Competition Rules and Details
2025-26 Season application opens in Winter 2025
ELIGIBILITY:
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- Open to musicians aged 16–21.
- Applicants must either reside in Polk County or be enrolled in a Polk County school.
- Eligible instruments include voice, piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
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- Applications will be accepted from December 18, 2025 – January 19, 2026
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS:
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- Instrumentalists: Submit an unedited video recording of one complete movement of the proposed work for performance, with piano accompaniment.
- Vocalists: Submit an unedited video recording of two complete arias, performed with piano accompaniment.
- All works must be composed for soloist and symphony or string orchestra in the original key and/or language, unless changed by concert tradition.
PRIZE:
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- The winner will earn a $3,000 scholarship and perform as a soloist with the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra during our Spring concert on March 8, 2026.
ADDITIONAL RULES:
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- Applications must be complete and submitted by the deadline.
- Applicants will be notified of the results in early February.
- The winner must be available for rehearsals as scheduled by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra.