Philadelphia Orchestra Announces Details of the 2011 Greenfield Student Competition

Talented young student musicians of the Greater Philadelphia area are invited to participate in The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2011 Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. Each winner receives the opportunity to perform as a soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra during the 2011-12 season and a cash award. Applications for the Competition must be submitted online no later than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

Preliminary auditions will be held at The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts on January 3 (senior division), January 10 (vocal division), February 4 (junior division), and February 7 (children's division), 2011. The final round of auditions for all divisions will be held in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center on March 15, 2011, and will be open to the public. Results of the Competition will be announced at a private reception following the final round of auditions.

The Greenfield Student Competition is open to all accomplished young instrumentalists and vocalists, residing or studying regularly with a primary teacher who resides and teaches in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, or Salem counties in New Jersey; or New Castle County in Delaware.

Instrumental applicants compete in three different categories: children's division (ages 12 or younger), junior division (ages 13-16), and senior division (ages 17-21). The vocal division is restricted to applicants between the ages of 17 and 29. All ages are calculated as of January 1, 2011. Entrants compete against a standard of excellence-not each other-and are evaluated based on exceptional talent, artistic individuality, virtuosity, and projection as a performer. Winners are named at the discretion of the judges; a winner might not be named in each category.

Applications for The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2011 Greenfield Student Competition must be submitted online no later than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, December 1, 2010. A copy of government issued identification (i.e. state issued identification card, driver's license, passport, birth certificate) and an application fee of $50 payable by check or money order to The Philadelphia Orchestra Association should be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 1, 2010. Students living outside counties of eligibility must include a letter from their primary teacher confirming their residency and that the applicant is a current student. For complete Competition guidelines and the online application, please visit www.philorch.org/greenfield.

Begun in 1933 by then Music Director Leopold Stokowski, the Student Competition was named in 1992 in recognition of a generous endowment gift from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. Since its inception, more than 400 young artists have appeared with The Philadelphia Orchestra as Competition winners. Many have gone on to develop international solo careers, including pianists Richard Goode, André Watts, and Helen Huang; violinists Jamie Laredo, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Hilary Hahn; mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar; and bass Eric Owens.

Several winners have gone on to become members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including violinists Richard Amoroso, Yayoi Numazawa, and Yumi Ninomiya Scott; violists Rachel Ku and Burchard Tang; Co-Principal Bassoon Mark Gigliotti; bass trombonist Blair Bollinger; and pianist Kiyoko Takeuti.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's tradition of presenting educational programs dates back to 1921 when Leopold Stokowski initiated a series of concerts exclusively for children. Today, the Orchestra reaches Philadelphia area residents, teachers, students, and children each year through its numerous education and community partnership programs. The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a variety of programs for young people, including Sound All Around (for children ages 3-5), Family Concerts (for children ages 6-12 and their families), and School Concerts (for students grades 2-8). The Orchestra also offers learning programs for adults, including free PreConcert Conversations before every subscription concert and Lecture/Luncheons with guest speakers.

The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is among the world's leading orchestras. Renowned for its artistic excellence since its founding in 1900, the Orchestra has excited audiences with thousands of concerts in Philadelphia and around the world.

With only seven music directors throughout more than a century of unswerving orchestral distinction, the artistic heritage of The Philadelphia Orchestra is attributed to extraordinary musicianship under the leadership and innovation of Fritz Scheel (1900-07), Carl Pohlig (1907-12), Leopold Stokowski (1912-41), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003), and Christoph Eschenbach (2003-08). After 30 years of a celebrated association with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit continues the tradition as chief conductor.

Since Mr. Dutoit's debut with the Orchestra in July 1980 he has led hundreds of concerts in Philadelphia, at Carnegie Hall, and on tour, as artistic director of the Orchestra's summer concerts at the Mann Center, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestra's summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and now as chief conductor. With the 2012-13 season, the Orchestra honors Mr. Dutoit by bestowing upon him the title conductor laureate.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin assumed the title of music director designate in June 2010, immediately joining the Orchestra's leadership team. He takes up the baton as The Philadelphia Orchestra's next music director in 2012.

The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of countless music lovers worldwide, through concerts, presentations, and recordings. Each year the Orchestra presents a subscription season at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, education and community partnership programs, and annual appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center; it also regularly tours throughout the world. Its summer schedule includes performances at the Mann Center, free Neighborhood Concerts throughout Greater Philadelphia, and residencies at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra, please visit www.philorch.org.

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