THE HILLS YOUNG MUSICIANS CONTEST 2025

Hosted by the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra in conjunction with the Hills Orange Blossom Festival, the Hills Young Musicians Contest 2025 is an annual event that provides young people with an opportunity to showcase their musical talent and potential.

The contest is designed to foster the development of young local musicians by creating a healthy, competitive environment. It encourages participants to learn the general etiquette of music competitions while receiving constructive feedback from professional judges. The event aims to inspire young musicians to take initiative in their learning, practice, and participation in music activities, and to enhance their abilities in school bands or youth orchestra performances.

The final concert will feature gifted young musicians competing for three prizes across two groups. While the primary goal of the contest is to ignite young musicians’ passion for music and broaden their performance experiences, it also helps them improve their performance skills for exams and contribute their talents to the Hills community.

The contest is divided into two groups: 

• A: 12 years of age and under
• B: 13 – 18 years of age

The Contest is in three stages:

• Stage 1:
  Submit a video recording of your performance
  (Choose a solo piece for any of the following orchestral instruments: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass— with or without piano accompaniment.)
  Please include the following information in your submission:|
  – Title of the piece
  – Composer’s full name
  – Duration of the piece
  
  Duration:
  
• Group A: Any length of time within 5 minutes ca.
• Group B: Any length of time within 10 minutes ca.
  
• Stage 2:
  The finals of each group will perform at the Final Concert at the TLC Theatre, Baulkham Hills High School, on Saturday, 6 September 2025, at 7:00 PM.
  The pieces performed will be written for solo instruments, with or without piano accompaniment. Contestants wishing to perform with accompaniment must bring their own accompanists.
  All participants in the Finals Concert will receive comment sheets from the judges.
  At the end of the concert, three winners from each group—1st prize, 2nd prize, and 3rd prize—will be announced and awarded a trophy and The Hills Young Musicians Contest 2025 certificates.
  
• Stage 3
  The First Prize winner will have the opportunity to perform a concerto with the Hills Youth Orchestra.

Requirements:

• Contestants must be currently residing in the Hills District or be a member of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra – YOUTH SYMPHONY (including the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra and Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra).

To Participate :

• Complete an online application by submitting your video recording and paying a non-refundable application fee of $50 by 1 August 2025.

Judicators: 

• Beata Stanowska (Concertmaster of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra)
• Samantha Mailer (Flautist) (Principal flute of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra)
• Karen Cordez (Cellist) (Principal cello of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra)

Contact us for more information: management@sys.org.au

*** To be admitted to the TLC Theatre for the Finals Concert:
All audience, guests, and parents must pre-purchase tickets.
All contestants and accompanists must request passes (please specify the name when requesting the pass).

*Suburbs of the Hills District: