Stanger Competition

Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra

present the

2022-2023 Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Competition

Saturday, February 18, 2023

The Elmhurst Symphony Association, through its Young Artists Auditions, encourages serious study and high standards among young musicians. It is the Association’s intention that the Young Artists Auditions 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 Auditions 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.

AWARDS

1st Place Winner will receive a cash award of $400 and an opportunity to appear as a soloist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra during its 2023-2024 concert season. The concert date will be determined in consultation with Dr. Stephen Alltop, ESO Music Director and conductor. If the 1st Place Winner cannot appear on the selected date, the second place winner will have the opportunity to appear as the soloist. The cash prize will not be forfeited for the Original 1st Place Winner. (The ESA reserves the right to cancel the performance portion of the awards, if, in the opinion of the judges, no current entrant is ready to appear with the Orchestra).

The 1st Place winner may also be asked to perform at either a Kiwanis or Elmhurst Symphony Association function. 

2nd Place Winner will receive a cash award of $350 and will be expected to perform at either an Elmhurst Symphony Association or Kiwanis function during the spring of 2023.

3rd Place Winner will receive a cash award of $300 and will be expected to perform at either an Elmhurst Symphony Association or Kiwanis function during the spring of 2023.

4th Place Winner will receive a $250 cash award sponsored by the Friends Of Cynthia Bergquist Krainc and will be expected to perform at an Elmhurst Symphony Association or Kiwanis function during the spring of 2023.

There may be an undetermined number of Honorable Mention Awards selected by a decision of the judges.

Please note: The participant will absorb all expenses related to participation at Elmhurst Symphony related functions, although in the event the 1st Place Winner is attending an out-of-state school during 2023-2024, the ESA will consider reimbursing a portion of the travel expenses for the student to return to Elmhurst for the season concert performance.

AUDITIONS

  1. Auditions: Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd, Elmhurst.
    It is not possible for judges to hear auditions on any other day. Please check your schedule to be sure you have no conflicts for this date.
    Each entrant will be notified of their audition time by December 16, 2022. 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.
  1. Entrants are required to perform from memory.
  2. Each entrant must provide sheet music of his/her selected audition piece for judges’ use during the audition.  Instructions for providing music will be given at time of acceptance.
  3. Entrants are to provide their own accompanists. Accompaniment is required.
  4. All auditions are open to the public, and entrants are welcome to listen to one another.
  5. Each entrant will be limited to 10 minutes of playing time.

ELIGIBILITY

  1. Only instrumental entrants with a possible orchestral accompaniment will be auditioned.
  2. Entrants must be residents of DuPage County or within the following boundaries:
    North—Interstate 90 & Kennedy Expressway
    West—Fox River
    South—Stevenson Expressway (Rt. 55) until it reaches Rt. 126 that will become the southern boundary across to the Fox River
    East—Austin Boulevard.
  3. Entrants must be currently enrolled in a High School curriculum.
  4. Entrants who have previously won the 1st Place Award are ineligible to participate again.

APPLICATION

The application must be submitted electronically by midnight CT, December 1, 2022. The first 25 eligible applications will be accepted based on submission date. 

Your application will be reviewed for eligibility and if you meet all of our eligibility requirements, you will be notified of acceptance.  There is a $45 Application Fee, due upon acceptance.  

Apply Now

For additional information, contact Stanger Coordinator Michael Surratt at stanger@elmhurstsymphony.org or call the ESO Office at 630-941-0202.

Notes:

The first 25 applications only will be accepted as determined by submission date. 

Waiver of the application fee will be considered on an individual basis if financial hardship is a factor.

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