Audition Information

Motivation, Encouragement, Inspiration by Classical music!

Houston Young Artists’ Concert is a non-profit organization promoting young talented musicians in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area (75 mile radius of downtown Houston). We are looking to encourage the next generation of rising stars to share their enthusiasm through their music and demonstrate the importance and beauty of classical music—to show and inspire young audiences.

We would like to hear your best piece(s) that display your personality and passion in making music.

Download Audition Rules (PDF)

Audition Rules

Audition Rules 2023 will be announced soon.

Eligibility

Any age under 18 years old (kindergarten through pre-college students)

Three categories:

Soloist (piano, orchestral instrument, vocal, guitar, marimba, etc.) HYAC will provide one piano.
Ensemble for duet, trio, quartet, quintet (piano ensemble, string ensemble, woodwind ensemble, piano trio, string trio, piano quartet, string quartet, etc. and any combination of different instruments)
Others: any instrumentation and any size (Traditional instruments, Jazz ensemble, etc.)

Musical selection(s):

Contestants will play the same piece(s) for auditions and concerts. Selected artists will play the same pieces for the concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

For categories A and B, all contestants may choose music written by classical composers in Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern/Contemporary—no improvisation, or contestant's own compositions will be accepted. A movement of a concerto work with piano accompaniment is acceptable.

For category C, any piece at any period is accepted.

Performance duration:

Maximum 6 minutes for auditions.

We strongly recommend contestants to choose one piece or a few pieces/movements under 6 minutes. Shorter, exciting, memorable pieces under 6 minutes are suitable for the outreach concerts at Miller Outdoor Theater.

Contestants playing longer than 6 minutes (maximum 12 minutes) will not be selected for the concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre, but you may be invited to perform for HYAC’s recitals at KAWAI Piano Gallery Houston in 2022.

Accompanists

All soloists must provide their own accompanist for the audition. An accompanist under the age of 25 is recommended. The soloist and accompanist are judged separately. If only the soloist is chosen, he or she will be required to use the HYAC staff accompanist when performing at HYAC sponsored events. If help is needed in finding an accompanist for an audition, please contact the concert director at auditions4HYAC@gmail.com.

Audition Procedure

A panel of judges will hear live auditions. Performances will be judged on musicianship, stage presence, and audience appeal. No comments or written critiques will be given. The board members and judge’s decisions will be final and cannot be appealed.

Results

HYAC will select 14~18 performers/groups for the outreach concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre held on June 13th and 14th. Concerts will be live and live-streamed for 48 hours.
Newly selected “Houston Young Artists” will be invited to perform a series of HYAC recitals at KAWAI Piano Gallery Houston in either virtual (recorded concert with no audience) and/or hybrid (recorded concert with audience) for season 2022-2023.
All contestants will be invited to HYAC workshop for stage performance training and masterclasses by guest artists. We will keep in touch with their progress to become the next Houston Young Artists.
Scholarships will be given to selected artists after their first performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Application fee

$50 per contestant and $30 per ensemble member for one registration (i.e. $60 for duet, $90 for trio, $120 for quartet, etc.) Any group larger than 7 members will pay a flat rate of $200 per group. Please visit www.HYAC.org for the application process starting in April 2022.

Audition processes

Online application form and payment of the fee will open at www.HYAC.org in April 2022. Deadline is May 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

Auditions will take place at KAWAI Piano Gallery Houston on May 27 (Friday at 4-9pm) and 29 (Sunday at 10am-6pm).

Results will be announced to the contestants before June 1st via email.

Performance engagements

If selected artists can’t attend any of the following events, they will lose their status as Houston Young Artists; your spot will be given to the next runner-up.

Orientation and dress rehearsal at KAWAI Piano Gallery on Friday, June 10, 2022 (4-9pm).

Selected young artists will perform at Miller Outdoor Theater on June 13 (Mon) and 14 (Tue), 2022 (11am).

Other selected artists will perform for the recitals recorded professionally and uploaded in HYAC Channel on YouTube.

Questions

For any questions about HYAC auditions, please contact us at auditions4HYAC@gmail.com.

Important Dates

April 2023
Application Acceptance

May 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Deadline for the application

May 26, 2023 (Friday at 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
May 27, 2023 (Saturday at 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
Live Auditions at KAWAI Piano Gallery Houston

June 9, 2022 (Friday at 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
Orientation and Rehearsals at KAWAI Piano Gallery Houston

June 2023 (To be determined)
Outreach Concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre
(Dress rehearsal & stage/microphone setting at 9 a.m.)

Dates and Venues 2023: TBA
A series of Recitals, Workshops, and Masterclasses