EVERGREEN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

William Hill | Music Director

2026 Young Artists Solo Competition

Rules and Regulations

GENERAL INFORMATION AND TIMELINE

The Evergreen Chamber Orchestra’s 2026 Young Artists Solo Competition is open to all students who are currently high school seniors or younger.

Applicants must submit all application materials by Sunday, September 27th, 2026.
Applicants will audition for ECO’s panel of jurors during the audition date listed below.
Applicants will receive the audition schedule via email no later than September 28th, 2026.
The winners will be notified within 3 days of the final audition date by email. Prizewinners will also be recognized via ECO’s Facebook page and email blasts.
The first place winner will receive a private coaching session with ECO Music Director William Hill, rehearse their piece with ECO during the two rehearsal dates listed below, and perform their piece with ECO during both Colorado Mountain Holiday Concert performances on the date listed below.

Please fill in the application by following the link below. If you have questions, please contact Chanel Ziegler at cziegler@evergreenchamberorch.org.

2026 Young Artists Solo Competition Application

The application fee is $10 which can be submitted online or by check.

The application, fee, and scanned copy of piano score must be received by September 27th, 2026

Please pay the application fee here.

QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in ECO’s Young Artists Solo Competition:

AGE

Applicant must be a high school senior or younger, including home-schooled students.

INSTRUMENTS

Open to all band and orchestral instruments, piano, harp, classical guitar, and vocalists.

REPERTOIRE

Movement or total time of piece / pieces (e.g. several short arias) must be no longer than ten (10:00) minutes.

The piece must be orchestrated for a chamber orchestra. ECO’s Music Director, William Hill, will decide whether the repertoire chosen is appropriate for ECO. Mr. Hill will have the authority to make this decision and his decision will be final.

The applicant must provide a piano accompanist at the audition.

The applicant must provide the piano score submitted via email (cziegler@evergreenchamberorch.org) by the application deadline. Please use the subject line:

2026 YASC Application Materials: (your name) – (your instrument) – (name of piece)

AUDITIONS

Once all application materials are received, ECO representatives including Music Director William Hill will review the applications to evaluate them.

Applicants that receive an approval on their application (almost all will be if the orchestration and time limits are observed!) will be notified via email to confirm their approval and to coordinate audition times.

Applicants will receive a time to audition for ECO’s panel of jurors on the date and during the times listed below:

Audition Date

Tuesday, October 6th, 2026

4:30pm – 8:30pm

Classic Pianos

1332 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

CASH PRIZES

FIRST PLACE: $200

SECOND PLACE: $100

THIRD PLACE: $50

The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $200 (first place), $100 (second place) and $50 (third place). ECO reserves the right to increase the cash prizes at any time, but the prizes will not be reduced.

Awards will be presented at the 6pm December 19th concert.

All cash prize recipients must attend the 6pm December 19th concert to receive their check (each of the three winners and up to 2 adults will receive complimentary concert tickets).

COACHING

The first-place winner will receive a private coaching session from ECO’s Music Director William Hill. This coaching session will be coordinated between the first-place winner and Mr. Hill.

CONCERT AND REHEARSAL DATES

The first-place winner will perform their piece twice with the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra at the Colorado Mountain Holiday Concerts on Saturday, December 19th at Evergreen Lutheran Church. All applicants MUST confirm that they will be available to perform at both concerts and will be available to arrive at the call time – 1:30pm.

Dinner will be provided in between concerts. The second concert will conclude by 8:00 pm.

All PRIZEWINNERS must attend at the December 19th performance to receive their cash prize and all prizewinners will be recognized during the intermission of each concert. Each prizewinner and up to two accompanying adults will receive complimentary tickets.

All APPLICANTS are strongly encouraged to attend at least one of the performances, as well.

Performance #1

Saturday, December 19th, 2026

3:00pm

Evergreen Lutheran Church

5980 County Hwy 73, Evergreen, CO 80439

Performance #2