Lakeland civic orchestra resumes young artists competition virtually
Posted: March 23, 2021 | Updated: April 1, 2021
The Lakeland Civic Orchestra is accepting virtual auditions for its 2021 Young Artists Competition. This annual event allows young musicians, ages 18 and under, to compete for the opportunity to perform as instrumental or vocal soloists with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra in one of their concerts in 2021-2022. The Young Artists Competition was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and auditions for the 2021 competition will be submitted as videos and judged remotely.
This year’s winners will be featured soloists during the orchestra’s return to live performances following a year of virtual performances that began after their March 2020 concert. Winners will rehearse with the orchestra and perform in a Sunday afternoon concert at the 420-seat Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center on the campus of Lakeland Community College.
Performers will compete in two age-divisions: the junior division (ages 13 and under) and senior division (ages 14-18). Previous Young Artists Competition winners have included members of the Cleveland Orchestra’s Youth Orchestra, the Ohio Music Education Association All-State Orchestra, and winners of the Ohio Music Teacher’s Association competitions and the Cooper International Competition. They have continued their studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Kent State University, Rice University amongst others.
Performers should create audition videos with a live accompanist, upload them to a streaming service such as YouTube, and then share the link as part of a completed online application form. Auditions will be reviewed by a three-judge panel consisting of Director of the Lakeland Civic Orchestra, Dr. Matthew Saunders, and music faculty from Northeast Ohio colleges and universities.
Applications must be submitted by April 22, and winners will be announced by May 31. There is no application fee, but no more than two students of any private teacher may audition.
For more information and the online application form, visit the Young Artists Competition website at the link below.
Contact Jeri Lynn Pilarczyk in Lakeland’s Arts and Sciences Division at 440.525.7261 or email jpilarczyk5@lakelandcc.edu with questions.
About the Lakeland Civic Orchestra
The Lakeland Civic Orchestra is the oldest of Lakeland Community College’s musical ensembles, with roots in the Lake County Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1937 by Lorna Nighman, and the Willoughby Community Orchestra, founded in 1950 by Charles Ruddick. Since becoming a part of Lakeland Community College in 1970, the orchestra performs four concerts annually, and rehearses Monday evenings on Lakeland’s Main Campus from August through May. Orchestra members come from many different backgrounds, from passionate amateurs to professional musicians seeking additional performance opportunities, and from ages 14 to 80. Lakeland students may earn one college credit per semester for their participation, with transfer opportunities available to many Ohio colleges and universities.
About the civic music program.
Lakeland Community College provides community members the opportunity to express and advance their talents by performing in five music groups: the Lakeland Civic Band, the Lakeland Civic Chorus, the Lakeland Civic Flute Choir, the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra, and the Lakeland Civic Orchestra.Additionally, the college offers talented high school students Jazz Impact, an all-star high school music group. Lakeland Community College is also home to the Lakeland Jazz Festival, the oldest jazz festival of its type in the state of Ohio, celebrating its 49th anniversary in 2021.
For more information about the civic music groups and auditions, contact Jeri Lynn Pilarczyk in Lakeland’s Arts and Sciences Division at 440.525.7261 or email jpilarczyk5@lakelandcc.edu.