Marjorie Smith Concerto Competition

Each spring, the HYO hosts the Majorie J. Smith Concerto Competition for HYO members in HYS and Sinfonia. The winner will perform as a soloist with HYS on the Spring Concert.

Information for the 2026-2027 Competition will be emailed out to all current Huntsville Youth Symphony and Sinfonia Members when available. It may also be found below.

  • A contestant must be a member of the Huntsville Youth Symphony or Sinfonia, twelfth grade or below, in good standing. The contestant must complete all required documents prior to the deadlines. A student may win this competition only once during their years in the HYO.

  • Judge(s) will be drawn from prominent regional musicians. Contestants will be judged on tone, appropriate difficulty, rhythm, style, execution, memory, and musicianship. Judges will select one winner only, along with a runner-up. Judges have the right to select no winners if they choose.

  • The selection to be performed must have an orchestration available. All contestants must have their piece approved by the music director. Contestants should seek that approval and obtain the music director’s signature once approval has been given. The applicant’s private instructor, the music director, the applicant, and a parent or guardian must sign the application. Students may talk to Mr. Lee in rehearsal or email requests to him at joseph@hsvyo.org

    • The audition must be performed with an accompanist. The contestant must memorize the music and provide their own accompanist for the audition. A list of accompanists is available upon request.

    • If the cost to purchase or rent the music of the winning piece exceeds $400, the student will be responsible for the difference.

    • Duration of the selected piece must not exceed eight minutes. This time includes any accompaniment, including introduction, when students may not be playing. Auditions will be timed, and applicants will be disqualified if the piece exceeds the time limit. Any cuts to the music must be approved in advance by the music director.

    • Applicants shall supply one original and one good quality copy, or two good quality copies, of the music to be performed to the judges. Measures should be numbered, and copy should be in a binder or should be taped.

  • Important Dates:

    • Jan 12: Deadline to receive approval for repertoire sections by the Music Director (Joseph Lee)

    • Jan 26: Completed Applications Due (including all needed signatures and $15 fee)

    • Jan 31: Concerto Competition, 10 am-12 pm @ Sandra Moon Complex

    Download the 2025-2026 Concerto Competition Packet

Past Winners

2026: Isabella Haff, violin
2025: Luke McLaughlin, cello
2024: Rachel Strong, flute
2023: Davis Brewster, trombone
2022: Constantine Haff, violin
2021: Nathan Han, cello
2020: John Yoo, violin
2019: Emma Boyd, violin
2018: Ben Garrett, violin
2017: Anna South, cello
2016: Sophia Fox, violin & Claudia Chu, clarinet
2015: Matthew Scarcelli, oboe & Helena Bandy, violin

Gerhart Scholarship Competition

The Huntsville Youth Orchestra provides the Gerhart Scholarship Competition to support HYO students participating in summer music festivals and camps every year.

Information for the 2026 Competition will be emailed out to all current Huntsville Youth Symphony and Sinfonia Members when available. It may also be found to the right.

    • A current member of the Huntsville Youth Symphony or Sinfonia for the full current Season and agree to be a member for the following Season.

    • Eleventh Grade or below.

    • Have not previously won the Gerhart Scholarship Competition

    • Application form

    • Recommendation form

    • Student Essay

    • Audition

    • Musical selection demonstrating musicality, technique, phrasing, tone, and general command of the instrument.

    • Musical selection 2-5 minutes in duration without an accompanist

    • Does not need to be memorized

    • Provide one copy of musical selections for the judge with numbered measures

    • Formal attire, this is a formal audition and students should wear nice clothes and shoes. Jeans are not recommended.

  • Audition and stage deportment

    Commitment, attendance, rehearsal preparation and conduct at HYO rehearsals and concerts.

    Recommendation from your conductor

  • Important Dates:

    • Mon, March 30: Completed Applications Due

    • Sat, April 4: Gerhart Competition, 10 am - 1 pm @ Sandra Moon Complex

    Download the 2026 Gerhart Scholarship Competition Packet

Hunter Thomas Legacy Chair

Hunter Thomas was a huge part of the musical community in Huntsville and also our HYO program throughout his life. As an extremely prolific and respected teacher, Hunter encouraged countless bassoon students to participate in HYO. He was an HYO chamber coach for many years, taught at the HYO summer music festival, and was an HYO board member. In fact, Hunter was even an HYO Alumnus and joined the orchestra sometime before 1970.

In honor of his memory and service to HYO, the Principal Bassoon chair in HYS has been given the title of “Hunter Thomas Legacy Chair.”

In addition, a scholarship has been set up in his name for this chair. As long as scholarship funds are available the HYO will provide the current member of this chair a full scholarship towards attendance at the Tennessee Valley Music Festival.

This scholarship is sponsored by Jennifer and Andrew Case.

Harold J. Wilson Music Educator of the Year Award

Harold J. Wilson was known for his dedication to education and served as UAH's first African American Dean of the College of Science

In honor of his memory, winner of this award is chosen based on community nominations to recognize music educators who contribute significantly to the development of young musicians.

Nominations

Eligible Nominees: Music Educators within Madison County. Educators may be private instructors, elementary, secondary, or collegiate instructors, public or private.

  • Nominations may be made by students, parents, colleagues, organizations, business and community members, or a combination.

  • Nominations should be submitted on the Nomination Form.

  • At least two additional letters of support from persons other than the nominator shall be included with the Nomination Form. It is recommended that at least one of the supporting letters or the nomination be from a student or parent.

  • A music educator may only win this award once.

  • Forms must be postmarked no later than April 1st.

  • For additional information, please contact info@hsvyo.org

  • The award will be presented at the Huntsville Youth Orchestra Spring Concert.

  • Please mail completed application packet to:
    Huntsville Youth Orchestra
    ATTN: Selection Committee
    P.O. Box 2532
    Huntsville, AL, 35804

Nominating Form for 2021

Past Winners

  • 1993 – Vivienne Atkins – Lee High School Choral Director

  • 1994 – Debbie Hutson – Sparkman High School Band Director

  • 1997 – Barbara Poularikas – Private Violin and Viola Instructor

  • 1999 – Ginger Beazley – Voice and Vocal performance teacher and director of Ars Nova School of the Arts

  • 2001 – Leona Cotruvo – Private violin teacher and conductor with the HYO

  • 2003 – Hunter Thomas – Bassoon Instructor

  • 2005 – Don Adams – Huntsville Middle School Band

  • 2006 – Frances Schwemmer – Piano Instructor

  • 2007 – James Kendrick – Columbia High School Choral Director

  • 2008 – Jeff Dortch – Private Violin Instructor

  • 2009 – Gene Swanner – Hampton Cove Middle School Band Director

  • 2010 – Lea Hoppe – Conductor for Huntsville Community Chorus Children’s Choir

  • 2011 – Randall Fields – Bob Jones High School Choir Director

  • 2012 – Diana A. Petit – Piano Instructor

  • 2013 – William David Spencer – Huntsville High School Band Director

  • 2014 – Joseph Lee – Huntsville Youth Orchestra Music Director

  • 2020 – Billy Bargetzi – UAH, Huntsville Symphony, private trombone instructor

  • 2021 – Mathew Carey – UAH, Director of Choral Activities