The Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra is pleased to announce its Second Annual Young Artists Solo Competition for Manatee and Sarasota County area musicians. The competition will be held Saturday, January 19, 2008 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Palma Sola Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, FL. Eligibility for the competition is offered to Manatee/Sarasota County 12 to 18 year old musicians.

In this expanded competition the top four concerto, instrumental or vocal solo finalists will perform their winning work with the Anna Maria Island Community Orchestra on a special concert for the winners on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at the Palma Sola Presbyterian Church. Cash prizes of $500, $400, $300 and $200 will be awarded in order of placement to those top four finalists.

Wind and string instrumentals as well as pianists and vocalists interested in competing must submit an application signed by their private teacher or school music teacher and a nonrefundable application fee of $10.00 by January 9, 2008. To be eligible to compete candidates must be participating in their school music program with the exception of pianists and home schooled performers and not be a past winner. Prior to the audition date applicants will be notified as to their scheduled performance time. Each candidate will be allowed up to 10 minutes for the audition. (Click here for application .)

Candidates must provide their own accompanist. Piano candidates perform unaccompanied. Memory is not required but is clearly an advantage. The candidate MUST ascertain with certainty the availability of score and orchestral parts for the work to be performed PRIOR to submitting an application. AMICCO will then be responsible for providing the necessary score and parts for the winner’s performance. Judges for the competition will include the AMICCO Artistic Director/Principal Conductor, Alfred Gershfeld, Assistant Conductor, Jon Magendanz, and members of the Anna Maria Community Chorus and Orchestra.

The Board of Directors of AMICCO reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of the work to be performed by the candidate. If you have any questions regarding the competition please email James Stoltie, Acting President of the AMICCO Board of Directors at <stoltie@verizon.net> or phone (941) 727-9886.

Click here for concerto application.