2026 Beucher Concerto Competition

The Middlebury College Orchestra and Music Department are pleased to announce the 2026 Alan and Joyce Beucher Concerto Competition, an opportunity for students to perform a solo work with the Middlebury College Orchestra during its spring 2026 concert in Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center. The winner will also receive a cash prize of $100. 

HISTORY

The Middlebury College Orchestra Concerto Competition was established by Evan Bennett and the Music Department in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. In 2006, Susan Beucher Cady and George L. Cady ‘72, P’08, ‘11 endowed the competition in honor of Susan’s parents, and it became the Alan and Joyce Beucher Concerto Competition.

GUIDELINES

1.  The Competition is open exclusively to current Middlebury undergraduate students. Current students who are graduating in January 2025 are eligible to compete, but they must be available and present for the rehearsals and performance of the concert in the spring of 2026.

2.  Players of orchestral instruments, pianists, vocalists, and players of other non-orchestral instruments (guitar, saxophone, etc.) are eligible to enter the competition. Membership in the MCO or other ensemble programs is not required.

3.  Eligible works include pieces of any duration specifically composed for solo instrument(s) or voice and orchestra (for example, concertos—- entire works or individual movements—-sets of songs or arias, etc.). Works for more than one solo instrument (such as Brahms’s Double Concerto) are eligible. Transcriptions of solo pieces for alternate instruments are eligible if specifically approved by the orchestra’s Music Director. Newly composed pieces are also welcome (with approval of the piece by the Music Director). 

General inquiries from prospective contestants regarding suitability of works, or about works that are sets, transcriptions, or new works should be submitted to the Music Director by January 12, 2026. In the case of new, unusual, or unpublished works, the contestant, in conjunction with the music director, must clearly establish that the score and parts to the work are readily available for performance through purchase or rental before being allowed to compete. 

4.  All entrants are required to have their work fully mastered by the date of the competition. 

5.  Memorization of the piece by the time of the competition is very highly encouraged but not required. The judges may give preference to entrants who have music memorized.

6.  The piece(s) played in the competition will be the work(s) performed with orchestra if the competitor is chosen as a winner. 

7.  Contestants should be prepared to play the entire piece(s) or any portion during the competition so that the judges can determine that each winner is fully prepared to perform the work(s).  For the competition, accompanists should cut lengthy introductions and connecting passages. 

8.  Entrants are required to have an accompanist for the competition. The contestant must have worked with the accompanist prior to the competition. Contestants who have not worked with the accompanist before the competition or who do not have an accompanist will not be allowed to compete. 

We are currently working on providing accompanists that could perform for all contestants. Contestants are also free to arrange for their own accompanist. If you have questions about how to find an accompanist, please contact Evan Bennett (bennett@middlebury.edu).

9.  No entrant may enter on more than one work or set of pieces for the same instrument or voice.

10.  Current private study with a member of Middlebury’s Affiliate Artists or with a private teacher is highly encouraged.

11.  Judges will choose the winner(s) based primarily on the ability to give the most compelling musical performance. While other factors, such as the degree of technical difficulty or length of the concerto/piece will be taken into consideration, these are secondary to the primary criterion of delivering a compelling musical performance. 

12.  There will be no set number of winners or runner-ups. The judges also reserve the right to declare no winner or runner-ups if they see fit. If multiple winners are chosen, they will be regarded as equal co-winners and the cash prize split between them. The maximum number of runner-ups is two. 

13.  If a winner becomes unavailable to perform on the concert date due to injury, illness, or circumstances beyond their control, efforts will be made to reschedule the performance at a later date but cannot be guaranteed. 

14.  The competition will be cancelled if it is deemed that there are too few contestants in the competition. If the competition is canceled because of too few contestants, current contestants will be asked to apply the following year (unless they have graduated by May 2026).

COMPETITION DATE and APPLICATION PROCESS

14.  The 2026 Beucher Concerto Competition will take place on in the first half of February 2026 in Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center at a time and date to be announced.

15.  Students wishing to enter the competition must apply by submitting a completed entry form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15XPA3uW3IYvoD-2lPpYUugdGGKJCy-fEkD-ixxInNqM/edit) to Evan Bennett (bennett@middlebury.edu) by Monday, January 26^th, 2026 at 11:59pm. No late forms will be accepted.

16.  Students with questions about eligible works (see section 3 above) should address them to Evan Bennett at bennett@middlebury.edu by January 12, 2026.

17.  Each competitor will be required to provide two copies of the work(s) being played in the competition for the judges.

18.  The competition is not open to the public, other students, or the College community. 

Questions? Please contact Evan Bennett, Music Director, MCO at bennett@middlebury.edu.