Announcing the 2024 Rising Stars Contest Winner: Alex Lin
Congratulations to Alex Lin, pianist! Lin will perform the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor at the Rising Stars concert on April 27th. Check the Concerts page for more information, or purchase tickets on our Buy Tickets page.
2024 Raleigh Symphony Orchestra Rising Stars Auditions and Concert
We are pleased to announce the annual statewide RSO Rising Stars Concert on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 7:00pm. If you are a student (high school and college) who resides in North Carolina and are between the ages of 15 and 23, here is your chance to perform as a soloist with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra!
This year’s round of auditions has now closed. Applications were accepted until Friday, March 22, 2024, at 7:00pm.
2023 winner Daniel Garcia, clarinet
How to apply:
1. Read all the Rules for Entry (below)
2. Submit the Rising Stars Application Form.
3. Pay your Application Fee. All successful applications must include both the form and the $40 registration fee* to be considered.
4. Submit a recorded audition. See below for submission instructions and recording guidelines.
*If you have need of registration scholarship or have any other questions about registration, please contact Executive Director Andrea Luke at manager@raleighsymphony.org or (919) 546-9755.
1 - Rules for Entry
- Select a work which you can play from memory - typically one movement of a concerto, sonata, or comparable orchestral-accompanied solo work composed or transcribed for your instrument.
We recommend that you select a composition that is in the standard orchestral repertoire and that can be affordably acquired through rental, but we can make reasonable accommodations.
A good guide to what is readily available is Luck’s Music Library www.lucksmusic.com.
Contact manager@raleighsymphony.org if you have questions about whether your piece qualifies.
- Applicants must have their primary residence in North Carolina. Attending school out of state is acceptable, but you must note your primary NC address in the application.
- Applicants are limited to musicians between the ages of 15 and 23 as of January 1, 2024. We will accept any instrument or voice part, as long as an orchestral accompaniment to your work is available! The judges will give equal consideration to all applicants who meet the above conditions, regardless of race, education, sex, gender identity, or instrument/voice part.
- All submissions (including application form, registration fee, and video submission) must be received by Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7:00pm.
- Winners should plan to be available on these dates:
Rehearsal: Monday, April 22 7:30-10:00pm
Rehearsal: Wednesday, April 24 7:30-10:00pm
Sound Check/Dress Rehearsal: Saturday, April 27 11:00-1:30pm
Concert: Saturday, April 27 - 7:00pm
All rehearsals and the concert will occur in Jones Auditorium at Meredith College in Raleigh. We will schedule 30-45 minute rehearsal blocks within the Monday & Wednesday rehearsals, plus a shorter block during the final dress rehearsal. Once you receive your rehearsal times, you won’t need to be present for the entire rehearsal, but will be expected to show up in time to warm up and be ready to play at your scheduled rehearsal time. All winners will receive up to 4 complimentary guest tickets to the final concert.
2 - Application form
Fill out the Rising Stars Application Form in its entirety. Incomplete applications will be not be considered. In addition, you MUST provide an current email address where can be reached – this is critical for communication throughout the entire process.
5. All applications must be submitted with a $40 entry fee*, which is non-refundable. The fee can be paid either by credit card or by check. Visit the RSO Ticketing Page and select Rising Stars Entry Fee. *If this fee is a barrier to entry, please contact Executive Director Andrea Luke at manager@raleighsymphony.org or (919) 546-9755; several scholarships for registration are available.
6. Once your complete application and fee has been received, submit your recorded audition of a single movement from your selected piece, with piano or orchestral accompaniment. (Reduced orchestral score for piano accompaniment is perfectly admissible!)
7. We will contact all applicants directly via email between March 22 and 29th to announce the winners, and the results will be posted on this page and on RSO’s social media.
2023 winner Jacob Wang, piano
3 - Application Fee
Once you have completed and submitted the application above, you will need to pay your registration fee.*
Both the application and application fee must be submitted to be considered for the audition.
*If you have need of registration scholarship or have questions, please contact Executive Director Andrea Luke at manager@raleighsymphony.org or (919) 492-5489.
4 - Submit your audition
Please upload your video to YouTube, then either share it with us via email or through YouTube’s sharing settings. We accept all instruments and voice parts performing the length of a standard concerto movement.
Click for instructions on uploading a private video. Once you have uploaded your video, please share privately or through an email to manager@raleighsymphony.org.
ALL PERFORMANCES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED (piano reduction of orchestral part or piano arrangement is acceptable).
Make sure you and your instrument are in frame. Ideally we would also like to see your accompanist in the video, but the most important thing is your performance as a soloist. Pianists and percussionists should try to record so we can see both your hands clearly; string and wind players should try to record so we can see your full upper body.
Try for the best recording quality that is available to you. Judges will make their determinations based on your technical ability, interpretation, and expression - not your video quality. Prioritize recording with a good-quality microphone so they can hear you well.
Please make sure you have read all these rules thoroughly before you apply. All submissions are due on March 22, 2024, by 7:00pm!
Those selected to perform will be posted on this page between March 22-29, as well as on RSO’s social media (unless otherwise noted on the Application Form - see the Photo & Video Consent subsection. All applicants will be contacted via email after the judging is complete (by March 29th at latest).
If you have any questions about applying, feel free to contact us!
Andrea Luke, Executive Director
Above: a gallery of images from 2022 and 2023 Rising Stars Concerts, featuring Kyrese Washington, flute; Jonghee Yoon, organ; Daniel Garcia, clarinet; and Jacob Wang, piano.