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2024 Caprio Young Artists Competition 

Sunday, March 24, 2024 – 3:00pm
South Hunterdon Regional High School, Lambertville, NJPresented by the Riverside Symphonia,
Mariusz Smolij, Musical Director and Conductor

Application Instructions (pages 1 & 2) and Form (page 3)

Eligibility
The 2024 Caprio Young Artists Competition is open to classical instrumentalists (excluding keyboard), who reside or study in New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania and will be no older than 22 years of age on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Application Requirements
Each application must include the following to be considered complete:

1. A completed and signed application form (page 3).
2. Two letters of recommendation.
3. A photocopy of a government issued identification document (i.e., driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, state issued identification card)
4. A black and white photo of the applicant (high resolution, 300 dpi print)
5. A one paragraph, brief biography of the applicant
6. A non-refundable application fee of $30.00 payable to “The Riverside Symphonia” in the form of a check or money order.
7. An 8-12 minutes unedited, live recorded performance by the applicant (AUDIO FILE ONLY-NO IMAGE OF APPLICANT OR REFERENCE TO NAME, free of cuts and digital mastering).  This must be a one-take recording only. The live recorded performance will serve as the preliminary round for the competition and may be submitted as audio only CD, or digitally as an mp3 or mp4 file. Files must be labeled with the name of the composition, movement and composer – but without reference to the applicant’s name, gender, age, school or any other information that could identify the applicant. Selection(s) may be of any of the standard repertoire for the applicant’s instrument scored for soloist and orchestra. Piano accompaniment is acceptable for the recorded audition.  The selection(s) should be those intended for use in the final competition and concert.  The chosen repertoire must have orchestral accompaniment currently available for orchestra.  The Riverside Symphonia’s current instrumentation is: strings, woodwinds in pairs, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, and timpani. A small enlargement of this instrumentation may be made on an individual basis at the discretion of the conductor.  The recorded performance may include movement(s) of standard concerto, standard virtuosic selection or two short contrasting works, provided that the orchestral setting is available.

Application Deadline
All application materials are due Monday, February 5, 2024 and must be postmarked no later than that date or emailed no later than 11:59pm on that date.  The mailing address is: Caprio Young Artists Competition, Riverside Symphonia, PO Box 650, Lambertville, 08530. Digital applications and audio files must be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Each applicant will receive an email confirming receipt of the application package.

Comments from Past Winners

“Winning the Caprio Competition was a very important milestone for me in the development of my musical life.  The competition provided me the opportunity to perform with a wonderful orchestra and conductor, and experience the kind of preparation this would demand of a performer.  It was a particularly special moment for me to play with the Riverside Symphonia in Lambertville since my grandparents have been long time residents of New Hope/Lambertville.  I feel very lucky to have had this privilege and am grateful for the opportunities that this organization is offering to young artists today.”
Denise Djokic, Cellist.  2000 First Prize Winner.  
Soloist, Teacher, Recording Artist.

“I have great memories of the Caprio competition!  Everyone in the organization was so welcoming and friendly during the process. Since the final round was open to the public and followed by a reception where the audience met the performers, the sense of community was a very positive experience.”
Clare Semes, Violinist, 2010 First Prize Winner.
Performer, Les Deux Violins; Graduate of the Juilliard School.
 
“Participating in the Caprio Young Artists Competition was a memorable experience during my undergraduate studies.  The competition served as a good performance goal to work towards, and the concert with the Riverside Symphonia was one of the first times that I had the opportunity to perform as soloist with a symphony orchestra. I learned a lot from these wonderful events and had fun as well.”
Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, Double Bass, 1998 First Prize Winner.
Principal Bassist, San Diego Symphony, Teacher, Recording Artist.