"The annual Birch Creek Concerto Competition is a crucial aspect of the Symphony program at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Through it, young musicians have had the opportunity to perform a concerto as soloists with a full symphony orchestra – and thus experience what it’s like to be a professional musician and help them prepare for their future careers – for more than 20 years.

The competition takes place during the second week of the two-week Symphony session, when a jury of four or five faculty members judges the participants and selects winners based on their preparation, musicianship and readiness to perform as soloists with a 90-piece orchestra...

Past competition winners have gone on to have prosperous music-industry careers, including Alan Snow, associate concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra; Mary Elizabeth Bowden, a thriving trumpet soloist and chamber musician; and Zac Hammond, principal oboist of the Utah Symphony."

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