The Augusta Symphony Youth Competition will have a different instrument this year.
"Sometimes there are clarinets, oboes and trumpets. Somebody wants to enter playing the marimba. This will be new," said Jennifer Witcher, the Augusta Symphony's director of education and community engagement.
Most of the entrants play violin or piano.
The deadline for the annual contest sponsored by the symphony and Augusta Symphony Guild is Dec. 19.
The contest has been highlighting young musicians since 1994. It is open to children between the ages of 10 and 18 in the Augusta area. Past entrants have come from Aiken, Columbia, Richmond and McDuffie counties.
The purpose of the contest is to "give young musicians an opportunity. It's good practice for anyone who wants to be a professional musician," she said.
The competition is open to any young musician who plays orchestral instruments such as percussion, strings, woodwinds, brass or piano. They must play one movement of an orchestral concerto or a comparable piece.
Competitors are judged on their expertise for their level of training.
The contest will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at Augusta State University's Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre. The contest is free.
The top two competitors will have the opportunity to play with the Augusta Symphony during the April 26 Publix Charities Family Concert.
For more information, call Ms. Witcher at (706) 826-4706 or visit www.augustasymphony.org.
Reach Charmain Brackett at charmain.brackett@augustachronicle.com.
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