2020 Carol Chatelain Young Artist Competition

KCCO is excited to announce our 2020
Carol Chatelain Young Artist Competition!

KCCO’s annual competition for young artists, The Carol Chatelain Young Artist Competition, gives KCCO the opportunity to engage with and support young musicians in the Kansas City area. The winner of this year’s competition winner will have the opportunity to perform with the orchestra at a world-class venue – Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts! The winner will also receive a cash prize of $500. This year’s auditions will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2020. We invite all musicians aged 11 to 19 to participate!

Allen Zhang, 2019 Competition Winner

How to Enter

  • Please read the competition rules below
  • Download the application form
  • Mail the form and $25 application fee to: Kansas City Civic Orchestra, P.O. Box 224, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201

Applications must be received by January 9, 2020.

  1. Competition audition date is: Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Mennonite Church beginning at 11:00am (time will be assigned).
  2. The concerto competition is for ages 11-19.
  3. Perform a solo orchestral work that is no less than 9 minutes and no greater than 20 minutes in length, from memory (can be a movement from a standard concerto or a multi-movement work).
  4. Audition time slots will be up to 15-minute intervals (accompanist cuts are encouraged for the audition).
  5. The competition is open to all instrumentalists except piano, saxophone, and percussion.
  6. First place winner will receive a performance with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 3:00pm at Helzberg Hall (Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts) and a prize of $500.00.
  7. Second place may receive acknowledgement at our April 25, 2020 performance.
  8. Kansas City Civic Orchestra reserves the right to have both first and second place winners perform at the April 2020 concert.
  9. Winner(s) must be available for rehearsals on:  April 14 and April 21 between 7:30pm and 9:30pm and Saturday, April 25 at Helzberg Hall between noon and 2pm. Specific times within these rehearsals will be assigned at a later date.
  10. All room/board/transportation is at the expense of the competition participant.
  11. The $25.00 application fee is non-refundable.
  12. Audition date/time/place is non-negotiable.
  13. An audition time will be emailed to participant within one week of the application deadline.
  14. Competition participants must supply their respective instrument at audition/performance.
  15. Competition participants must supply their own accompanist at audition.
  16. Judges may come from within or may be guests of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.
  17. Winner selection will be announced and emailed at the end of the audition day.
  18. Judges’ decision is final.
  19. The Kansas City Civic Orchestra can decide not to award winners/prizes.
  20. Failure to abide by these guidelines and rules may result in participant’s disqualification.

Feel free to contact our music director with any additional questions.