision of any musician who wants to apply for the YoungArts program. I would only suggest not getting discouraged if you’re not selected.
@jazzpianodad excellent statement and I echo your comments specific to YoungArts. From what I understand, students auditioning for YoungArts are not in competition with each other per say. It had been explained to me that they are scored on a metric type system. They get “points” for certain things in the audition like tone, pitch, interpretation of the piece etc and the score adds up to either Finalist, HM, Merit, or not high enough to be named a winner. Then I suppose the Finalists compete for the Presidential scholarship which is a very very big deal both in stature and in $$$ with $10,000 up for grabs. Along with the esc exceptional experience of a week of workshops with mentors etc. I did get a PM last year from a student who was named HM and performed in a Regional YA program and earned around $2500 for her performance. And finally, I agree with not getting discouraged if you’re not selected. D was selected as a merit winner last year in one category and not at all in another. It surprised me because I honestly thought it would be the other way around if she was selected at all.
Last night at midnight was the deadline! Best of luck to all who submitted auditions and hopefully everyone gets great news mid November!
I have a longer term view, I guess, since my kids are older.
Also, Spartan Drew’s use of the term “winner” makes Young Arts sound like a competition. For festivals and programs, the terminology is “get in” 
Not my term. Theirs. http://youngarts.org/storage/app/media/Winners%20Documents/2017-youngarts-winners-alphabetical.pdf
I didn’t think it was your term. I was just saying that Young Arts has “winners” so it seems like a competition, which is fine for most. My family, with kids in several different areas of the arts, avoids them, but that is a choice.
An exception was junior year of high school as I recall, for one of them, because of the help a win gave for resume, but it wasn’t time or energy consuming to submit and it left a bad taste.
My son was selected as a winner (finalist) in classical voice in 2017. The terminology is absolutely correct. Anyone who gets to participate in this incredible program is a winner. As @SpartanDrew indicated in a previous post, they spend a fantastic week with other students with similar talent, get to learn from experts in the field and challenge themselves in a way they may not have before. The week in Miami was one of the best weeks of my son’s life. I encourage anyone with talent in one of their categories to apply. Once they are selected, they are not competing against each other. They are learning from and supporting one another. My son regularly gets encouraging messages from those in his category, as well as the mentors. Best of luck to those that sent in submissions!
@splatoto here is one YA thread. If you search for YoungArts 2018 you’ll find 2 more like it in different categories. One thread has mostly short story writers and one for photography. Good luck and hopefully everyone gets good news soon!
did anyone hear anything yet?