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LOIS LYMAN CONCERTO COMPETITION

The Lois Lyman Concerto Competition is named after music teacher and one of ESYO’s founding members, Lois Lyman. It began in 1985. The winner is selected through a rigorous application and performance process from amongst Symphony Orchestra, Youth Jazz Orchestra and Youth Percussion Ensembles’ membership each year, representing some of the area’s finest musicians. Applicants must perform a concerto before a panel of judges. The winner performs his/her concerto with the Symphony Orchestra that season.

Repertoire Approval
Concerto Competition Application
Guidelines for Applicants

NEW for the 2025 – 2026 Season
Symphony Orchestra Award
Repertory Orchestra Award

Competition Date: The competition will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Location: SUNY Schenectady

Snow Date Sun., Jan. 18.  The winner will perform with the ESYO Symphony Orchestra as part of the March 30, 2025 concert at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

Please share the following guidelines with your teacher.

 

Symphony Orchestra Award

  • Open to any full concerto or published solo work with orchestral accompaniment.
  • Memorization is recommended, but not required.
    • The work must be:
      • Between 15-30 minutes in duration (unless otherwise approved)
      • Pre-approved by the Music Director before submitting the application.
      • Approved based on availability of score and parts.
  • Applicants wishing to be considered for the Repertory Orchestra Award with a movement of their selected concerto must also receive pre-approval from the Repertory Orchestra conductor.

 

Repertory Orchestra Award

  • Open to any single movement of a concerto or other published solo work with orchestral accompaniment.
  • Memorization is recommended, but not required.
    • The work must be:
      • Between 8 and approximately 15 -20 minutes in duration (unless otherwise approved)
      • Pre-approved by both the Repertory Orchestra conductor and the Music Director before submitting the application.
      • Approved based on availability of score and parts.

Your repertoire selection must be submitted for approval by Oct. 24.

You will be notified by email when approval has been granted.   

Eligibility

  • The competition is open to members of the Symphony Orchestra, Youth Jazz Orchestra and Youth Percussion Ensemble. 
  • Previous winners may not apply in the same award category during the season following their performance. However, winners in one category may apply to the other category.
  • Open to voice and all orchestral instruments, including piano and percussion.
  • Applicants may audition on only one instrument per year (it does not have to be the instrument they play in their ESYO ensemble).
  • Concertos may feature one, two or three soloists, but no more.

 Application Guidelines

  • Submit your repertoire for approval by October 24  HERE.
  • Submit your application and fee by November 15  HERE.
  • Applications must include:
    • Full solo repertoire title and movement(s)
    • Accompanist’s name and contact info
      (Applications missing this information will be considered incomplete)

Preparation and Competition Audition

  • Memorization is recommended but not required.
  • Audition Length: 10 minutes.

(Judges will choose which portion of the piece is performed)

  • Provide:
    • A clean photocopy of your music for the judges
    • Your own accompanist
  • Warm-up:
    • Warm-up rooms will be available.
    • Percussionists and pianists will warm up in the audition room due to setup and instrument familiarity.
  • Audition Room Policy:
    • Only the judges, applicant(s), accompanist (and page turner if needed) are permitted in the audition room.
    • Teachers, family and others may not observe.

Results and Performances

  • Results will be shared via email or phone within 48 hours of the competition.
  • ESYO reserves the right not to select a winner in either or both categories.
  • The judges may:
    • Award one or several single movements for the Symphony Orchestra Award (preference is for full    Concertos)
    • Select a movement originally intended for the Symphony Orchestra Award for the Repertory Orchestra Award, if pre-approved by the Repertory Orchestra conductor.

Performance Dates

  • Symphony Orchestra Award Winner
    Performs with the Symphony Orchestra on April 26, 2026 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.


  • Repertory Orchestra Award Winner
    Performs with the Repertory Orchestra on May 2, 2026 at the Arthur Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College.

 

The work performed at the audition will be the work performed at the concert.

Adjudication & Questions

  • All participants will receive written adjudication following the competition.

 

  • For any questions regarding the competition or your application, please contact Sue Lascoe, ESYO Operations Director, slascoe@esyo.org.

To participate, Symphony Orchestra members must fill out the following forms by the indicated deadlines: 

  • 2022-23
    • Yu-Heng Wang, viola
      Bartók Viola Concerto, Op. posth (ed. Serly)
    • William Lauricella, piano
      Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
  • 2021-2022
    • Eujeong Choi, cello
      Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85
  • 2020-21
    • No competition
  • 2019-20
    • William Luaricella, piano
      Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102
  • 2018-19
    • William Han, cello
      Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107, Dmitri Shostakovich
  • 2017-18
    • Gabrielle Kim, piano
      Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Edvard Grieg
  • 2016-2017
    • Aram Kim, violin
      Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37, Henri Vieuxtemps
  • 2015-2016
    • Michael Zhu, violin
      The Lark Ascending, Ralph Vaughan Williams
  • 2014-2015
    • Hannah Dick, percussion
      Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, Op. 12, Ney Rosauro
  • 2013-2014
    • Clare Criscione, violin
      Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61, Camille Saint-Saëns
  • 2012-2013
    • Jacob Efthimiou, cello
      Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op.33, Camille Saint-Saëns
  • 2011-2012
    • Lisa Liu, violin
      The Butterfly Lovers, by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao
  • 2010-2011
    • Turi Scilipoti, flute
      Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, by Jacques Ibert
  • 2009-2010
    • Zachary Evans, violin
      Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21, by Édouard Lalo
  • 2008-2009
    • Ryan Reilly, piano
      Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, S. 124, by Franz Liszt
  • 2007-2008
    • Anthony Bellino, trumpet
      Proclamation, by Ernest Bloch
  • 2006-2007
    • Leo Brown, violin
      Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20
  • 2005-2006
    • Jack Qian, violin
      Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, by Felix Mendelssohn
  • 2004-2005
    • Eric Zhou, violin
      The Butterfly Lovers, by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao
  • 2003-2004
    • James Benoit, marimba
      Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints, Op. 211, by Alan Hovhaness
  • 2002-2003
    • Kathryn Andersen, violin
      Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21, by Édouard Lalo
  • 2001-2002
    • Ashley Bathgate, cello
      Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129, by Robert Schumann
  • 1999-2000
    • Ashley Bathgate, cello
      Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33, by Camille Saint-Saëns
  • 1998-1999
    • Benjamin Chan, violin
      Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, by Ludwig van Beethoven
  • 1997-1998
    • Felice Kuan, piano
      Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, by Edvard Grieg
  • 1996-1997
    • Jonathan Chu, violin
      Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61, by Camille Saint-Saëns
  • 1995-1996
    • Adrienne Chamberlain, French horn
      Concerto #1 by Richard Strauss
  • 1994-1995
    • Jennifer Chu, piano
      Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, by Felix Mendelssohn
  • 1993-1994
    • Marisa Range, piano
      Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, by Camille Saint-Saëns
  • 1992-1993
    • Nathan Lawrence, violin
      Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • 1991-1992
    • Clancy Newman, cello
      Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, by Antonín Dvořák
  • 1990-1991
    • Emily Greitzer, violin
      Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21, by Édouard Lalo
  • 1989-1990
    • Meg Bragle, violin
      Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, by Samuel Barber
  • 1988-1989
    • Michelle Fenton, bassoon
      Concerto in B flat Major, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    • Stefon Harris, marimba
      Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints, by Alan Hovhaness
  • 1987-1988
    • Martha Pushee, piano
      Concerto No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 19, by Ludwig van Beethoven
  • 1986-1987
    • Dana Gooley, piano
      Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, by Felix Mendelssohn
    • Lisa Cole, clarinet
      Concerto in A Major, K. 622, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • 1985-1986
    • Joyce Ryu, violin
      Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64

Kingson Czajkovski & William Lauricella

Watch their magical Marimba duet on our Virtual Concert Hall

WATCH 2023 PERFORMANCE

William Lauricella, Piano

Watch his 2023 Piano Concerto on our Virtual Concert Hall

WATCH 2023 PERFORMANCE
ESYO Concerto Winners

Yu-Heng Wang, viola
William Lauricella, piano

2022-23 Competition Winners
Bartók Viola Concerto, Op. posth (ed. Serly) Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor

Esyo Concerto Winner

Eujeong Choi, cello

2021-22 Competition Winner
Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

Esyo Concerto Winner

William Lauricella, piano

2019-20 Competition Winner
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102

Esyo Concerto Winner

William Han, cello

2018-19 Competition Winner
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107

Esyo Concerto Winner

Gabrielle Kim, piano

2017-18 Competition Winner
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Esyo Concerto Winner

Aram Kim, violin

2016-2017 Competition Winner
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37

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