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Judith Elser Concerto Competition

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Applications are now open for the 2024-2025 Judith Elser Concerto Competition.

Any Maine college or graduate student is invited to apply:  download application instructions

Application deadline February 14, 2026

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About the competition:

MSO's Judith Elser Concerto Competition for college students is held every other year, and is open to undergraduate and graduate students - not necessarily studying for a degree in music - who are enrolled in a Maine college or university and who submit an application by the deadline.  Five finalists are selected to perform in a live event that is open to the public, after which a panel of expert judges deliberates to determine a winner and runner-up. 

The winning competitor receives $1,000 from the Judith Elser Concerto Fund, and performs as guest soloist at one of MSO's concerts in the following season.

 

Congratulations to the competitors in the 2023-2024 competition!

Trombonist Joshua Zhang won the MSO's 4th biennial Judith Elser Concerto Competition, with pianist Oren Varess as runner up. They were chosen by a panel of judges following live performances by 5 competition finalists on May, 22, 2024.

Joshua is a student at Colby College. He received a $1,000 prize and performed a movement of the Trombone Concerto by Henri Tomasi as guest soloist with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra in January 2025 at the Franco Center in Lewiston and the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

Judges for the 2023-2024 competition were: Callie Brennan, Jeff Ertman, John Furman, James Parakilas and Matt Wiltshire.

 

Previous competitions: 

2021-2022:

Finalists performed before judges and a live audience in May 2022 at the Franco Center in Lewiston.

  • Winner: Mesa Schubeck, piano, USM. She was guest soloist with the MSO at our January 2023 concert series.
  • Runner-up: Brian Liu, Piano, Bowdoin College

 

2019-2020:

Finalists for MSO's second biennial concerto competition were announced in April, 2020, but the pandemic delayed the final auditions and winner's performance. 

  • Winner: Anne McKee, Violin, Bowdoin College. Anne performed the first movement of the Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms with the MSO in January, 2022
  • Runner-up: Mesa Schubeck, Piano, USM. 

 

Inaugural competition:

Finalists performed before judges and a live audience in May 2018 at the Franco Center in Lewiston.

  • Winner: Nathanial Hackworth, Percussion, UM Orono. Nathan was guest soloist with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra at our October 2018 concert series
  • Runner-up: Annah Gauthier, Piano,USM



How the competiton started:

The competition honors the memory of Judy Elser (1940-2015), a long-time music teacher who played cello in the MSO for many years, served on the Board, and left a generous bequest to the orchestra when she died. We are grateful for all she gave to the orchestra, and know that she would be thrilled to witness the personal growth and success her gift has made possible for our young entrants and winners.

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