Summer Festival
2023 Southwestern Youth Music Festival
CSULB Bob Cole Conservatory of Music
July 15–16 and July 22–24, 2023
PLEASE NOTE: All string categories will be held on July 22–24.
The Young Violinist/Violist, Young Cellist, Young Pianist, and Young Wind Musician will be held on July 15.
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).
Only teachers who are members of SYMF may enter students in the SYMF Summer Festival.
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).
SYMF 2023 General Information
As we gear up for this summer’s competition, SYMF is tentatively planning on the following:
- The Young Musicians categories will be again be limited to the Baroque and early Classical periods (through Beethoven). The Woodwind categories will be included this year.
- 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.
- We are planning a piano masterclass before the summer Festival! Details to be announced soon.
SYMF has updated our Rules and Regulations booklet, Piano Qualified Solo Repertoire booklet, and the Violin Qualified Solo Repertoire list; they can be found at this link: https://symf.org/summer-festival/rules-regulations/
SYMF Accepted Scores for Performers and Adjudicators
SYMF-Accepted-Scores-for-PerformersParking
- Visit https://web.csulb.edu/colleges/cota/music/maps/ for the most recent maps from CSULB.
- 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.
- CSULB Visitor Parking Information: https://www.csulb.edu/parking-and-transportation-services/visitor-parking
Young Musicians
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
- For 2023, the Young Musicians’ category will be limited to the Baroque and Early Classical concerto repertoire listed below (Rules & Regulations Booklet, page 9).
- Pianists, please take note of the repertoire restrictions for Young Pianist Categories 1 and 2.
PLEASE NOTE: Baroque & Early Classical Concerti ONLY in 2023
Piano Open categories
Concerto, Classical Complete Work, Solo, American, Baroque, Chopin, Duo/Duet, Ensemble, and Chamber Music
Piano Qualified categories
Concerto, Classical Complete Work, Solo, American, Baroque, Chopin, Duet, and Ensemble
String Open & Qualified categories
Solo, American, Baroque, Duet, and Chamber Music
Wind Open & Qualified categories
Solo, American, Baroque, Duet, and Chamber Music
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-Place winners receive trophies with personalized name plates
- Students ages 16 and older may apply for paid job opportunities as Room Captains