Congratulations to our 2025 WINNERS!

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Concerto Competition Grand Prize Winner:

Harold Fang, piano

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Concerto Competition Runners Up:
Noah Greenstein-Sheppard, piano
Andre Peck, piano
Allison Zhang, violin

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Ensemble Second Place:

Leila Pratt, oboe & Abigail Harpestad, clarinet

 

Summary: 

The Mankato Symphony Orchestra is hosting its fourth concerto competition, with applications due by 12 midnight on December 15, 2025, and a mail-in preliminary round on February 1, 2026. The final round is Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center at Bethany Lutheran College, 700 Luther Drive, Mankato, MN. The competition has two categories: a solo competition and an ensemble competition. There will be cash prizes totaling up to $2500 plus an opportunity to perform with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra.​ 

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Solo Concerto Competition Eligibility:

High School students (grades 9-12) must live or study in the state of Minnesota. Students completing high school early are eligible if they are not currently enrolled in higher education at the time of the contest. First-prize winners are not eligible to enter the year following their win.

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Solo Concerto Competition Requirements:

1. Applications are due by 12 midnight on December 15, 2025. There is a $40 non refundable application fee per individual. Financial aid is available on request.

2. Preliminary round, due February 1, 2026: Send in an MP3 recording of the intended Concerto movement, 6-12 minutes in length with accompanist - AUDIO only. Perform the same concerto movement intended for the final round. N.B.: In the final round, the movement needs to fill 10 minutes.

3. Final round on Saturday, February 28, 2026: For the final round, bring along an extra score for the judge. Photocopies are not allowed. Be sure to number the measures if not included in score.

4. Soloists must bring their own accompanist.

5. Memorization is expected.

6. The first movement of the concerto is preferred. Make the necessary cuts to fill 10 minutes in the final round. 

7. The judges reserve the right to not choose a winning soloist or ensemble.

8. Winners must be available to rehearse and perform with the MSO. Winners and their families may be invited to attend a pre or post-concert reception. ​

 

​​​Competition Repertoire List (PDF download)

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Prizes:

• $1,500 cash award to the Grand Prize winner.

• $750 cash award to the second place winner.

• Runners-up prizes are given at the discretion of the judges.

• The solo concerto winner will perform with the MSO the following season. 

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Please mail a check for the $40 application fee by December 15, 2025 to:

Mankato Symphony Orchestra

Attn: Competition

PO Box 645

Mankato MN 56002​​​​

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OR Pay Online Above ($1.31 processing fee included):​

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