O’MALLEY FOUNDATION NATIONAL CONCERTO COMPETITION
December 28-30, 2025
Formerly known as Walgreens Competition
2025 Competition Format
Entrants in the 2025 O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition may compete only in person.
The competition will be held December 28-30, 2025 at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Center in Highwood, IL.
Divisions, Levels, Categories, and Eligibility
There are two (2) divisions:
1) Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Orchestra Division
Students in the MYAC Division must be active participants in the MYAC Orchestral Program. All other entrants will be entered in the Open Division, including MYAC Chamber Only, Jazz, and Choral students.
2) Open Division
Each division has two (2) levels:
1) Junior Level: for students in 8th grade or younger
2) Senior Level: for students in 9th through 12th grades (students that are under the age of 18 and in college can enter the Senior division as well)
Overall Division Winners (Open Junior, Open Senior, MYAC Junior, and MYAC Senior) may not win in consecutive years, except when moving from the Junior Division to the Senior Division. Previous winners are always welcome to participate for “comments only.”
Each level of each division awards winners in five different categories:
String
Piano
Voice
Other Instruments
Early Music
Students are automatically entered in the Early Music category if the piece they are performing was written before 1800. Strings, harpsichord, recorders, gamba, winds, and brass are encouraged to participate in this category.
Schedules
Exact schedules will depend on the number of entries in each division. It is expected, however, that the following general outline will occur this year.
Open Junior Division will take place on December 28th - 29th.
Open Senior Division will take place on December 29th - 30th.
MYAC Junior Division will take place on December 29th.
MYAC Senior Division will take place on December 29th - 30th.
Selection Requirements
Music performed must be a movement from a concerto or a piece with orchestral accompaniment.
You will have 10 minutes to perform. If your selection is longer than 10 minutes, you will be stopped by the judges after the 10 minute mark. Appropriate cuts in the accompaniment, not solo, sections are encouraged.
Entrants may submit more than one registration form. Each registration will count as one ten minute slot. Multiple slots may be used to perform a movement longer than 10 minutes, more than one movement from the same piece, more than one piece, or on more than one instrument.
To be eligible to win, your piece must be memorized. Any piece not memorized will only be performed for judges' comments only.
Performances must be accompanied.
Contestants must provide two (2) clean, unmarked copies of their concerto selection for the judges, with no names written on them. All submitted music must comply with copyright laws - photo copies are only allowed of the work is in the public domain or if written permission from the copyright holder has been obtained.
Awards and Prizes
Open Division Winners
The judges will select a winner in each category (Strings, Piano, Vocal, Other Instrument, Early Music).
The judges will select one overall winner from the Senior Level.
The judges will select one overall winner from the Junior Level.
The judges will select one Open Division Overall winner from either the Junior Overall or Senior Overall winners.
The judges may select a limited number of honorable mention recipients from each category.
MYAC Division Winners
The judges will select a winner in each category (Strings, Piano, Vocal, Other Instrument, Early Music).
The judges will select one overall winner from the Senior Level.
The judges will select one overall winner from the Junior Level.
The judges may select a limited number of honorable mention recipients from each category.
Category Winner Prizes
Category winners will receive a MYAC Tuition Scholarship (valued at $375) to be used toward 2026-2027 academic year large ensemble tuition or 2026 Summer Music Festival programs.
Select category winners will be chosen, at the discretion of the director, to perform at the Winners Recital at the MYAC Center on January 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Winning soloists may also be recommended for performance opportunities with other local professional and community orchestras.
Overall Winner Prizes
The Open Division Overall winner and MYAC Senior Orchestra Division winner of the 2025 competition will perform with MYAC Symphony Orchestra. MYAC Junior Division Winner will perform with MYAC Concert Orchestra. Both performances will be on February 15, 2026 at Pick-Staiger Hall at Northwestern University.
The Open Junior and Senior Overall Division winners and MYAC Junior and Senior Overall Division winners will receive a cash award of $1000 plus an MYAC Tuition Waiver (valued at $750) to be used towards 2026 Summer Music Festival programs or 2026-2027 academic year large ensemble tuition.
Accompanists
Students must provide their own accompanist. The accompanist's name MUST be provided on the application form. This allows each contestant to have a scheduled warm up time and a performance time with the accompanist of their choosing.
For a local accompanist, please visit www.privatemusicteaching.org (the zip code for MYAC is 60040).
Application and Entry Fee
The competition entry fee is $80 for the Open Division and $55 for MYAC students (MYAC students who are not a part of an MYAC Orchestra pay $80 and are entered into the Open Division).
Each application and entry fee is for one ten minute performance slot. Students who wish to perform longer than ten minutes (for example performing multiple movements or performing on more than one instrument) must submit an application for each desired performance slot.
*Please note: All entry forms must be submitted online. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid online by 11:59 pm on December 1, 2025. Please note that registration is now closed.
Questions?
For additional questions about the O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition please contact jeanmilew@mya.org or call 847-926-9898.