Software to the Susan Wadsworth International Auditions are available through August 1st, 2018.

 

The Young Concert Artists (YCA ) Susan Wadsworth International Auditions are open to instrumentalists aged 16 to 28 years old, singers 20 to 30 years old, and ensembles with an average age of 30 or less, as of as of October 27, 2024.

The YCA annually adds a new team of top performers to its squad from the Interviews. Winners receive a maximum three-year control agreement, high-profile debuts, plus national and international presentation and symphony performance possibilities.

Software will formally near on August 1, 2024 with an Early Bird Deadline of June 3, 2024.

The Violin Channel just sat down with Dan Kellogg, President of Young Concert Artists, to learn more about how the interviews.

 

Show us about YCA? What has been its long-term goal, and when was it founded?

Susan Wadsworth, the founder of Young Concert Artists, founded the organization in 1961 with the intention of supporting the most accomplished young musicians in their careers. Today, we continue our search for the most extraordinary young musicians by broadening our search for them and giving them every opportunity and reference to pursue successful and effective careers in classical music. Our efforts are actually focused on making a substantial investment in the development of excellent young musicians.

 

Tell us about some of the designers who have already made their musical debuts on your roster.

On our roster, there are many alumni who have established significant careers, and YCA has a powerful alumni network. Our students include such giants as Emanuel Ax, Julia Bullock, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jeremy Denk, Ray Chen, Anne-Marie McDermott, Richard Goode, Dawn Upshaw, Mason Bates, Zlatomir Fung, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Kevin Puts, Pinchas Zukerman, Randall Goosby, Sasha Cooke, and many more. Many of our alumni see YCA as the single most crucial factor in guiding them through their early transitions as songs students in productive and long-term careers as major artists.

 

Show us about your much standing with the YCA.

I joined the lineup in 2002 as YCA’s newest Composer-in-Residence and enjoyed some great times as an actor on the squad. My two great artist professionals helped me safe engagements with big orchestras, quartets, and music festivals, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, the Takács Quartet, and the Alpine Songs Festival. These first prospects opened the door to many incredible expert income and shows and meant the world to me.

It has been a pleasure to return to YCA after 14 years as a member of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and to follow in the admired footprints of YCA Founder Susan Wadsworth. It is a pleasure to support YCA in establishing the next section of our unique history as the next President in our 63-year history.

 

How do the YCA interviews differ from another audio events?

The YCA auditions are close to classical musicians performing on virtually any device, and the number of winners varies from year to year, depending on our jury’s selection. Unlike many competitions, which are focused on a special device, Winners of our interviews not only get the prestige and reputation that come with events, but they also benefit from a wealth of resources and tools to start their careers as performing performers. Beyond their first success at the auditions, the effects YCA has on their jobs goes far beyond that.

 

What do the victors receive?

Our squad now includes Susan Wadsworth International Auditions winners as YCA Jacobs Compatriots. The Jacobs Fellowship is a three-year program that elevates our newest artists ‘ confidence and creativity through a range of tools and resources, including thorough artist management, a 14-month Artist Incubator training program, mentoring from YCA alumni, training in education &amp, community engagement, high-profile performance opportunities with leading presenters around the globe, specific project opportunities, personal brand development and an expanded electronic portfolio, and debut recitals in New York City and Washington, DC.

 

What artists would you like to have on your roster?

YCA seeks extraordinary musicians who have the potential for a significant career as renowned classical musicians. While the “wow” factor is hard to characterize, it is often unmistakable. Outstanding musical talent, commanding stage presence, and a distinctive approach to carefully chosen repertoire are combined by truly memorable performers. We are looking for special and unique artists who we can mentor, cultivate, and support in the early stages of important careers.

 

What unique traits does the jury primarily seek to find?

Every year, we invite a wide range of artists, alumni, and professionals in the industry to be members of our jury and assist in the selection of the upcoming YCA Jacobs Fellows. Previous jury members have included Deborah Borda, Colin Carr, Denyce Graves, Ani Kavafian, Demarre McGill, Dmitry Sitkovetski, Hanako Yamaguchi, and many others. Through their varied lenses of expertise and experience, the jury considers several aspects of each artist’s audition, including the artists ‘ approach to their chosen repertoire, how they communicate to an audience, stage presence, consistently strong musical skill, and the ability to offer a truly memorable performance.

 

What can aspiring YCA artists anticipate once they join the roster?

When new artists are added to our roster, the process of establishing their careers begins with a number of crucial components:

    • The 21st Century Artist Incubator, a 14-month intensive artist training program, offers guidance and training on a variety of topics, including how to develop their vision for community engagement, how to create their brand and digital presence, and more. It is offered in weekly sessions.
    • Close collaboration with our team to create programming for their first recitals, which are typically held the following year following their audition victory.
    • Work with a personal stylist and photographer to create their brand and obtain images of high quality.
    • For their portfolio, professionally produced performance videos.
    • Training and participation in education and community engagement projects, such as our Year-Long program, or mini-residencies in public schools.
    • Plus high-profile performance opportunities, both with leading presenters, and in non-traditional settings.

 

This month’s end of applications will be announced. Who should submit an application, and how do they go about doing so?

We encourage all young musicians who have outstanding skills and are willing to work toward a career as a performing artist to apply. We look forward to hearing their auditions, and meeting the next YCA Jacobs Fellows!

Apply by August 1, 2024 at yca. org/auditions-guidelines.