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Student Competition

The Thomas Schwab Memorial Student Concerto Competition

The Thomas Schwab Memorial Student Concerto Competition is for students in grades 9 through 12 who live in Hamden, Hampshire, Franklin, or Berkshire counties in western Massachusetts.

This is a biennial competition; the next competition will take place in 2027.

The winner receives a $200 award and will perform with the Holyoke Civic Symphony.

Applications must be received by stated deadline (Antipated to be mid-December 2026).

Auditions will take place in mid-January 2027 at Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue in Holyoke.

Holyoke Civic Symphony, a nonprofit group, has been providing quality orchestral music to the Pioneer Valley for more than 50 years. Its members include both amateur and professional musicians. The HCS Orchestra and Music Director David Kidwell are committed to the development of young musicians.

Application for the upcoming 2026-2027 competition will be available soon.  Please check back here for updates and application deadlines once they are available.

Competition Application

Repertoire Guidelines

Selection of a piece for the competition is an important and difficult decision.

Please go over these guidelines carefully with your private teacher.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me, or call HCSO 413-400-3002.
- David Kidwell, Music Director

  • Applicants must bring a prepared piece for solo instrument or voice with orchestral accompaniment. If a multi-movement work is selected, please choose a single movement to play at the audition.

  • The applicant will be expected to perform the entire work for the concert.

  • The students must supply their own accompanist. Piano applicants must also supply an accompanist (two pianos will be available).

  • The orchestral accompaniment must be scored for a reasonable-sized orchestra. Please be aware that pieces which are overly difficult or call for an extremely large orchestra are not practical for the Holyoke Civic Symphony. If in doubt, please contact the HCS music director.

  • Many concertos require a great deal of artistic maturity to perform well. Please carefully consider pieces with your teacher.

All works must be approved by the HCS music director prior to auditions.

Please contact the music director as soon as possible in case an alternate selection must be made.