Summer Festival

We have expanded the age requirement to 11 through 19 years old.

Do you have a talented student who has an interesting, inspiring or amusing story about their musical journey? SYMF is excited to introduce the Showcase Benefit Recital category. Entrants in this category will audition with a solo piece and will also be interviewed by the adjudicators. The winners will perform at a special benefit concert where the proceeds will go towards a selected school’s music program. For the inaugural concert we have selected the Manhattan Beach Middle School.

Each year SYMF plans to select a different educational institution to help support music education in our schools. Contact SYMF if you know of a school that could benefit from this event.

SYMF is excited to introduce the Showcase Benefit Recital category. Entrants in this category will audition with a solo piece and will also be interviewed by the adjudicators. The winners will perform at a special benefit concert where the proceeds will go towards a selected school’s music program. For the inaugural concert we have selected Manhattan Beach Middle School.

Each year SYMF plans to select a different educational institution to help support music education in our schools. Contact SYMF if you know of a school that could benefit from this event.

Christopher O’Riley, concert pianist, the creator and original host of “From the Top,” will be the Master of Ceremonies of the Showcase Benefit Recital.

Each winner will be performing their winning piece and discussing their musical experiences with Mr. O’Riley.

This is a unique opportunity for your students to not only share their musical talent but also inspire others with their experiences. We hope to bring a large audience to this special concert of wonderful music and conversation in support of the Manhattan Beach Middle School music program!

SCBR 1 (Showcase Benefit Recital 1) – Entry fee $80
This is an Open Category and is for students ages 11 to 19.

Piano, orchestral instruments allowed.
Entrant is to perform one solo work.
No piano concerti, or works using multiple pianos are allowed.
A collaborative pianist must be used if the piece is originally written with orchestral or piano accompaniment.
An entrant may use a piece they performed in another category.
- If an entrant is already entered into three categories they may still enter the SCBR 1.
The winners will perform at the special recital on Saturday September 21, 2024 (tentative date) which will benefit the music program of the chosen middle school.
The format of the recital will be a live interview by Christopher O’Riley and performance of their winning piece.
Winners will be presented a special winner’s plaque at the recital.
The auditions will be held on Saturday July 20, 2024.
The winners are to perform in the Showcase Benefit Recital at the selected school in the Fall of 2024.
- Entrants must agree to perform at the Showcase Benefit Recital on the date specified in order to compete.

This is a two-part audition:

Part 1. Performance of their solo piece.
Part 2. Live interview in which the entrant will be asked questions, some which they can prepare beforehand and others will be spontaneous.
- Examples of possible questions are, but not limited to: What made you pick your instrument? What inspires you to play your instrument? How long do your practice? Do you have any amusing musical anecdotes of your own to tell?

The art of music is communicating emotions and feelings, but we all must also express ourselves verbally. Even if your student is shy, they may have some great musical stories to share! Please contact info@symf.org for more information.

SYMF 2024 Teacher Membership Dues: $80
All fees must be paid ONLINE and are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Deadline for submitting SYMF 2024 Teacher Membership Dues

May 1, 2024 (11:59 PM PT)
- After May 1, 2024, Member Dues: $100 (includes $20 late fee)

Dates & Deadlines

May 1: Last day for TEACHERS to pay SYMF 2024 Membership Dues
- without a $20 Late Fee
May 15: Last day for TEACHERS to pay SYMF 2024 Membership Dues
- with a $20 Late Fee
May 15: Last day for TEACHERS to enter students for the 2024 Festival
- (teachers must use the online Student Entry Form) without the $10 late fee PER ENTRY
May 22: The absolute last day to enter students
May 23: The last day for parents to pay student entry fees

REMINDER: students entered between May 16 and May 22 will incur a late fee of $10 PER ENTRY

SYMF Materials

Current SYMF Materials (Rules & Regulations and Repertoire Lists) are available at: https://symf.org/rules-regulations/

The SYMF Summer Festival is held in Southern California and runs two weekends (five days), usually in mid-to-late July and/or early August, at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB).

The SYMF Summer Festival offers categories for Piano, Strings (violin, viola, cello), and Winds (flute, clarinet). Categories include opportunities for students to perform solo works, duets, ensemble repertoire, and concerto literature. Categories accommodate the age and level of the student.

Complete information and Repertoire Lists (if applicable) are available on the Rules & Regulations webpage (please click on link).

Only teachers who are members of SYMF may enter students in the SYMF Summer Festival.

The tentative 2024 schedule is as follows (and is subject to change):

July 13
Young Musicians categories
Piano Open categories
Wind Open categories

July 14
Piano Open categories,
Wind Open categories

July 20
String Open categories
String Qualified categories
Wind Qualified categories
Piano Qualified categories

July 21
String Open categories
String Qualified categories,
Wind Qualified categories
Piano Qualified categories

July 21
Festival Orchestra Concert featuring the winners of the Young Musician categories

SYMF 2024 General Information

As we gear up for this summer’s competition, SYMF is tentatively planning on the following:

Auditions will be open to the public but may be limited in audience size.
First place winners will be invited to perform at a Winners Recital on the same day of the category’s audition.
There will be no warm up rooms.

SYMF has updated our Rules and Regulations booklet: https://symf.org/rules-regulations/

SYMF Accepted Scores for Performers and Adjudicators

SYMF-Accepted-Scores

Parking

Visit https://web.csulb.edu/colleges/cota/music/maps/ for the most recent parking instructions and maps from CSULB for the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.
The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music is located on the northeast corner of CSULB, at the intersection of Atherton Street and Palo Verde Avenue.
- Use parking lots G12 and the Palo Verde North Parking Structure located on the northeast corner of the campus.

Young Musicians categories

Pianist, Violinist/Violist, Cellist, Flutist/Clarinetist Categories
First Place winners have the opportunity to perform as concerto soloists with the Festival Orchestra.
Please Note: TEACHER MAY NOT ACCOMPANY STUDENT

Piano Open categories