Winds, Brass & Percussion Concerto Competition

Music Performance Studies Department Meet the MPS Faculty Performance Divisions Student Performance Competitions Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition Fred Pattison Piano Award Competition Winds, Brass & Percussion Concerto Competition Young-Ja Park Chamber Music Award MPS Handbook Ensembles and Additional Performance Groups Performances Accompanists

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for Winds, Brass & Percussion students at Western to compete to perform a concerto with the Western University Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band. All undergraduate, diploma, and masters woodwind, brass, and percussion students who are enrolled in a large instrumental ensemble and private lessons at Western are eligible to compete in this competition. Multi-player concerti (duos, trios) are acceptable, but all performers must be current students (ie. with the above large ensemble/lesson eligibilities met).

The Competition is held mid-September with the performance held in the same academic year.

2026-27 Competition

Dates

Round 1 - Friday, Sept. 18 | 4-5pm
von Kuster Hall

Every applicant will be expected to play approximately 4-5 minutes of the concerto. Applicants may select which section(s) of the work to perform, provided that at least half of the performance includes accompaniment. A select number of applicants from Round 1 will be asked to perform in Round 2.

Round 2 - Monday, Sept. 21 | 6-7pm
von Kuster Hall

Selected applicants will be expected to perform the complete selection, “top to bottom”, as it would be in the final ensemble performance.

Rules and Regulations

Eligibility

All Western undergraduate, diploma certificate and masters students are eligible to compete.
Competitors must currently be enrolled in a large instrumental ensemble at Western.
Competitors must currently be enrolled in WBP studio instruction or previously have taken at least 2 years of WBP studio instruction at Western.
Competitor must not have won in a previous year.

Rules

Competitors must compete with the same piece they wish to perform.
Competitors must perform with piano accompaniment.
Length of piece: 10 minutes max.
Piece must be selected from the current approved repertoire list (PDF) to be eligible.
Ensemble conductor will determine the winner's performance date.

Procedure

To participate, register online by Monday, Sept. 14 at 6pm. A program order will be e-mailed to all participants by the following evening.
Performers are responsible to communicate in advance with their pianists to ensure they are available for the full duration of the competition. Accommodations cannot be required.
Please bring one copy of the score to the performance for the jury panel.
The live rounds are not open to the public, but studio instructors may attend.
Performers should be ready 10 minutes prior and standing near the designated door. Someone will direct you to the backstage and stage when it is your turn.