CYAC Rules and Registration

Age

Applicants must be age 24 or younger on the day of registration submission.

Residency

Applicants must be residents of the state of California at the time of application submission.

* CYAS Alumni are not restricted to California residency, and may apply regardless of where they reside.

Concerto Selection

Any concerto for your instrument may be selected for the competition. Major works not in concerto form may be considered as a substitution but must be approved by our artist board. Works must have parts available in the public domain or by rental. If you are unsure if your repertoire qualifies, we recommend reaching out to our office for confirmation before submitting an application.

Compulsory Works: Violin

1. Any single movement from a solo Bach Sonata or Partita.
2. A single-movement virtuosic work.
   

Compulsory Works: Woodwinds

1. One movement of a Baroque or Classical Period work.
2. One movement of a work composed after 1940.

* Woodwind concertos must be performed on:
Concert Flute
Oboe
Clarinet (Bb or A)
Bassoon

** Compulsory works may be performed on alternate instruments (alto flute, English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, etc)

*** At least one of these works must be composed for unaccompanied instrument.

Preliminary Round (Recording, Blind Round)

1. The entire first or last movement of your concerto (with cadenza if applicable).

2. The required compulsory works for your instrument.

Semi-Final Round (Live Concerto Audition)
8 to 10 Semi-Finalists

Semi-finalists will be given a 25-minute slot to perform for the competition jury:

1. The entire first or last movement of your concerto (with cadenza if applicable).

2. An excerpt of between 3 to 4 minutes in length of each of the remaining movements.

* Item 1 must be the same as selected in the Preliminary Round.
* Item 2: Excerpts can be pre-selected by the candidate.

Final Round (Live Recital)
4 to 5 Finalists

Finalists will perform in a live recital, partially of their own programming, for the competition jury as well as an audience and live broadcast:

1. The entire first or last movement of your concerto (with cadenza if applicable).

2. A selection of additional work(s) of the candidate’s choice to fill the remaining program length (see time limitations below). Selections must include at least 1 of the candidate’s compulsory works from the preliminary round.

* Violin: Recital must be 35 to 45 minutes in length. Woodwinds: Recital must be 25 to 35 minutes in length.

* Concerto movement must be the same as selected in the Preliminary Round..

* Additional Final Round works may be solo or accompanied works.

Semi-Final Round

Semi-final round will be held in Thousand Oaks (45-minutes north of Los Angeles). Venue and recommended accommodations for traveling candidates to be announced January 2026.

Violin Division: 9 AM to 2 PM
Violin Division Results: 4 PM
Woodwinds Division: 2:30 PM to 6 PM
Woodwinds Division Results: 8 PM

Final Round

Semi-final round will be held in Thousand Oaks (45-minutes north of Los Angeles). Venue and recommended accommodations for traveling candidates to be announced January 2026.

Woodwinds Division: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Violin Division: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Awards Ceremony 7 PM

Soloist Engagement – Concerto

Contestants who receive a guest soloist invitation agree to be available to perform their full concertos (all movements) with orchestra during the upcoming CYAS season. Specific dates will be available as soon as possible after the competition, but are usually released in June.

CYAS guest soloist receive one hour of rehearsal time with the symphony one week before concert weekend, 45-minutes the day before the concert, and 20 minutes during the dress rehearsal in the hall the day of the concert.

If for emergency reasons you are unable to perform, your artist fee will go towards your replacement artist. Other finalists may be offered the opportunity to perform if the first prize winner does not perform.

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes are distributed immediately at the awards ceremony, with the exception of first prize winners. 50% of the first prize will be paid immediately at the awards ceremony, and the remaining half as a performance fee upon performance of your concerto with CYAS in the upcoming season.

Soloist Engagement – Recording

Recording engagements are offered to finalists selected by the jury and are not restricted to first-prize winners.

Recording Sessions are scheduled throughout the season between the artists and partnering record labels.

The engagement includes the commercial recording and editing of an EP length album, including a filmed movement or single work, and distribution on all streaming platforms.

Accompanists

Contestants are responsible for their own accompanist arrangements for the competition. Contestants may bring their own accompanist, or hire a CYAS staff accompanist.

Staff accompanists will be available to rehearse the week of the semi-final round, and rehearsal space will be available the days of the semi-final and final.

Jury

The jury is selected from members of our artist board as well as distinguished performers and educators with a national platform.

Jury members are prohibited from having musicians immediately studying with them as contestants of the competition.

CYAS Members

CYAS Members and Alumni who apply for the competition will have their application fee waived.

Performance Criteria

Jury members consider the following criteria when judging applicants:

– Quality of performance
– Artistry and maturity of interpretation
– Audience effect and presentation
– Technical and artistic difficulty of repertoire
– Strength of resume and CV, professionalism

• A portion of the preliminary round will be judged “blind.”

Jury’s Decision

The decisions of the jury are final. The jury reserves the right to advance any or no contestant, and to award prizes to any or no contestant.