Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra accepting applications for annual concerto competition

The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra is renaming its student concerto competition to honor the orchestra’s founder and Conductor Emeritus Madeline Schatz-Harris and her wife Barbara Schatz-Harris.

For the past four years, the orchestra has held a student concerto competition offering young musicians statewide the opportunity to compete for the privilege of performing a movement of a classical concerto before the public and backed by the full Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra. This experience has benefited music students in three age categories (12 and under, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18).

Taking place on the Big Island, but often drawing students from surrounding islands, the orchestra’s Annual Concerto Competition is a key part of the organization’s mission, as well as the focal point for its most popular concert of the season. Now entering its fifth year and renamed, the Kamuela Philharmonic is once again accepting applications.

Each year, music students in the three age groups play a single movement of a concerto from memory, with piano accompaniment, in front of a panel of judges. The winners of each age group are then awarded a cash prize, and the opportunity to perform their piece in front of a large audience with Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra in the group’s “Salute To Youth!” spring concert.

Notable past winners include Kisa Uradomo, who won in 2014. She was recently selected to join the prestigious National Youth Orchestra, becoming the only student from Hawaii selected this year, and the second musician from Hawaii ever selected.

The deadline for mailed applications is Dec. 18. The competition will be held Jan. 23 at a private residence in Kona. The “Salute To Youth!” concert will be held March 20 at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.

For more information, as well as an application, visit www.kamuelaphil.org/ and click on “Concerto Competition.”