Philadelphia Orchestra announces details
of annual Greenfield Student Competition

Student Competition applications due November 19; preliminary auditions held January 14-27; final auditions take place in Verizon Hall February 11

Mercer County, New Jersey, added to Competition, and vocalist age range expanded to 29

(Philadelphia, November 12, 2004)

The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced details of the 2005 Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. Talented young student musicians of the Greater Philadelphia area, ages 12-29, are invited to participate in the Competition, with each winner receiving a cash award and the opportunity to perform as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra during the 2005-06 season. Applications for the Competition must be postmarked no later than Friday, November 19, 2004. Preliminary auditions will be held at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts January 14, 15, 26, and 27, 2005, and the final round of auditions in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center on February 11, 2005. Results of the Competition will be announced at an open reception following the final round of auditions. New this year is the addition of Mercer County, New Jersey to the list of eligible counties, and expansion of the age range for vocalists from 26 to 29 years.

"The Greenfield Competition is The Philadelphia Orchestra's annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate extraordinary student musicians in the Philadelphia area and to afford them a chance to develop as performers," said Philadelphia Orchestra Director of Education and Community Partnerships Sarah Johnson. "The Competition, part of the Orchestra's long history of encouraging young people in the pursuit of musical excellence, is further enriched by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach's commitment to identifying and nurturing gifted young musicians."

The Greenfield Student Competition is open to all accomplished young instrumentalists and vocalists, with a winner selected from one of each of the three age categories: children's division (ages 12 and under, instrumental only), junior division (ages 13-16, instrumental only), and senior division (ages 17-21 for instrumentalists, ages 17-29 for vocalists). Entrants compete against a standard of excellence and are evaluated based on exceptional talent, artistic individuality, virtuosity, and projection as a performer.

Applicants must reside or study regularly with a primary teacher who resides and teaches in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, or Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, or Mercer counties in New Jersey; or New Castle County in Delaware. Winners each receive a cash award and the opportunity to perform as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra during its 2005-06 season.

Begun in 1933 by Music Director Leopold Stokowski, the Student Competition was named in 1992 in recognition of a generous endowment gift from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. Since its inception, more than 400 winners of the Competition have appeared with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and many have gone on to establish international careers. Previous winners have included pianists Richard Goode and André Watts; violinists Jaime Laredo, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Hilary Hahn; sopranos Benita Valente and Judith Blegen; and mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar.

Several winners have gone on to become members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including violinists Richard Amoroso, William de Pasquale (co-concertmaster), Michael Ludwig (associate concertmaster), Yumi Ninomiya Scott, and Yayoi Numazawa; violist Burchard Tang; bassoonist Mark Gigliotti (co-principal); horn Nolan Miller (principal); bass trombone Blair Bollinger; and pianist Kiyoko Takeuti.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's tradition of presenting educational programs dates back to 1921 when Leopold Stokowski initiated a series of concerts exclusively for children. Today, the Orchestra reaches Philadelphia area residents, teachers, students, and children each year through its numerous education and community partnership programs. The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a variety of programs for young people, including Sound All Around (for children ages 3-5), Family Concerts (for children ages 6-12 and their families), and School Concerts (for students K-12). The Orchestra also offers learning programs for adults such as the Access Circle Series, free PreConcert Conversations before every subscription concert, and Lecture Luncheons with guest speakers.

Applications for The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2005 Greenfield Student Competition must be postmarked no later than November 19, 2004, and mailed to the address below. A non-refundable $25 registration fee must accompany each application. For more information or to request an application, please call the Orchestra's Education and Community Partnerships Office at 215.893.1978 or visit online at www.philorch.org/imaginations.

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Education & Community Partnerships Office
260 South Broad Street, 16th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102