The Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition

• The competition is open to all instruments and voice types.  
• Concertos for multiple instruments are eligible to apply.
• Open to Bachelor of Music, Performance (Honours) and Artist Diploma students in good academic standing enrolled in full-time studies during the 2024-25 academic year. 
• Past winners of the competition are not eligible to compete unless they had previously won as a member of an ensemble.

Application deadline: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Preliminary Round: Friday, January 17, 2025 – Mazzoleni Hall
Semi-Final Round: Sunday, January 19, 2025 – Mazzoleni Hall 
Final Round: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 – Koerner Hall

• Participants cannot enter the competition with repertoire submitted by them in previous years. 
• Competitors must be in good academic standing to compete. A student on Academic Probation is not eligible to compete. 
• Participants may enter the competition with one concerto only. (E.g. participants entering with a solo concerto are not able to enter with a concerto for multiple instruments as well.) 
• Participants cannot enter the competition with concertos that were recently performed by the RCO in the 23-24 season, or with concertos that are being performed in the 24-25 season:
  • Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 63
  • Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, op. 15
  • Elgar: Cello Concerto in E Minor, op. 85
  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Major, op. 73 (“Emperor”)
  • Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 77
  • Britten: Violin Concerto, op. 15
  • Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel, IRV 77
• All performances, except concerti with two or more musicians, must be from memory. (Certain contemporary concerti may be exempt. Please email the Dean to discuss this scenario.) 
• The Glenn Gould School will subsidize collaborative pianist expenses up to $50 per competitor for the preliminary round, and $100 per competitor for the Semi-Final Round.
• Performers must arrange for their own collaborative pianist, warm-up space, and page turner.  
• Participants must have approval from their private instructor to enter the competition. 
• Please note that instructors will be automatically notified of completed online entries. 
• Vocalists must perform works that are complete and original concert works for voice and orchestra. (Opera arias, selections from larger pieces, and works for choir are not eligible.) 
• The Preliminary and Semi-Final Rounds of the competition are closed to the public. The Final Round is open to the public.

• Participants will be allotted a maximum of 15 minutes. 
• The participant shall prepare the entire concerto but shall select and present representative sections of the concerto totalling 12 - 13 minutes for performance in this round. 
• Participants must provide two copies of their music to the panel, indicating the specific sections planned to be performed. 
• Please note that the jury may request to hear any part of the work not included in the above and may ask you to stop and start at their discretion. 
• The jury will select 6 participants from the Preliminary Round who will advance to the Semi-Final Round. 

• Participants shall perform the concerto in its entirety.
• Participants must provide two copies of their music to the panel.
• The jury will select 4 participants who will advance to the Final Found. Each of these 4 finalists will perform as soloists with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in the 2025-26 Season.

• Participants shall perform the concerto in its entirety.
• Participants must provide two copies of their music to the panel.
• The jury will select the Corcoran Prize (grand prize) winner.