Young Musicians Concert

Established in 1984, the Young Musicians Concert serves as a beacon of opportunity for exceptional high school musicians to refine their chamber music skills and network with other young musicians. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants in the New York tri-state area, participants receive coaching and mentorship from Chamber Music Society artists to prepare for performances at regional venues, with the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center in the final Young Musicians Concert at Alice Tully Hall.

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PROGRAM

Semi-Final Regionals

Ensembles will be selected from the online audition video stage to perform in the semi-final regional performance. Regions are Westchester/Hudson Valley, New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island.

Coaching

Ensembles selected to advance to perform in the final round Young Musicians Concert will receive a one-hour coaching session, in person at Lincoln Center with a Chamber Music Society artist. 

Finals

Students will be adjudicated during the semi-final regional performance and selected ensembles will be invited to represent their school and region on the 41st Annual Young Musicians Concert on May 8, 2025 at 11 am. 

ELIGIBILITY

• Instrumental, vocal, or mixed ensembles no more than 12 players in size, with only one performer per part may apply.  
• The program is open to students in public or private schools, but not pre-professional or community music schools. 
• Schools may submit no more than three ensembles for consideration.  
• All students in the ensemble must attend the same high school at the time of application, as well as at the time of performance. 
• All students in the ensemble must actively participate in their school music program (e.g. band, orchestra, chamber music club). 
• Please limit a performing student to only one chamber ensemble application.
• The application must be submitted by the school music teacher on behalf of their students. The teacher must agree to serve as the sole point-of-contact between the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the student ensemble. 
• Ensembles must be available for all dates to be eligible to continue in the competition.

REPERTOIRE

• Ensembles must select a single complete movement, or complete single movement work, no more than 9 minutes in length.
• Works featuring theme and variation will need to perform the theme, and then adhere to timing limit of no more than 9 minutes in length.
• Arrangements or instrument substitutions will be accepted on a case-by-case basis and with prior approval by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Education and Community Engagement Department.  
• Original student compositions are acceptable with prior approval by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Education and Community Engagement Department. 
• Duos and Sonatas (piano with one instrument) should feature equally challenging parts.  
• Percussion Ensembles: must be able to provide and transport their own percussion instrument(s) and equipment, if selected. 
• The Handel/Halvorsen Duo and any work for two pianos will not be accepted. 
• Suggested repertoire can be found using the NYSSMA Manual or NJSSE repertoire lists of instrumental and vocal music for solo and ensemble performance.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit an Online Audition Video 

• The Online Audition Video will be accepted as a video submission only. Your audition video should be uploaded to either YouTube as an unlisted video or Google Drive with link sharing permissions turned on. 
• Please title your video file in the following format 
  • School Name_Composer_Piece_Movement (e.g. Pleasantville_Brahms_Trio in A minor_Movement 1)

Media Release Form 

• All application submissions must include Media Release Forms signed by the parent/guardian of each student musician. The PDF form will be available with the application.

IMPORTANT DATES