Jack and Lucille Wonnell Memorial Concerto Competition

Open to all pre-college instrumentalists ages 18 and under.
 

BAMSO is pleased to accept applications for the 2026 Jack and Lucille Wonnell Young Artist Concerto Competition. 

 

The Jack and Lucille Wonnell Memorial Concerto Competition for Young Artists celebrates the extraordinary talent of emerging musicians from our region. This annual event provides gifted student performers the rare opportunity to appear as featured soloists with a full professional orchestra—an experience that inspires artistic growth and showcases the future of classical music.

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Finalists are selected through a competitive audition process and perform alongside BAMSO in a live concert that highlights both youthful virtuosity and orchestral excellence.

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Jack and Lucille Wonnell were active in music and teaching and married for more than 50 years. Their sons, Dr. Dirk Wonnell and Chris Wonnell, established an endowment in their memory to support this competition..

 

The competition is open to instrumentalists age 18 and under who are not enrolled in college. First place winners in their chosen division from previous years are not eligible. However, a first-place winner in the 13-and-under category can enter one of the other three categories. 

 

First place winners in divisions where a winner is chosen, will receive $500 as well as the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra. Second place winners will receive $300 and would stand in for the first place winner in the event that he or she could not perform with the orchestra.

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The application process is Four (4) Steps:

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1.    Video submission: one movement or single movement work; piano accompaniment not required but welcomed. Submit an accessible YouTube video link. There is no “live” audition (items will not be returned)
2.    A short biographical sketch of 300 words or less
3.    The completed application form, signed by the student and the private teacher
4.    A $35 application fee – Checks payable to BAMSO

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All applications and questions can be sent to admin@bamso.org

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**NOTE:  There may not be a winner in a category depending on the number and quality of entries. 

If a student is asked to play with the orchestra, they must play the piece they auditioned with

however, certain circumstances may require collaboration with the student and their teacher if a 

piece is deemed unobtainable due to copyrights or costs associated with renting the music.

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