STANGER COMPETITION
56th Annual Stanger Competition
February - May, 2025
The Elmhurst Symphony Association, through its Stanger Competition, encourages serious study and high standards among young musicians. It is the Association’s intention that the Competition be both educational and rewarding to each entrant. Judges are selected both for their prominence as performers and their familiarity with students’ musical development. Each entrant will be given 10 minutes to perform their selection, and their performance will be evaluated with comments and suggestions. Cash awards and the opportunity to appear as a soloist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra should provide motivation for superior preparation and performance. It is hoped the true spirit of the Competition will be a sense of personal fulfillment and self-evaluation.
Dr. Robert Stanger was President of Elmhurst College from 1957 to 1965, President of the Elmhurst Symphony Society from 1968 to 1972, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst for 15 years.
New This Year
In October 2024, changes to the competition structure and rules were announced to provide more opportunities for students. These changes include:
- Expanded Geographic Area
Students from all over Chicagoland are now eligible to enter the competition, including students from areas of southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. - Rounds, Divisions, and Public Concert
The first round will consist of three separate divisions: (1) Strings, (2) Piano, and (3) Winds, Brass, Percussion, and Harp. The final round will consist of the winners of each division competing against each other at a live concert accompanied by the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Competition Structure
The Stanger Competition will take place in two rounds. Round One, the Division Round, will consist of three separate divisions: (1) Strings, (2) Piano, and (3) Winds, Brass, and Percussion. Round Two, the Final Round, will consist of the winners of each division competing against each other at a live concert accompanied by the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Competitors will receive written feedback from judges on their performance in the Division Round.
Division Round
February 2025
Each division will compete on the following dates. No exceptions or special accommodations will be made for applicants who are not available on the date or time of their respective division.
Piano: Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Union Church of Hinsdale (137 S Garfield Ave, Hinsdale, IL 60521)
Winds, Brass, Percussion, and Harp: Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Redeemer Lutheran Church (139 E 1st St, Hinsdale, IL 60521)
Strings: Saturday, February 22, 2025 | 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Redeemer Lutheran Church (139 E 1st St, Hinsdale, IL 60521)
A winner and runner-up will be selected for each division. Each division winner will receive a cash prize of $250, and advance to compete in the Final Round. In the event that a division winner is not able to compete in the Final Round, the runner-up will be invited to compete in their place.
Final Round
May 10, 2025
The division winners will compete against each other in the Final Round, culminating in a public performance and competition with accompaniment by the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
The concert competition will take place midday on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. At least one rehearsal will take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in the evening.
From this Final Round, an overall Winner of the Competition will be selected and receive an additional cash prize of $500.
Eligibility
- Only instrumental applicants with a possible orchestral accompaniment will be considered.
- Applicants must be reside or go to school within the boundaries defined here:
- Applicants must be currently enrolled in a High School curriculum.
- Entrants who have previously won the competition are ineligible to participate again.
Rules & Requirements
- Entrants in the String and Piano Divisions are required to perform from memory. In keeping with performance and pedagogy practices, entrants in the Wind, Brass, and Percussion Division are not required to perform from memory.
- Each entrant must provide sheet music of their selected piece for judges’ use during the competition. Instructions for providing music will be given at time of acceptance.
- Accompaniment is required. Entrants are to provide their own accompanists.
- Each entrant will be limited to 10 minutes of playing time.
- All performances are open to the public, and competitors are welcome to listen to one another.
Application & Fee
The application must be submitted electronically by midnight central time, December 13, 2024. There is a $45 Application Fee, due upon submission.
Applications meeting all eligibility requirements will be accepted in the order in which they are received. Due to space limitations, no more than twenty-five (25) competitors will be accepted for each division.
Each application will be reviewed for eligibility and, if all requirements are satisfied, will be notified of acceptance. Each entrant will be notified of their competition time by December 20, 2024. This lead time will give each applicant and accompanist the opportunity to make any adjustments to their schedules so they can meet their allotted audition time.
To Apply
Applications for the Stanger Competition are closed.
Questions
For additional information, contact Stanger Coordinator Michael Surratt via email at stanger@elmhurstsymphony.org or call the Elmhurst Symphony Association office at (630) 941-0202.