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Concerto Program Description

The Program is designed to give advanced amateur and pre-professional musicians an opportunity to solo in a concerto with a fine orchestra. The program runs annually in three sections, corresponding to the three orchestras that are used: the Immaculata Symphony, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Soloists choose their own repertoire, which can be as little as one movement or an entire concerto. About 90 minutes of music is assigned to each orchestra. Thus there are generally three or four soloists per orchestra.

There are two rehearsals with the orchestra, and then a performance. A video of the performance will be available.

An audition is required - an online video is fine. The purpose is to be sure that the soloist can play his/her concerto well enough to succeed in the program. Moxart will accept players for the Concerto Program in its sole discretion. We will let you know shortly after your audition or receiving your recording.

FAQs
What is the Cost?
All costs are paid by the soloists. You should expect to spend $2000 to $4200 for the program, depending on how much orchestra time you need. The biggest expenses are hiring an entire orchestra and paying the conductor.

Each soloist pays a percentage of this cost proportional to his/her use of the orchestra. For example, someone playing one movement of Mozart will require considerably less time than someone playing three movements of Brahms. Other costs such as paying the videographer, renting a venue, preparing music, and paying Moxart overhead are split among the players.

Please note that contemporary works usually carry additional charges. Those which are in copyright can be very expensive to obtain. That cost is passed along to you. Many contemporary works require extra orchestra players, which can be provided only if you pay for them. Even if you are okay with the extra cost, the conductor may refuse a concerto.

Before the program, we can only estimate costs, based on how much rehearsal and performance time you will probably need. During the program things can happen which might increase or decrease this estimated time. Should your actual cost exceed the estimated cost, we will bill you directly after the program; should your actual cost be less than the estimated cost, we will refund you the difference.

What instruments do you accept?

Most instruments are accepted. We will provide a piano, but you will have to bring or arrange your own instrument otherwise.

Are there any age restrictions?

No. Thus far we have had players from teenagers to 80-somethings.

Where do soloists come from?

All over. It is international.

What concertos can I play?

Most baroque, classical and romantic concertos are accepted, as well as many contemporary works. The orchestra conductor will make the final determination as to whether the concerto you selected can be accommodated.

Please note that contemporary works usually carry additional charges. Those which are in copyright can be very expensive to obtain. That cost is passed along to you. Many contemporary works require extra orchestra players, which can be provided only if you pay for them. Even if you are okay with the extra cost, the conductor may refuse a concerto.

Where can I find the instrumentation needed for my concerto?

Should I have my own score?

It is recommended. By looking at the score you can understand what is going on in the orchestra. It is a good idea to listen to various performances of your concerto, so you have in your ear what is going on. You may also find some interpretive ideas by listening.

Does Moxart have preferences for what I will play?

We are happy with whatever you choose to play. There are restrictions on what we can accept in any given year, due to programming constaints. For example, if you are the fourth person applying to play a Mozart concerto, we have to move you to the next year. Here is why: We have three orchestras. We can assign a Mozart concerto to each orchestra, which means we can take three. We cannot take four because we won't program two Mozart concertos in one performance. There are other constraints having to do with which repertoire has been played in preceding years.

All that said, we will do our best to accomodate your choice.

Are there time restrictions?

You can play one or several movements or an entire concerto. Some concertos are long, and up to about 45 minutes is okay. But remember that your charges are based on how much orchestra time you use. A longer, harder concerto will cost more. We recommend that you plan on at least 15 minutes of performance. Some of the costs are fixed and have to be paid whether you play 2 minutes or 50 minutes.

Can I change my mind about what I will play?

If you wish to drop a movement, add a movement or change your concerto you must inform us at least three months before the beginning of the program. We will accommodate you if we can, but we cannot guarantee to make changes. Once you are accepted we have a lot of preparation to do before rehearsals begin, and we make financial commitments based on your chosen repertoire.

What if I have to drop out?

If you drop out you create a lot of extra work for us, and it disrupts the orchestra planning as well. If you drop out long before the concert date, we will keep your non-refundable deposit. If you drop out within 5 months of the concert date AND WE CAN FIND A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOU, we will refund all but $1000. If we cannot find a substitute at that late date, there is no refund.

Do I have to perform?

We expect you to perform, and base our programming on that assumption. The orchestras count on these performances to please their audiences.