2013 National Youth Concerto Competition
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About the competition
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The National Youth Concerto Competition (NYCC) is recognised as the most prestigious competition in Australia for string soloists aged up to 17 years. It was established by Queensland Youth Orchestras in 1976 to encourage the development of young Australian string players.
For the first round of the competition, each applicant records and submits a CD 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 NYCC Finals Week from 5 to 13 October 2013.
The finalists compete for the first prize with their chosen concerto (preferably performed from memory) in the public NYCC finals concert titled String Sensations. The concert takes place in Brisbane on Sunday 13 October and soloists perform with the Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) conducted by John Curro AM MBE.
The recitalists are invited to perform a minimum of three public recitals in Brisbane and to join the Queensland Youth Symphony as orchestra members for the concerto rehearsals and the finals concert.
Please note: the 2013 NYCC Finals Week is earlier as usual, from 5 to 13 October 2013.
Download your the 2013 Application Form here
Prizes
In addition to the performance opportunities during NYCC Finals Week, the following prize money is allocated:
Winner: $3000
Other Finalists: &1000
Prizes will not be awarded if the judges consider that the finalists are not of the required standard. The judges’ decisions are final.
Additional Information
All finalists and recitalists are required to reside in Brisbane during the entire NYCC Finals Week (5 to 13 October 2012). Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) provides a return airfare, and accommodation with a host family for finalists and recitalists where necessary. QYO cannot pay for additional airline costs for instruments that airlines consider oversize, e.g. cellos and basses. While accommodation is not provided for family members of finalists or recitalists, QYO can recommend hotels near the rehearsal venue, the Old Museum Building in Bowen Hills.
QYO provides an accompanist for all recitals, including one rehearsal for each finalist and recitalist.
All finalists must perform at least 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.
For additional enquiries, please contact the NYCC Coordinator, Michael Sterzinger: Ph: (07) 3257 1191, Email: info@qyo.org.au
Harry Ward wins 2012 NYCC
Harry Ward’s performance of Barber’s Violin Concerto convince the judges, and he was awarded the first price by guest of honour, Sean Choat MP.
Biography:
Harry has always been extremely passionate about violin, commencing serious violin studies in 2006 with Professor Peter Zhang, and is now a scholar at the Rising Stars program, under the tutelage of Professor Alice Waten, Head of Strings, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Harry has performed as soloist with orchestras in Australia, China, Mexico, Singapore and Europe. He has successfully participated in competitions and has been fortunate enough to play in the Sydney Opera House, Hills Centre, Vebrugghen Hall, and Angel Place Recital hall. One highlight was performing with the esteemed pianist, Gerard Willems. in 2011 and 2012 he received a full scholarship to attend Meadowmount Summer School in New York.
Harry was a Featured Artist in the 2010 to 2012 School Spectacular, performs in Encore, and is part of the Talent Development Program, Concert Master of the NSW Arts Unit Orchestra and The Australian String Academy.
This year, Harry has performed at various music clubs and as soloist with orchestras. He travelled to New York to study, playing the Barber Violin Concerto, leading the Debussy String Quartet and performing the Mendelssohn Octet in an ensemble led by Joseph Silverstein. He returned to perform with the Australian Winner of the International Piano Competition, and the Concertante Ensemble at the Crossroads Festival.
Harry is schooled through Sydney Distance Education High School and loves shoes (and socks…as long as they’re odd!), body surfing, back-yard cricket, bike riding and watching the footy and the cricket with his family.
2012 Finalists and Recitalists
Finalists
Grace Clifford, NSW, Violin
Glazunov Violin Concerto in A minor Op 82
Harry Ward, NSW, Violin
Barber Violin Concerto Opus 14
Emma Zhuang, NSW, Violin
Saint- Saens Violin Concerto No. 3 Op 61
Recitalists
Phoebe Gardner, NSW, Violin
Waynne Kwon, NSW, Cello
Sally Law, QLD, Violin
Sam Lucas, QLD, Cello
Please find biographies of the finalists and recitalists here
2011 NYCC Winner Wendy Kong
Watch the performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto by 2011 NYCC winner Wendy Kong
2010 NYCC Winner Anna Lisa da Silva Chen
Watch the performance of Wieniawky’s 2nd Violin Concerto by 2010 NYCC winner Anna Lisa da Silva Chen