Young Artist Competition

Since 1965, the Philharmonic Society of Arlington has been proud to host its Young Artist Competition for instrumental and vocal musicians under 30 years of age. The purposes of this annual program are to identify, encourage, and provide exposure to promising young musicians, to grant them an audition experience, and to honor the top winners in each category with an opportunity to perform with our orchestra and/or chorale.

Our Young Artist Competition has two categories:

The Wood Competition, for musicians 18 years of age and under.
The Tannenwald Competition, for musicians 19-29 years of age.

Prizes are provided by the estates of Peter E. Tannenwald and Leonard D. Wood.

Eligibility

Competition Details

The live competition will take place on April 17, 2027, in Arlington, Massachusetts. Both Leonard D. Wood and Peter E. Tannenwald competitions will use two rounds: a preliminary video audition followed by an in-person competition for selected finalists.

Round 1: Video Audition

Submit a YouTube video link with your application before February 19, 2027.
The video must feature a solo or ensemble work intended for performance with full orchestra and/or chorus, with accompaniment.
The video must have been recorded on or after November 1, 2025, lasting 7–12 minutes and demonstrating the range of your performing abilities.
Check that preliminary judges will be able to access the video and add it to an internal private playlist.
Consult your teacher and accompanist when preparing. The PSA cannot provide audition coaching or technical support for uploading and sharing videos.

Round 2: In-Person Competition

The preliminary round will select 12 Wood finalists and 17 Tannenwald finalists for the live audition in Arlington, Massachusetts, on April 17, 2027. Finalists must attend at their individually assigned audition time, provide their own accompanist, and cover their own travel expenses.

Live-round schedule — April 17, 2027:

Leonard D. Wood Competition, 9:00 a.m.–noon;
Peter E. Tannenwald Competition, 12:45–5:00 p.m.

Finalist Notification and Scheduling

By March 14, 2027: Finalists will be notified and receive a form to indicate preferred audition times.
By March 19, 2027: Finalists must respond to confirm participation and provide confirmed accompanist information so auditions can be scheduled without accompanist overlaps.
Scheduling limits: Preferred audition times are not guaranteed. Scheduling accommodation is limited to the preference form and coordination of confirmed accompanists; further scheduling requests cannot be accommodated.
No confirmation: If a finalist does not respond by March 19, 2027, the next ranked waitlist contestant in that division will be notified of the opening.
By March 21, 2027: Contestants will receive their assigned audition times and live-event details.

Waitlist Notifications

Waitlisted contestants will be notified of their waitlist status and rank within their division, based on preliminary-round scores. If a finalist cancels or does not confirm, the next ranked contestant will be notified of the opening. Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee a live audition. This is a competitive selection process, with limited finalist places in each division.

Repertoire and Judging

List your selected works on the application. Repertoire must be suitable for orchestral and/or choral accompaniment and showcase your musical abilities.
Solo selections, excerpted solos, and qualifying ensemble performances are accepted.
Accompaniment is required; unaccompanied contestants will be disqualified.
Contestants are judged on musicianship and quality of performance.