Competitions

The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra holds Concerto and Composition Competitions each year to promote, encourage, and support amateur musicians and composers in the state of Tennessee. Submissions are accepted each Fall with winners performing their pieces as a part of our Spring program. Learn more about submission guidelines below.

The 2025 Competition deadline of Oct. 31, 2024, has passed. The 2026 Competitions will likely open in Fall of 2025.

2025 Competition Winners

Concerto Competition:

Young Adult Category - Ned Henneman, piano - Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3, mvt. 1

Adult Category - Liza Viers, harp - Higdon, Harp Concerto, mvts. 1 & 2

Composition Competition:

Adam Mamula, The Machine

Concerto Competition

The 2025 Competition deadline of Oct. 31, 2024 has passed, please check back in Fall of 2025 for our next edition.

These rules & restrictions are a good guideline for next year’s edition, however they were approved for 2025 and are thus subject to change prior to the opening of the 2026 Competition.

Please read this page AND the Full Rules and Restrictions PDF linked here before filling out the Entry Form.

Please read all instructions carefully, including the Full Rules and Restrictions linked here.

All applications must be complete and received by 11:59pm (CDT) October 31, 2024.

Application should be submitted through the website and include:

  • The completed application form (include parental approval if under 18 years of age)

  • A link to your unedited video performance recording of the concerto movement or an uploaded unedited video file in .mp4 or .avi format (linked/uploaded within the form)

  • An uploaded PDF (or .jpeg scan) of the musical score of your selection. This must be either the full orchestral score, or solo w/piano reduction (uploaded within the form). Please do not submit only the solo part

  • $25 application fee you are directed to “purchase” after you click Submit on the application form

  • Please be sure to read the Full Rules and Regulations PDF before submitting

Application should be submitted online via the form linked below.

If you have questions about the application form, please contact competitions@nashvillephilharmonic.org before submitting the form.

If you encounter issues uploading your files to the form, FIRST submit the form and pay the fee, THEN email files to competitions@nashvillephilharmonic.org.

Incomplete applications will not be considered until all materials are received, and no incomplete application will be considered after October 31, 2024.

Composition Competition

The 2025 Competition deadline of Oct. 31, 2024 has passed, please check back in Fall of 2025 for our next edition.

These rules & restrictions are a good guideline for next year’s edition, however they were approved for 2025 and are thus subject to change prior to the opening of the 2026 Competition.

Please read this page AND the Full Rules and Restrictions PDF linked here before filling out the Entry Form.

Please read all instructions carefully, including the Full Rules and Restrictions linked here.

All applications must be complete and received by 11:59pm (CDT) October 31, 2024 .

Application should be submitted through the website and include:

  • This completed application form (include parental approval if under 18 years of age)

  • A PDF of the full score of your composition, with your name on the first page ONLY, and all other personal identifiers removed from the score, so they may be judged anonymously (your name will be redacted from the first page before sharing with judges)

  • You have the option to upload (or link to a website) an .mp3 file of an original recorded performance or midi file of your piece; it will only be shared with judges if it can be downloaded/shared without identifying information

  • $25 application fee you are directed to “purchase” after you click Submit on the application form

  • Please be sure to read the Full Rules and Regulations PDF before submitting

Application should be submitted online via the form linked below.

If you encounter issues uploading your files to the form, FIRST submit the form and pay the fee, THEN email files to competitions@nashvillephilharmonic.org.

If you have questions about the application form, please contact competitions@nashvillephilharmonic.org before submitting the form.

Incomplete applications will not be considered until all materials are received, and no incomplete application will be considered after October 31, 2024.

Conducting Fellowship

The position has been filled for the 2024-2025 Season! Stay tuned here for info on future openings.

The NPO Conducting Fellow is an opportunity for an emerging conductor to gain experience with the artistic and administrative operations of an orchestra. The position is for one season, but the artistic staff has the option to offer a full year renewal to the Fellow when appropriate.

Past Conducting Fellows

Tal Benatar

Nathan Bieber

Esther “Esi” Tupper

Shreyas Patel

Elias Salazar

Jessica Reeves