SIYMC 2025

 An instrumental competition for musicians aged 17 to 24* judged at every stage by professionals. Video entry, a live semi-final and full rehearsal plus public concerto performance with orchestra await the three finalists. Prizes include a £1000 first prize and a second concerto opportunity for the winner.
After the loss of our 2023 event through  the knock -on effects of Covid to the schedule, the final of our fourth competition will take place in March 2025 and will open for entries in June 2024. Much of the information on the website  at present relates to the last competition and will be updated but the provisional timetable is set out below.
*see Rules for full details.

Our 2021 Finalists

Our 2021 final had to be postponed as a result of the covid pandemic but we were delighted that it could happen on 26 March 2022 with performances of the Dvorak cello concerto and the Tchaikovsky piano concerto No 1

The Final Judges

Applications open on

01 June 2024

SIYMC 2025

The search for Stockport’s International Young Musician of 2025 concludes with a Concerto Final on 29 March 2025. Three finalists will each perform a full concerto in concert with the Stockport Symphony Orchestra. The information on the About page provides an outline of the competition but prospective competitors should carefully consider the Rules for full details of all entry criteria and conditions

Competition conductor, Philip Ellis, talks about the event

the Basics

Initial selection will be made from a video recording of candidates’ audition piece(s). Please see the Entry Recording section of the Rules for full details on requirements. Recordings must be no more than 12 minutes long and have been made no earlier than 1 March 2024 in one take from a single static camera position with no cuts or edits. There is a non-refundable entry fee of £50 payable on application.

You may be asked to attend a Semi-Final round. Any Semi-Final will be held on Saturday 22 February 2025 at a venue in Stockport which will be notified to you. It is open to the public. Any Semi-Final round will be a 16 minute live performance before adjudicators. Dress will be informal. In both the preliminary and semi-final rounds you have a free choice to play whatever you think best showcases your talents and (save in the case of pianists who must play solo) may be accompanied or play solo, from memory or music. If accompanied, you must provide your own accompanist and page turner if needed. Variety in the chosen repertoire is recommended.

Three competitors will reach the Final on 29 March 2025 where they will each play a full concerto following a rehearsal with the orchestra before and on the day of the final. Competitors may be required to play one of the works listed on the approved list appended to the rules and competitors should only enter if prepared to do so. The organisers will consider requests for alternatives but shall have absolute discretion to decline any other concerto proposed. Their decision is final and no reasons will be given. Each concerto will be accompanied by Stockport Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of a conductor of their choice. The performance will be part of a public concert.

1 June 2024 - applications open
18 Oct 2024 - applications close
By 12 January 2025- competitors chosen to progress are notified
22 February 2025 - Semi-Final
25, 26 and 27 Mar 2025- Finalists rehearsals
29 March 2025- Final

The ultimate winner of the concerto final on 27 March will receive:
- a cash prize of £1000
- the handsome SIYMC 2021 crystal trophy
- the opportunity to play a further concerto with the orchestra in the following season with expenses paid up to £300
Each of our two runners-up receive a prize of £300
We can't promise more but we can say that in addition to the valuable experience in preparing for and taking part in a competition with professional adjudicators at every stage, previous finalists and even a semi-finalist have been offered concerto performances as a result of their participation in SIYMC

Chair of  Judges

Finals conductor

 

Philip Ellis

Judges page >

Our semi-final judges

kevin gowland

flute

peter stark

conductor

jonathan aasgaard

cello

3 Clear Warnings That Say Your Goals Are Too Small

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