Concerto Competition

Each year ULSO holds a concerto competition, open to its current and recent members. Winners are invited to perform a concerto with the Orchestra in a future project.

2022/23 Season

We are delighted to announce the winner of this season's competition - Daisy Noton (Flute) - huge congratulations and we look forward to performing with her soon!

Next year's competition will be announced in December.

The competition is held over two rounds:

In Round One is via video audition and the submission deadline is normally in February. Applicants are expected to play the first movement of a concerto lasting no longer than 10 minutes. Successful candidates will progress to Round Two.

Round Two, usually in March, is held in person and for which the Music Director will be present. Candidates should present selected passages from ALL movements of their concerto, totalling no more than 25 minutes. The panel may also ask to hear specific passages, so be prepared to play any part of your concerto.

For Round Two:

  • You must provide the panel with a copy of the piano or orchestral score of the piece you are performing
  • It is strongly recommended that you perform with accompaniment. Unfortunately, ULSO is unable to provide an accompanist.
  • If you are successful in the Competition, the concerto you perform with ULSO will be chosen in consultation with the Music Director, but is not limited to the work played during the Competition.

The winners of the 2021/2 competition are:

Lucia Porcedda - current ULSO principal clarinet

Adam Thomas - current ULSO principal trombone

Previous winners of the competition include: