2025 Concerto Competition

The Symphony of Southeast Texas is thrilled to announce the 2025 Concerto Competition and invites Region 5 Middle and High School Students to compete for a chance to perform with the SOST.

Please reach out to the Director of Operations, Mason Hendrix at mhendrix@sost.org for the application form.

Students should choose from the following concerti for audition:

Flute:
Griffes – Poem for flute and orchestra Haydn – Concerto
Ibert – Concerto
Mozart – Andante, K.315
Mozart – Concertos nos. 1-2

Oboe:
Albinoni – Concertos, op.7, no.3; op.9, no.2 Bellini – Concerto E-flat major
Cimarosa – Concerto C minor
Donizetti – Concertino F major
Haydn – Concerto
Marcello – Concerto C minor
Martinu – Concerto
Mozart – Concerto K.314
Strauss. R. – Concerto D major
Vaughan Williams – Concerto

Clarinet:
Mozart – Concerto, clarinet, K.622
Weber, C.M.–Concertino, op.26; Concertos nos. 1-2

Bassoon:
Mozart-Concerto
Weber, C.M – Concerto, bassoon. op.75Horn:
Haydn – Concertos nos. 1-2 Mozart – Concertos nos. 1, 3

Trumpet:
Haydn – Trumpet Concerto Hummel – Concerto

Trombone:
Creston – Fantasy for trombone
Jacob – Trombone Concerto
Tomasi – Trombone Concerto

Tuba:
Vaughan Williams – Bass Tuba Concerto John Williams – Tuba Concerto

Harp:
Debussy – Sacred and Profane Dances Handel – Harp Concerto
Dittersdorf – Concerto for Harp

Percussion:
Creston – Concertino for Marimba
Hohvaness – Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints Klatzow – Marimba Concerto
Kurka – Marimba Concerto
Milhaud – Concerto
Rosauro – Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra

Violin:
Bach – Concerto No. 1&2
Mozart – Concerto No. 1-7
Saint-Saëns – Concerto No. 1 Op. 20; Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso; Havanaise Sarasate- Zigeunerweisen; Introduction and Tarantella
Schumann-Concerto in D minor
Telemann – Concerto
Torelli – any concerto
Vivaldi – any concerto
Wieniawski – Legend, Op. 17

Viola:
Handel – Concerto
Telemann – Concerto
Stamitz – Concerto in D Major
Weber – Andante and Hungarian Rondo

Violoncello:
Boccherini (Grutzmacher) – Concerto in B-flat Major Haydn – Concerto No. 1&2
Saint-Saëns – Concerto in A Minor
Vivaldi – any concerto

Double Bass:
Bottesini – Concerto No. 2
Dragonetti – Concerto
Dittersdorf – Concerto in Eb Major, Concerto in E Major Vanhal – Concerto

Piano:
Haydn: Concerto in D Major, 1st mvt. (c. 8′), 3rd mvt (c. 8′) Mozart: Concerto, No. 20 in D Minor, 3rd mvt. (c. 7′)
Mozart: Concerto, No. 21 in C Major, 3rd mvt. (c. 7′)
Mozart: Concerto, No. 23 in A Major, 3rd mvt. (c. 8′)
Beethoven: Concerto, No. 2 in B-flat Major, 3rd mvt. (c. 6.5′) Mendelssohn: Concerto in G Minor, 1st mvt. (c. 6′), 3rd mvt. (c. 7′) Saint-Saens: Concerto, No. 2 in G Minor, 3rd mvt. (c. 7-8′) Saint-Saens: Concerto, No. 5 in F Major “Egyptian,” 3rd mvt. (c. 6′)

*Other concerti need to be approved by the Music Director

2024

The Symphony of Southeast Texas is thrilled to announce the results of the 2024 Concerto Competition.

The first-place winner is flutist Claire Ren from Beaumont, a student at Monsignor Kelly High School. She has won the prize of $750 and the honor of playing her competition piece, Howard Hanson’s Serenade for Flute and Orchestra, at the Youth Education Concerts. Led by Maestro Chelsea Tipton II, the SOST orchestra will perform this concert on January 24, 2024 for area students. Ren also won third place in the 2023 Concerto Competition.

The second-place winner is pianist Cindy Yang of Beaumont, a student at Westbrook High School. She has won the prize of $500 playing the piano to Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3.

The third-place winner is violinist Crystal Liu of Beaumont, a student at Westbrook High School. She won the prize of $250 performing Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D major.

“I’m pleased to congratulate the winners of the 2024 Concerto Competition, namely Claire Ren, Cindy Yang, and Crystal Liu. At the Symphony of Southeast Texas, we believe that education is a crucial part of our mission. We are thrilled to highlight our first-place winner, Claire Ren, who will be performing at our Youth Education Concerts on January 24. It is important for talented young people in our community to inspire and motivate the next generation,” said Maestro Chelsea Tipton II.

We couldn’t be happier for these young musicians as they embark on their musical journeys.

They will be presented with their cash prize at the SOST Classic Series III concert on February 3, 2024 at the Julie Rogers Theatre. Funding for these prizes is generously provided by the Symphony League of Beaumont.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2023 Concerto Competition winner: Matthew Lou