STANGER COMPETITION

Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra present the

55th Annual Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Competition

Saturday, February 17, 2024

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.

Awards

1st Place Winner will receive a cash award of $400 and an opportunity to perform the winning audition piece as a soloist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra during its 2024-2025 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/summer of 2024.


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/summer of 2024.


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/summer of 2024.


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



2024 Stanger Competition Results

By Penney Stergios • 27 Feb, 2024
Sjostrom Wins, Four Musicians Stand Out in Annual Concerto Competition 

2023 Stanger Competition Results

By Penney Stergios • 20 Feb, 2023
O'Malley Wins, Five Chicago-Area Musicians Stand Out In Annual Concerto Competition

2022 Stanger Competition Results

21 Feb, 2022
Violinist Elinor Detmer wins 2022 Competition

Auditions

  1. Date and Location:
    Saturday, February 17, 2024     at
    Union Church of Hinsdale, 137 S. Garfield, Hinsdale, IL

    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 January 1, 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.

  2. Entrants are required to perform from memory.
  3. 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.
  4. Entrants are to provide their own accompanists. Accompaniment is required.
  5. All auditions are open to the public, and entrants are welcome to listen to one another.
  6. 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

Applications for the 2024 Stanger Competition have closed.

Share by: