Concerto Competition

Each year, GPYO invites members of the Symphonic Orchestra to compete for an opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Symphonic Orchestra at the annual Richardson Auditorium Concert.  In addition to Symphonic Orchestra students, Concert Orchestra members who play piano are also eligible to audition, if piano is their primary instrument. Concerto auditions are held in January.
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Interested students apply to audition, noting the repertoire selected for the competition, by an announced deadline. The Music Director approves the choice of concerto prior to the application.  The entire composition must be memorized. There is no charge for a concerto audition.  Accompanists (provided by the students) are allowed but not required.

2018-2019 Concerto Competition Winner: Michael Chau

​Michael Chau is an oboist currently a senior at South Brunswick High School and a perspective performance major for music. Michael began playing the oboe at the age of 14 in the midst of playing 1st clarinet with the Crossroads South Wind Ensemble. Less than a year later, Michael successfully auditioned on oboe for the South Brunswick High School Wind Ensemble, the most prestigious band in the school district. Ever since his sophomore year in high school, Michael has become deeply involved with his school’s music program serving as Principal Oboe and Solo English Horn of the Wind Ensemble, Pit Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his principal positions, Michael also participates in the school’s Concert and Symphonic Band both as a junior and now a senior where he also plays French Horn. 

In January of 2018, Michael started studying privately for the first time with Kaitlyn Walker. Since studying privately, Michael has joined the Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band, the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, the Region II Wind Ensemble, and more recently the New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band as Principal Oboe. Being a senior in high school and a perspective performance major, Michael has participated in a weeklong summer program at New York University with Matt Sullivan and Kaitlyn Walker. In addition to this, Michael has attended and performed in masterclasses, rehearsals, workshops, and Woodwind Days at both New York University and Rutgers University. Michael has also had the opportunity to do a recording session and gouge cane at New York University during the school year.

Being involved in a number of different ensembles, Michael has performed at many different venues including Richardson Auditorium, the Frederick Loewe Theater, Provincetown Playhouse, Nicholas Music Center, Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial, and multiple high schools through New Jersey. With the South Brunswick High School Wind Ensemble, Michael has had the privilege to perform at the Mid-Atlantic Wind Band Festival in 2018, and the Metropolitan Wind Band Invitational in 2017, 2018, and again in the upcoming spring of 2019. In addition to this, Michael has also performed with the Wind Ensemble at South Brunswick High School’s Convocation and Graduation in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Outside of music, Michael previously competed in Model United Nations his freshman, sophomore, and junior year with his school where he won two awards as a single delegate from overnight conferences. In his free time, Michael spends his time practicing, making reeds, working, or playing video games.

Previous Year Winners

2017-2018 Concerto Competition Winner: 
​Anju Felix

2015 – 2016 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Jessie Lee

2016-2017 Concerto Competition Winner:
​ Anna Gugliotta

2014 – 2015 Concerto Competition Winner:
​ Louis Petitjean

2013 – 2014 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Kasia Dobrzycka

2012 – 2013 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Dallas Noble

Click here to see performance videos of previous winners