The 2024 Jeanne Selander Memorial Concerto Competition IS CLOSED FOR THIS YEAR. WE INVITE STUDENTS TO APPLY IN NEXT YEAR’S COMPETITION.
Each year, the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra sponsors the Jeanne Selander Memorial Concerto Competition, a competition for young musicians. Students audition for the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the orchestra. The winner receives $500 scholarship and is invited to play with the LPO.
The competition is open to anyone who will be less than eighteen years old or still in high school in May of 2024. We accept students who are residents of towns that are within a 50 mile radius of Lowell, MA. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS EXTENDED TO 12/23/2023.
WE WANT TO THANK FALCETTI PIANOS FOR THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF THE 2024 LOWELL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA’S JEANNE SELANDER MEMORIAL CONCERTO COMPETITION!
Congratulations to William Ge, our 2024 Concerto Competition Winner!
After winning the Albert M. Greenfield Concerto Competition at age eleven, William debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra in October 2022, an appearance that led the Philadelphia Inquirer to describe his playing as “notably fluid while gilding the music with spots of interpretive individualization...the future was easy to imagine in the hands of William Ge.” William’s most recent achievements include winning the highest prize at the 2023 Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, First Place at the 2023 NEC Prep Concerto Competition, and Second Place and the Chopin Award at the 2023 MTNA National Senior Piano Competition. William is a 3rd-year recipient of the Chopin Foundation’s Chopin Scholarship, a 2023 National YoungArts Competition winner in Classical Music, and an NPR From The Top Fellow of 2023-2024. Recently, William made his concerto debuts with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on the Theme of Paganini. In December, he performed two solo concerts for the 2023-2024 “Chopin for All” concert series in Florida, invited by the Chopin Foundation of the United States. On May 9th, 2024, he will play Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 2 in NEC’s Jordan Hall with the NEC Youth Symphony Orchestra. \A 2025 Caroline D. Bradley Scholar and student at Phillips Academy Andover and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, William loves physics and writing and is heavily involved with school activities. At Andover, he has acted as an Eco-Leader in Andover’s Sustainability Coalition, runs distance on the track team, and is a prefect in his dorm of 9th and 10th graders. William is an associate editor of The Phillipian, Andover’s weekly publication. He currently studies piano with Jonathan Bass, having previously studied with Ya-Fei Chuang, John Perry, Natalie Zhu and the late Joy Kiszely.
Sofia and Isabella earned Honorable Mentions from this year’s 2024 Jeanne Selander Concerto Competition!
Jeanne Selander was an energetic violinist in the LPO when it began in the 1980’s. The youth competition was her brainchild and her passion. Mrs. Selander passed away in 1992, just a couple of years after establishing the competition for the orchestra.
Although it is entitled "Concerto Competition," any substantial work for solo instruments and orchestras is acceptable. The concerti of the Suzuki repertoire are permitted with the exceptions of the Bach a minor Concerto, the Vivaldi a minor Concerto, and the Seitz Concertos. Accompanists are asked NOT to join the audition.
Jaeho Lee, Winner of the 2023 Jeanne Selander Memorial Competition, performing with the LPO led by Thomas Kociela, Music Director 2023.
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