First Coast Wind Symphony 2024 Concerto Competition for High School Musicians

The First Coast Wind Symphony and Jacksonville University are pleased to announce the FCWS 2024 Concerto Competition for High School Musicians. This 13th annual young artist event is designed to promote music education in Florida by providing talented students an opportunity to perform a solo work with wind symphony.

The winner will be chosen through a competitive audition process, and will perform with the First Coast Wind Symphony in concert on May 5, 2024 at Jacksonville University. The winner will receive a $1,500.00 cash award. The second-place student will receive a $500.00 award.

Eligibility

The concerto competition is open to woodwind, brass or percussion musicians enrolled in a Florida high school (grades 9-12.) Previous concerto winners are not eligible to apply again.

Application Guidelines

  • Applicants must provide an unedited video recording with piano accompaniment of the first or last movement of a work for their instrument, or a complete work of about 8-12 minutes. Repertoire selected by the applicant must exist as a published band arrangement available for sale (not for rent). Consult the approved repertoire list provided for suggestions. Applicants may also post a video recording on YouTube or provide a download link from cloud storage. Send the link (or any questions) to Artie Clifton at artieclifton@fcwinds.org.
    Download the Application and Repertoire List
  • Application form, recording and non-refundable $25.00 application fee (check payable to First Coast Wind Symphony) must be postmarked by March 1, 2024 and sent together in one packet to: Artie Clifton, FCWS Concerto Competition Committee, 3842 Musket Trail, Jacksonville, FL 32277.
  • Applicants will be notified by March 8th regarding their selection as a finalist in the live audition.
  • Live auditions will be held before a selection committee at Jacksonville University on Sunday, March 19. Finalists are required to provide their own accompanist for the audition. Finalists are encouraged, but not required, to perform from memory.
  • The winner will be announced by March 23. The decision of the judges is final.

2023 Concerto Competition Results

The 2023 Concerto winners have been announced!

The winner of the competition is flutist Samuel Lewis, who will perform the Doppler "Hungarian Fantasy" with the First Coast Wind Symphony in concert on May 7, and will receive a first-place award of $1,500. Samuel is from Middleburg, FL and attends Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. His private flute teacher is Rhonda Cassano.

The second-place winner is trumpeter Thomas Roberts from Niceville, FL, who will receive an award of $500. His private teachers are Jon Yates and Todd Craven.


2022 Concerto Competition Results

The winner of the 2022 Concerto Competition in the high school division was saxophonist Alexander Kaufman from Melbourne, FL. Alex performed movements 2 and 3 of the Paul Creston Concerto for Alto Saxophone.

Alex is a senior at Edgewood Jr/Sr High School in Merritt Island and studies privately with Mr. Jim Bishop. He was chosen for the National Association for Music Education 2022 All-National Jazz Band, as well as the 2021 FL All-State Jazz Band and the 2022 FL All-State Symphonic Band. He also plays flute, clarinet, and oboe. He plays professionally in the Cocoa Village Playhouse Orchestra, in addition to numerous community wind bands and orchestras. In college, Alex will major in chemistry and classical saxophone performance.

Second place in the high school division was awarded to bass clarinetist Sean McBride from Osceola County School for the Arts in Kissimmee, FL.

The 2022 Concerto Competition collegiate winner is clarinetist Dylan Addonizio from Lake Helen, FL. He performed the Ernesto Cavallini Adagio and Tarantella.

Dylan attended DeLand High School. He is a music performance major at the University of South Florida in Tampa and studies applied clarinet with Calvin Falwell. Dylan was a member of the FL All-State bands from 2015-2021. He was also chosen as a member of the National Association for Music Education 2020 All-National Concert Band. He currently plays in the University of South Florida Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

The second-place award in the collegiate division went to trumpeter Jack Lyons who attends Florida State University.

Alexander Kaufman and Dylan Addonizio with Conductor Clifton

Click here for information about Previous Concerto Competition Winners!