Skip Gates Concerto Competition

Each year the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra hosts the Skip Gates Concerto Competition for its members only. Winners are selected for both the Youth Symphony and the Classical Orchestra, and the first-place winner from each group performs with their ensemble at the spring concert.

Eligibility

  • Contestants must be current members of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony or the Classical Orchestra.

  • All members are eligible regardless of section, part assignment, or years in the ensemble.

Repertoire

  • The choice of piece is up to the contestant, but it must be a work, or a movement of a work, for solo and orchestra.

  • The piece must be pre-approved by the conductor prior to submitting an application. The applying student must email Dr. Schut GRYS (jschut@grsymphony.org) or Kristen Shoup CO (kshoup@grsymphony.org) and open copy their applied teacher for approval. This ensures the work is of manageable orchestral difficulty and orchestral parts are available.

  • If a contestant wins, they will perform the exact piece (including cuts) used in the audition.

  • The piece must be performed on the student’s GRYS or CO orchestral instrument.

  • Total maximum playing time for the piece is 9 minutes. Contestants may choose the movement or portion of the piece that best highlights their strengths.

Classical Orchestra members: Your concerto must be a baroque or classical piece (a movement from a concerto or a standalone piece) with a total playing time of no more than 9 minutes.

Below are some pieces for which we have accompaniment. If you want to perform something other than the concertos listed below, please check with Mrs. Shoup.

Violin

  • Vivaldi: Concerto in A Minor, movement 1, 2, or 3

  • Vivaldi: Concerto in G Minor, movement 1,2, or 3

  • Bach: Double Concerto in B Minor, movement 1 (this requires two soloists)

Viola

  • Vivaldi: Concerto in D Minor, movement 1 or 3

  • Telemann: Concerto in G Major, any movement

  • Telemann: Double Concerto in G (this requires two soloists)

Cello

  • Vivaldi: Double Concerto in G Minor, any movement (this requires two soloists)

  • Vivaldi: Sonata No. 5, any movement

Bass: Check with Mrs. Shoup

Audition Process

  • Applications for the 2026 competition have closed. Applications for next season in January.

  • There is no application fee.

  • Contestants must be accompanied by piano and provide their own accompanist.

  • Contestants are encouraged, but not required to play from memory.

  • No music copies are needed for the judges.

  • Written critiques will not be provided.

2026 Audition Date: Mon, February 23 beginning at 6:30pm at Grand Rapids Christian High School (2300 Plymouth Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49506).

Awards

First Place:

Youth Symphony members: $1,000 plus the opportunity to perform as the soloist with the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony (typically at the DeVos Performance Hall) at the Spring Concert.

Classical Orchestra members: $500 plus the opportunity to perform as the soloist with the Classical Orchestra (typically at the DeVos Performance Hall) at the Spring Concert.

Second Place: an opportunity to perform if the winner is unavailable.

More Information

For questions, please contact the GRYS Orchestra Manager