2017 Young Artists Music Competition
ORANGE PARK – Concert on the Green is accepting applications through April 15 for its 2017 Music Competition for Clay County students.
This young artist event is designed to promote music education in Clay County by providing talented students an opportunity to perform a solo work with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The winner will be chosen through a competitive audition process and will perform with the Jacksonville Symphony in concert on May 28 at St. Johns Country Day School. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship award that can be used toward further music education or general college expenses.
Preliminary auditions will be held April 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Johns Country Day School. Final judging will be held April 24 at 7:15 p.m. at Grace Anglican Church on Fleming Island with the finalist recital scheduled for May 17 at 7 p.m. at Penney Memorial Church in Penney Farms.
To be eligible to enter, students must either live in Clay County or attend a school in Clay County. Students in grades 9-12 will compete in the senior division, while students in grades 6-9 will compete in the junior division. As a 9th grader, students may choose to enter either division.
Participants must be sure that the musical selections they choose are arranged for orchestral accompaniment.
At the audition, participants are asked to bring a picture of themselves, three copies of their selection for the judges as well as the original editions. Students are also asked to set time aside in their schedules for the finals, as well as the Penney Farms outreach recital on May 18.
Participants may choose their own piece for the competition. However, if a “Young Artist Winner” is declared, Concert on the Green reserves the right to request an alternate piece for performance that is part of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra repertoire. Music must be memorized for consideration for first, second or third place.
Applicant’s audition must be accompanied, including senior division pianists. Applicant should arrange for an accompanist, or a list of accompanists will be provided for you. Accompanist fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
In the senior division, participants must perform a solo piece from a concerto composition which has symphony orchestration and is consistent with symphony performance.
In the junior division, participants are asked to follow the same guidelines, if possible. Participants may play a sonata or classical piece of their choice. It does not have to have orchestral accompaniment. Pianists must have four years of experience or a Level 3 in piano proficiency.
Vocalist participants should choose their own pieces for the competition that are appropriate for their ability and vocal range. Participants are encouraged to consider the below list of pieces for audition. Check the Concert on the Green website for a list of songs that may ensure a chosen vocalist “Young Artist Winner” will perform at the Concert on the Green event with full symphony accompaniment.
All vocalist participants must perform two pieces which are consistent with symphony performance. Pieces with known symphony orchestration are preferred. One piece must be a classical art song or aria in the original language. One selection must be from a Broadway Show. Music must be memorized for consideration for first, second or third place.
The Concert on the Green Young Artist Music Competition applicant’s audition must be accompanied. The applicant should arrange for an accompanist. A list of accompanists can be provided by contacting Concert on the Green at concertonthegreen@yahoo.com. Accompanist fees are the responsibility of the applicant.

Register your pre-schooler for free music classes
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus is currently enrolling pre-school children in free music classes.
Each child, with their parents, will experience singing, creative movement, simple instruments, finger plays and more using a collection of traditional songs and rhymes. The program is for children ages 18 months to four-years old.
Classes will be held Monday through Thursday, April 24-27. Children will be grouped by age with 18 months to two-and-a-half years and from two-and-a-half years to age 4. Check with JCC staff for specific times for the different age groups.
Classes will be held at First United Methodist Church, 225 E. Duval St. in downtown Jacksonville
Families are limited to one free class per household and space is limited and on a first come, first served basis. Parents can register online at http://www.jaxchildrenschorus.org/classes/preschool-music-classes/
Parents who reserve a spot in the class and later cannot attend are asked to email diana@jaxchildrenschorus.org to let her know so a spot can be opened for another child to attend.

Clay County students urged to audition for Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras, under the direction of Scott C. Gregg, will hold auditions for the 2017-18 season May 30 through June 4, 2017.
Auditions will take place at JSYO’s main site, Florida State College at Jacksonville’s South Campus and at the Clay County satellite site Wehner School of the Arts on College Drive.
JSYO is comprised of more than 400 musicians between 7 and 21 years old. Students accepted into JSYO’s program are placed in one of six orchestral groups based on their instrument and playing ability, including Foundation Strings I, Foundation Strings II, Encore Strings, Premiere Strings, Repertory Orchestra and the Philharmonic. All orchestral group auditions require a solo piece, scales and sight-reading. Repertory Orchestra and Philharmonic group auditions additionally require Arpeggios and Orchestral excerpts.
The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras are Northeast Florida’s premiere developmental orchestral ensembles. Serving over 400 young musicians, each orchestra improves its skills and understanding through the in-depth study of classical repertoire. In addition to traditional performances, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Youth Orchestras perform free community engagement concerts, both in Jacoby Hall at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and at other venues around the First Coast.
Students interested in auditioning should apply online at http://jaxyouthorchestra.com by May 15 or call (904) 354-5120 with any questions.

Shakespeare-in-the-Park season underway at UNF
JACKSONVILLE – The University of North Florida’s Department of English, in collaboration with the City of Atlantic Beach Department of Parks and Recreation and the Church of the Good Shepherd, will present the eighth annual Shakespeare-in-the-Park performance, designed to present authentic, accessible and bold productions of Shakespeare’s plays for contemporary audiences.
Questions about justice, mercy, license and what constitutes government of the self and the state characterize “Measure for Measure,” one of Shakespeare’s late tragicomedies. Directed by Pam Monteleone, UNF associate professor of English, the cast features UNF students and members of the Jacksonville community. All productions are free and open to the public.
The production opens at 8 p.m. April 6, and will repeat at 8 p.m. on both Friday, April 7, and Saturday April 8, on the UNF Green, in front of the Fine Arts Center, Building 45.
The show will travel to Johansen Park in Atlantic Beach for 8 p.m. performances on Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, with a rain date set for 8 p.m. on April 16. Catering will be available during the Atlantic Beach performances beginning at 7 p.m. Some chairs will be provided; patrons may also bring their own chairs/blankets.
The final performances will take place 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, and Friday, April 28, in Worsham Hall at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1100 Stockton St. in Jacksonville. Friday’s performance will be followed by a panel discussion on issues raised by the play.
For information about the UNF performances or the Church of the Good Shepherd performances, contact the UNF Department of English at (904) 620-2273. For information about the Atlantic Beach Performances, contact Linda Ginsberg at (904) 246-4061.