John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition
2025 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.
Jun Gardiner, Winner of the 2024 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 will be selected and invited to Brisbane to take part in the JCNYCC Finals Week, 8 to 12 October 2025.
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 12 October 2025.
Additional Performances
The finalists will perform at QYO’s Morning Music concert on 9 October and choose to play either a movement of their concerto or other recital repertoire up to 15 minutes, subject to approval by QYO.
Attendance is required at a soiree with the Friends of NYCC. Finalists must present two 15-minute sessions of music, this could be short solos, duets, or trios.
Additional recitals may be added to the finalists schedule at QYO’s discretion.
QYO provides an accompanist for all recitals, including one rehearsal with each finalist on the first day of the competition week.
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 (8 October to 12 October 2025). Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) will contribute up to $600 towards flights for each finalist depending on where they are travelling from. QYO reserves the right to choose which airline flights are booked with. Finalists must organise their own accommodation.
QYO cannot pay for additional airline costs for instruments that airlines consider over size, 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 Brianna Butters:
Phone: (07) 3257 3028
Email: brianna@qyo.org.au
Conditions of Entry
1. Applicants must be string players aged 18 years or under on 12 October 2025. 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 resident in Australia for no less than two years prior to the closing date of 26 June 2025.
3. Winners of previous NYCCs may not enter. Applicants to previous NYCCs 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 will be allowed. 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 recording submitted is 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 NYCC 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 Thursday, 26 June 2025.
