Rules and Regulations
ELIGIBILITY:
This contest is open to:
- Current in-services teachers employed in Nassau or Suffolk County by a public or private institution of learning.
- Eligibility is limited to legal residents of the United States.
Applicants must perform on one of the following instruments:
- Voice: Any range
- Winds: Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
- Brass: French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba
- Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
- Other: Piano, Guitar, Harp
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Completed applications must be received no later than August 15, 2025.
REPERTOIRE GUIDELINES:
Applicants may choose to perform a movement from a concerto for solo instrument and orchestra, or the work in its entirety. Performing from memory is not required. All concertos must meet with the approval of NSSO’s Music Director and the Friends of NSSO for length and instrumentation. Email nssoyaac@gmail.com with repertoire eligibility questions.
Entries are limited to a fully notated piece of classical music between 8-20 minutes, scored for solo instrument and standard orchestral instruments. Selections should be in the public domain (i.e. first published in 1929 or before). A standard orchestra is composed of violins, violas, cellos, basses, flutes*, oboes*, clarinets*, bassoons*, French horns*, trumpets*, trombones**, tuba**, percussion**. (Instrumentals listed with a * are not required but encouraged to be included in the orchestration of your selection. Instruments indicated with ** are not required to be in the instrumentation of your selection). Please contact nssoyaac@gmail.com for approval of other instrumentations
AUDITION MATERIALS:
Auditions will be by unedited video submission using a single position camera and live accompanist, commencing with a clear, spoken introduction giving the name of the performer, the repertoire about to be performed, and the school district in which you work.
Video submissions are due no later than August 15, 2025. You may provide links to uploaded videos for streaming through a video sharing site (ie YouTube, Vimeo, GoogleDrive, etc) or send videos through a file sharing service (ie Dropbox, Hightail, etc).
The winner will be notified by September 15, 2025. If selected as winner, the applicant agrees to perform the concerto movement with which they auditioned with the NSSO in concert on October 25, 2025 at 8:00PM at the Adelphi Performing Arts Center.
All NSSO concerts, programs, and repertoire are subject to change. In the event NSSO has to postpone or alter the program of the October 25, 2025 concert, NSSO will make every effort to reschedule the winner’s performance.
The North Shore Symphony Orchestra reserves the right to review the credentials of all applicants and limit the number of contestants.
LONG ISLAND MUSIC EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE PRIZE
The NSSO Long Island Music Educator Performance Prize will have its inaugural run in the fall of 2025. This competition has been established to recognize and celebrate the outstanding musical talent, and dedication to education amongst in-service music educators in Nassau and Suffolk counties. These educators have worked with countless talented students who have gone on to distinguished careers across the music world, with careers as performers, conductors, entrepreneurs, educators, and more.