Applications Open For 2023 Young Concert Artists Auditions

Winners will receive high-profile concert debuts and a management contract, among other career benefits

Established in 1961, the Young Concert Artists (YCA) Susan Wadsworth International Auditions has since provided emerging artists opportunities to connect with top industry professionals to further their music careers.

From the Auditions, the YCA adds a new group of winning artists to its roster each year. Winners receive a minimum three-year management contract, high-profile debuts, plus national and international recital and orchestra performance opportunities.

Additionally, winners will benefit from full promotional and marketing services, educational residency experience, and professional development, as well as YCA’s network of industry managers, concert presenters, top conductors, and financial supporters. 

The YCA Auditions are open to instrumentalists aged 16 to 28, singers aged 20 to 30 years old, and North America-based ensembles with an average age of 28 or less, as of November 12, 2023.

Chamber ensembles, percussionists, and players of unusual instruments, are also encouraged to apply. The 2023 auditions are not available to voice, accordion, saxophone, and piano duos.

For more information and to apply, click here. Applications will close on August 1, 2023,

For the Preliminary Round, live auditions will be held on the following dates in New York City: Piano: September 13 & 14; Winds & Brass: September 19; Strings: September 20 & 21.

In addition to YCA’s usual live audition schedule in New York City, live preliminary auditions will be held at The Colburn School on October 1, 2023.

The Semi-Final Round will be held on November 7, 8, and 9, while the Final Round will be on Saturday, November 11 — both at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, in NYC.

The Winners Concert will be held on Sunday, November 12 at New York City's The Morgan Library & Museum.

with final auditions held on November 12, 2023

Previous YCA recipients include Pinchas Zukerman, Ida Kavafian, Anne Akiko Meyers, Emanuel Ax, Murray Perahia, plus VC Artists Paul Huang, Ray Chen, Stephen Warts, Zlatomir Fung, Xavier Foley, SooBeen Lee, Risa Hokamura, and Jonathan Swensen.