Skip Gates Concerto Competition

Each year the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra hosts the Skip Gates Concerto Competition for its members only. Winners are selected for both the Youth Symphony and the Classical Orchestra, and the first-place winner from each group performs with their ensemble at the spring concert.

Eligibility

  • Contestants must be current members of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony or the Classical Orchestra.

  • All members are eligible regardless of section, part assignment, or years in the ensemble.

  • Past winners are not eligible to enter the same ensemble-level competition. However, previous Classical Orchestra winners may enter the Youth Symphony competition.

Repertoire

  • The choice of piece is up to the contestant, but it must be a work, or a movement of a work, for solo and orchestra.

  • The piece must be pre-approved by the conductor prior to submitting an application. The applying student must email Dr. Schut GRYS (jschut@grsymphony.org) or Kristen Shoup CO (kshoup@grsymphony.org) and open copy their applied teacher for approval. This ensures the work is of manageable orchestral difficulty and orchestral parts are available.

  • The piece must be performed on the student’s GRYS or CO orchestral instrument.

  • Total maximum playing time for the piece is 9 minutes. Contestants may choose the movement or portion of the piece that best highlights their strengths. If a contestant wins, they should expect to perform the exact piece (including cuts) used in the audition.

Classical Orchestra members: Your concerto must be a baroque or classical piece (a movement from a concerto or a standalone piece) with a total playing time of no more than 9 minutes.

Below are some pieces for which we have accompaniment. If you want to perform something other than the concertos listed below, please check with Mrs. Shoup.

Violin:

Vivaldi: Concerto in A Minor, mvt 1, 2, or 3

Vivaldi: Concerto in G Minor, mvt 1,2, or 3

Bach: Double Concerto in B Minor, mvt 1 (this requires two soloists)

Viola

Vivaldi: Concerto in D Minor, mvt 1 or 3

Telemann: Concerto in G Major, any mvt

Telemann: Double Concerto in G (this requires two soloists)

Cello

Vivaldi: Double Concerto in G Minor, any mvt (this requires two soloists)

Vivaldi: Sonata No. 5, any mvt

Bass:

Dittersdorf: Concerto No. 2, movement 1

Audition Process

  • Applications for the 2027 Skip Gates Concerto Competition will be available in December 2026.

  • There is no application fee.

  • Contestants must be accompanied by piano and provide their own accompanist.

  • Contestants are encouraged but not required to play from memory.

  • No music copies are needed for the judges.

  • Written critiques will not be provided.

2027 Competition: Monday, March 1 (time and location TBD)

Awards

Youth Symphony members:

First Place: $1,000 plus the opportunity to perform as the soloist with the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony at the Spring Concert.

Second Place: $750

Third Place: $500

Fourth Place: $350

Classical Orchestra members:

First Place: $500 plus the opportunity to perform as the soloist with the Classical Orchestra at the Spring Concert.

Second Place: $300

Third Place: $200

For questions, please contact the GRYS&CO Manager at mroesler@grsymphony.org.