Thousand Oaks Philharmonic
Young Artist Competition
2026–2027 Rules & Procedures
Young musicians may audition for the opportunity to perform with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic.
At a Glance
Application deadline
October 7, 2026
Audition date
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Audition location
Edward Francis Resource Room (CY239)
Cypress Hall, California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA
Who May Apply
Piano and Instrumental areas: All school ages, encompassing elementary, middle, and high school students.
Voice area: Middle school, high school, and first two years of undergraduate college students.
- Contestants must be actively training in their respective competition areas.
- All students must have confirmed with their private teacher that they are ready to enter the competition.
Competition Areas
Piano
Strings
Woodwind
Brass
Percussion
Voice
Registration & Fees
Piano and string students: enroll in Appassionata, then choose in the registration form whether they wish to audition. Appassionata enrollment alone does not enter a student in the Competition, and there is no additional audition fee.
Winds, brass, percussion, and voice students: use the Competition registration path. The audition fee is $55.
After registering: email a copy of the submission to TO Phil Appassionata Program Director Ornela Ervin.
Competition Requirements
Accompaniment
Digital backing tracks are not permitted for any competition areas. The organizers can suggest professional accompanists; contact them 4–8 weeks ahead and schedule 1–2 rehearsal sessions shortly before the competition.
Piece Selection
Contestants and teachers must ensure the selected piece has orchestral accompaniment that the organizers can feasibly obtain.
Voice Entries
Each voice contestant’s composition must be pre-approved, and the piano part should match the key of the orchestral arrangement.
Awards & Jury
The winner(s) will perform their piece with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. The competition will be judged by distinguished, external music professionals, and the judge’s decisions are final.
Judging Criteria
- Technical proficiency
- Musicality and interpretation
- Presentation and stage presence
- Difficulty of selection
- Originality and creativity
- Diction and language proficiency for voice contestants
- Overall impact
If Selected
Prior to auditioning, students and their families must understand and accept that each selected soloist is required to pay a $900 contribution fee, partly covering rehearsals, concerts, and tickets.
Additional Rules & Contact
Composition approval for voice: Voice contestants must submit their piece for pre-screening and approval so the organizers can obtain the orchestral arrangement, full score, and parts. Email TO Phil Appassionata Program Director Ornela Ervin with the required details.
Disqualification: Participants are expected to adhere to competition guidelines and deadlines. Grounds for disqualification may include late submissions beyond the deadline and cheating or dishonesty. The organizers’ decision is final and binding.
Additional provisions: When music rentals create additional costs, the student may be responsible for some or all of those costs. If selected to perform, the student must be available for any assigned concert cycle.
Further inquiries: Contact TO Phil Appassionata Program Director Ornela Ervin.
Ready to Apply?
Complete the registration form to enter the Young Artist Competition.