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.

Interested students should fill out:
Concerto Competition 2018 Application (GPYO members only)

2017-2018 Concerto Competition Winner: Anju Felix

Anju Felix began studying the harp with the Westminster Conservatory at the age of 6.  Currently, she is under the instruction of Cheryl Cunningham and Carol Thompson. Anju has completed 5 Levels of the ABRSM (the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music based in London) course testing and Music Theory tests. Presently, she is working on Level 8 of the RSM Testings. Along with her RSM Distinctions, Anju has won competitions such as the  Philly Harp Competition and the Young Artist’s Harp Seminar Concerto Competition. She is a member of the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra and the New Jersey Youth Symphony in addition to being a yearly member of the NJ Region II (2015, 2016, 2017) and All State (2016, 2017, 2018) Ensembles. She is also a member and student mentor of the Temple University Harp Ensemble under the shared Directorship of Kimberley Rowe and Manijeh Pickard. Anju has also been invited annually to perform with the Temple Prep Chamber Orchestra as a soloist under the directorship of Aaron Picht.

In 2016, Anju performed at Carnegie Hall with the Council Rock HS South Orchestra upon invitation. Anju is a junior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School and is active in the arts program. She is the harpist for the HCRHS Pit Orchestra, plays tenor saxophone in the school’s jazz band and combo, and is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter (in addition to Rho Kappa HS, Mu Alpha Theta HS, Science National HS, and German Honor Society). To expose her community to the unique sounds of the harp, Anju frequently plays harp at the St. Theodore’s Church in Mansfield and the Heath Village Retirement Community in Hackettstown. She is also a student teacher at the Strand Studio, where she observes and teaches beginner piano and harp students.

Previous Year Winners

2016-2017 Concerto Competition Winner:
​ Anna Gugliotta

2014 – 2015 Concerto Competition Winner:
​ Louis Petitjean

2015 – 2016 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Jessie Lee

2013 – 2014 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Kasia Dobrzycka

2012 – 2013 Concerto Competition Winner:
​Dallas Noble

Click here to see performance videos of previous winners