May 4, 2023

Massachusetts high school musicians eligible to receive expert feedback, cash prizes

Ethan Fisher Chavez playing the violin.
       Ethan Fisher Chavez,
       2022 winner in Strings category

The UMass Amherst Department of Music & Dance is now accepting applications for the 2023 UMass Young Artist Awards, open to high school students who are residents of, or attend school in Massachusetts. Launched in 2021, the competition provides young vocalists and instrumentalists with opportunities to perform, compete, and receive professional feedback while furthering their classical music studies. The competition will once again be conducted entirely via video recordings submitted by the entrants. 

The competition offers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place cash awards of up to $1,000 in each of three categories: Voice - (for 10th & 11th graders); Woodwinds/Brass, and Strings. (There is no Piano category this year.)  In addition, valuable Honorable Mention awards are also offered by several sponsors of the event.  All entrants to the competition will receive written feedback on their recorded performances by UMass music faculty and guest jurors. 

Applications, including video recording submissions, are due on May 15, 2023.  Interested students, parents and teachers can find more information, including awards, repertoire requirements and guidelines for recording applicant performances, by clicking on the link on the department website, www.umass.edu/music-dance.

The competition is one of many such efforts hosted by the department to encourage and support talented young instrumentalists and vocalists while providing them with a glimpse of the college music experience. These events include the High School Honor Band, High School Jazz Festival, and numerous day-long instruction-based events hosted by the voice, wind, and percussion faculty.