Middle School, High School & College Programs
We are grateful to our music education supporters for their dedication to the importance of the arts in the lives of young people.
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Youth Concerto Competition
Winners have been announced for the 2026 Kathleen Price and Joseph M. Bryan Youth Concerto Competition.
The North Carolina Symphony’s Kathleen Price and Joseph M. Bryan Youth Concerto Competition is North Carolina’s premier performance competition for young instrumentalists. The competition fosters the most promising musical talents in our state; winners have gone on to enter some of the world’s most prestigious music schools and perform with other acclaimed music organizations across the country.
The competition is open to candidates ages 13 to 23 and is divided into junior and young artist divisions. A panel of North Carolina Symphony musicians adjudicates preliminary and final rounds in Raleigh. The first- and second-prize winners in each division receive cash awards, with the first-prize senior division winner also earning the opportunity to perform on the NCS Ovations pre-concert performance series.
Ovations
The North Carolina Symphony is proud to offer Ovations, a pre-concert performance opportunity for student and community groups. Prior to select concerts, we invite small groups of advanced student musicians and community members to perform in the lobby of Meymandi Concert Hall.
Open Rehearsals
Students in middle and high school are invited to observe the dress rehearsal for a performance of the North Carolina Symphony in Meymandi Concert Hall.
Reservations will open on Monday, August 24th at 10:00am
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Friday, November 6
10am-12:30pm (400 seats)
Anna Rakitina, conductor
Johannes Moser, cello
Mendelssohn: “The Hebrides”
Elgar: Cello Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25
Friday, January 22
10am-12:30pm (400 seats)
Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
Evren Ozel, piano
Mozart: Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25
Mozart: Symphony No. 39
Mahler & Mozart
Friday, February 5
10am-12:30pm (300 seats)
Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
Mozart: Serenade, “Serenata notturna”
Mahler: Symphony No. 9
Dvořák Symphony No. 8
Friday, March 19
10am-12:30pm (200 seats)
Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
Stella Chen, violin
Carlos Simon: Profiles
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Dvořák: Symphony No. 8
Rodgers & Hammerstein and More
Friday, April 1
10am-12:30pm (400 seats)
David Glover, conductor
Step into the glamour, romance, and unforgettable melodies of Broadway’s golden era. From dazzling orchestral showstoppers to timeless ballads, this concert celebrates the legendary music that defined a generation of musical theatre.
Guest Artist Master Classes
Throughout the season, the North Carolina Symphony hosts guest artist master classes, offering pre-selected students from Triangle-area community partners and youth organizations the chance to perform and receive expert guidance. These sessions, led by world-renowned musicians, are open to the public, providing a unique opportunity for all to observe.
Generous support has been provided by the Marilyn Ehrenshaft and John Williamson Young Musician Master Class Endowed Fund of the North Carolina Symphony.
Musician Workshops
North Carolina Symphony musicians are available to visit public/charter middle and high schools across the state. To request a NCS musician visit your school and lead a sectional/workshop/clinic, please complete the form below. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Generous support has been provided by the Marilyn Ehrenshaft and John Williamson Young Musician Master Class Endowed Fund of the North Carolina Symphony.
Contact
For more information about any of these programs, please contact the Education department at education@ncsymphony.org.