Concerto Competition

ConcertoComp.jpgOnline application deadline: March 7, 2025
Winners’ announcement: March 28, 2025
Winners' concert: May 3, 2025 with Boulder Chamber Orchestra
Location: Boulder Adventist Church, 345 Mapleton Avenue, Boulder
Event Chair: Dr. Stephanie Cheng

Registration Fees
CSMTA member: $65
Non-member: $95
Additional non-member flat fee: $50

2025 Concerto Competition Orchestra
The winners of the 2025 CSMTA Concerto Competition will perform with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra on May 3, 2025 at 8:00pm. The performance will take place at the Boulder Adventist Church, 345 Mapleton Avenue, Boulder, CO.

2025 Concerto Repertoire
Piano Elementary: Haydn Piano Concerto in C Major, Hob. XVIII/5, I. Allegro moderato
Piano Junior: Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, I. Allegro maestoso
Piano Senior: Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, I. Allegro affettuoso
Violin: Saint-Saëns Rondo Capriccioso
Cello: Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb/1, I. Moderato
Harp: Handel Harp Concerto Op. 4, No. 6 in B-flat major, I. Andante allegro (with repeat)
Voice: Schubert An die Musik (arrangement by Max Reger)

Event Description:
A pre-selected concerto competition for pre-college students in all instruments, the CSMTA Concerto Competition provides an opportunity for students to perform a concerto with a live orchestra. The competition has 3 piano categories held on an annual basis, and a rotating instrumental and vocal category with the following schedule: strings and voice in odd-numbered years, and winds/percussion (one category) in even-numbered years. The Non-Piano Instruments and Voice competitions are for students ages 13 through 19 pre-college. Competition applications will be done entirely through un-edited recorded videos through YouTube. Teachers are allowed to accompany their own students, provided that they are not visible or identifiable in the video. General rules and information are found on page 4 of the Student Activities Handbook. Exception: Scores do not need to be provided to the adjudicators.

Entry fees, application forms, dates and repertoire requirements will be administered by the CSMTA Concerto Committee. The Concerto Competition information is published in the CSMTA Notes & News and on this page least six months in advance.

Students of non-member teachers in any of the CSMTA Concerto Competition categories are required to pay a non-member fee 1 1/2 times the student entry fee by the entry deadline. 

Student Eligibility for each Category:

Piano Elementary Performance 
Age: 8–10 as of January 1, 2025

Piano Junior Performance 
Age: 11–14 as of January 1, 2025

Piano Senior Performance 
Age: 15–19 (until high school graduation) as of January 1, 2025

Non-Piano Entries
Age: 13 - 19 (until high school graduation)  as of January 1, 2025

  • Strings and Voice 2025

  • Winds and Percussion 2026

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2024 CSMTA Concerto Competition and their teachers. 
The winners will be featured with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, on their final concert of the 2023-24 Season, on May 11 at 8:00 pm, at the Boulder Adventist Church, 345 Mapleton Avenue, Boulder, Colorado. https://www.boulderchamberorchestra.com/

Piano Elementary

Aiden Chan, Winner, teacher Crystal Lee, Joseph Haydn Keyboard Concerto No. 11 in D, Mvt. I: Vivace
Joshua Song, Alternate, teacher Jasmine Steadman, Joseph Haydn Keyboard Concerto No. 11 in D, Mvt. I: Vivace
Chloe Wu, Honorable Mention, teacher Jasmine Steadman, Joseph Haydn Keyboard Concerto No. 11 in D, Mvt. I: Vivace

Piano Junior

Bobby Yuan, Winner, teacher Jennifer Hayghe, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, KV. 414, Mvt I: Allegro
Lucy Chen, Alternate, teacher Jasmine Steadman, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, KV. 414, Mvt I: Allegro
Matthias Kundert, Honorable Mention, teacher Crystal Lee, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, KV. 414, Mvt I: Allegro

Piano Senior

Mercedes Maeda, Winner, teacher Crystal Lee, Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 25, in G minor, Mvt I: Molto allegro con fuoco

Winds/Percussion

Alexander Zhao, Winner, bassoon, teacher Martin Kuuskmann, Antonio Vivaldi D minor RV481, Mvt I: Allegro
Ella Zimmermann, Honorable Mention, percussion, teacher Steve Hearn, Emmanuel Séjourné: Concerto for Marimba and Strings, Mvt. I. Tempo Souple

Special thanks to our judges:

Maestro Bahmann Saless, Boulder Chamber Orchestra
Dr. Hye-Jung Hong, Associate Professor of Piano, Missouri State University
Mr. Jason Shafer, Principal Clarinet, Colorado Symphony Orchestra