Island Symphony Orchestra
About Our Young Performers Competition
Each year the ISO sponsors a “Young Performers Competition” in which music students across Long Island vie for the opportunity for a scholarship award and to perform a full classical concerto as a soloist with the orchestra.
This competition provides young musicians with much needed experience that prepares them for the challenges of a future career in music. Since this program began, the ISO has granted more than 25 performance opportunities to our First and Second Prize winners.
The competition is now OPEN to applications as of November 1, 2020. (Click here to start the application process.) All submissions must be received by January 1, 2021. One winner will be announced on February 1, 2021. Honorable mentions may be awarded to select musicians. The performance opportunity for the winner will generally occur in May or June at the ISO’s annual spring community concert. This year the performance opportunity is limited due to COVID-19.
2020 Winner
Dylan Shih Wu
Dylan Shih Wu is a 15 year old who began his cello studies at age three. At age 9, he was admitted to the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School in New York City.

Caroline Hsu
2nd Prize
15-year-old pianist from Woodbury
George Wolfe-McGuire
Honorable Mention
15-year-old cellist from Amityville
Young Performers
Competition Rules and Guidelines

This competition is open to all musicians, 18 years old or younger, currently residing in Nassau or Suffolk County New York, and studying with a private teacher.
To apply, the following application materials must be submitted to us electronically. CLICK ON THIS SUBMISSION LINK TO BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
Entrants are eligible to participate on musical instruments including, but not limited to: flute, piccolo, oboe, english horn, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass, and voice.
In order to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, submissions for the 2021 Young Performers’ Competition will be accepted by VIDEO ONLY.
Participants may submit a video performance of a concerto, sonata, or solo unaccompanied work. There are no length requirements for your piece. Judges reserve the right to determine what is an appropriate piece for the competition. Generally speaking, your selection should appear as a Level 6 in the current NYSSMA Manual or ABRSM Grade 8.
Please contact us with any questions regarding the appropriateness of your selections: competition@islandsymphony.org
In addition to completing this electronic form, a hard copy submission of a confidential Letter of Recommendation must be mailed, no later than December 31, 2020 to:
Island Symphony Orchestra Young Performers’ Competition
P.O. Box 2185
Brentwood, NY 11717
All submissions must be received by January 1, 2021.
One winner will be announced on February 1, 2021. Honorable mentions may be awarded to select musicians.
All of the Young Performers’ Competition committee’s deliberations are confidential, and all decisions are final.
Previous First Prize winners of the Young Performers’ Competition are not eligible to enter.
For more information, please send all inquiries, including questions related to the Young Performers’ Competition, to: competition@islandsymphony.org
Thank You