Competition Status: 2025/26 Applications Closed

VAMFP Debut Spotlight Solo Competition

Class Description: VAM presents its 6th annual VAM Friendly Philharmonic Debut Spotlight Solo Competition providing an opportunity for up to three soloists to perform a movement of a concerto or solo piece with the VAM Friendly Philharmonic*. VAM will ensure that the competition is impartially and professionally conducted with a two-person adjudication panel consisting of experienced musicians with no affiliation with the competing musicians. *performance date to be assigned by conductor Eligibility Eligible students: -are currently members in good standing of VAM Friendly Philharmonic; -are not winners of the 2024/25 VAMFP Solo Competition. Dates Application Deadline: September 29, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: October 20, 2025* *Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Competition Rules 1. Students must perform on the instrument they currently play in VAMFP. 2. The selection must be approved by the Orchestra Manager and meet length, orchestration and proficiency requirements. Repertoire approval will be confirmed within 3 business days of the application deadline. 3. If the selected repertoire requires performance licensing or copyright clearance, the student is responsible for any associated costs if chosen as a winner and invited to perform. 4. Students must provide 2 copies of the solo part or piano reduction for the adjudication committee (photocopies are permitted). 5. Performers must perform from memory. 6. Performers must perform with and provide their own pianist. 7. The competition phase is closed to the public with the exception of the parent/guardian and teacher of the student performing; no video or audio recording permitted. 8. Repertoire selections must not exceed 8 minutes in duration. For the competition, tutti passages must be shortened. 9. All applications must include a non-refundable $60 application fee. 10. 1 winner awarded the Chan Centre Prize performs at the Chan Centre; 2 winners awarded the VAM Prize will perform at VAM. 11. By applying to the competition, the student and parent/guardian agree that any resulting recordings from winner's performances with VAM Friendly Philharmonic may be used for VAM's promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="167" title="false" description="false"]

VAMJS Concerto Competition

Class Description: VAM presents its tenth annual VAM Junior Symphony Concerto Competition providing an opportunity for up to three soloists to perform a movement of a concerto with the VAM Junior Symphony.* VAM will ensure that the competition is impartially and professionally conducted with a two-person adjudication panel consisting of experienced musicians with no affiliation with the competing musicians. *performance date to be assigned by conductor Eligibility Eligible students: -are currently members in good standing of VAM Junior Symphony; -are not winners of the VAMJS 2024/25 Concerto Competition. Dates Application Deadline: September 29, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: October 20, 2025* * Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Competition Rules 1. Students must perform on the instrument they currently play in VAMJS. 2. The selection must be approved by the Orchestra Manager and meet length, orchestration and proficiency requirements. Repertoire approval will be confirmed within 3 business days of the application deadline. 3. If the selected repertoire requires performance licensing or copyright clearance, the student is responsible for any associated costs if chosen as a winner and invited to perform. 4. Students must provide 2 copies of the solo part or piano reduction for the adjudication committee (photocopies are permitted). 5. Performers must perform from memory. 6. Performers must perform with and provide their own pianist. 7. The competition phase is closed to the public with the exception of the parent/guardian and teacher of the student performing; no video or audio recording permitted. 8. Repertoire selections must not exceed 8 minutes in duration. For the competition, tutti passages must be shortened. 9. All applications must include a non-refundable $60 application fee. 10. 1 winner awarded the Chan Centre Prize performs at the Chan Centre; 2 winners awarded the VAM Prize will perform at VAM. 11. By applying to the competition, the student and parent/guardian agree that any resulting recordings from the winner’s performances with VAM Junior Symphony may be used for VAM’s promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="166" title="false" description="false"]

VAMIS Concerto Competition

Class Description: VAM presents its tenth annual VAM Intermediate Symphony Concerto Competition providing an opportunity for up to three soloists to perform a movement of a concerto with the VAM Intermediate Symphony.* VAM will ensure that the competition is impartially and professionally conducted with a two-person adjudication panel consisting of experienced musicians with no affiliation with the competing musicians. *performance date to be assigned by conductor Eligibility Eligible students: -are currently members in good standing of VAM Intermediate Symphony; -are not winners of the VAMIS 2024/25 Concerto Competition. Dates Application Deadline: September 29, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: October 20, 2025 Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Competition Rules 1. Students must perform on the instrument they currently play in VAMIS. 2. The selection must be approved by the Orchestra Manager and meet length, orchestration and proficiency requirements. Repertoire approval will be confirmed within 3 business days of the application deadline. 3. If the selected repertoire requires performance licensing or copyright clearance, the student is responsible for any associated costs if chosen as a winner and invited to perform. 4. Students must provide 2 copies of the solo part or piano reduction for the adjudication committee (photocopies are permitted). 5. Performers must perform from memory. 6. Performers must perform with and provide their own pianist. 7. The competition phase is closed to the public with the exception of the parent/guardian and teacher of the student performing; no video or audio recording permitted. 8. Repertoire selections must not exceed 8 minutes in duration. For the competition, tutti passages must be shortened. 9. All applications must include a non-refundable $60 application fee. 10. 1 winner awarded the Chan Centre Prize performs at the Chan Centre; 2 winners awarded the VAM Prize will perform at VAM. 11. By applying to the competition, the student and parent/guardian agree that any resulting recordings from the winner's performance with VAM Intermediate Symphony may be used for VAM's promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="165" title="false" description="false"]

Amati and Stradivari Players Concerto Competition

Class Description: VAM presents its first annual VAM Amati and Stradivari Players Concerto Competition providing an opportunity for two soloists of each ensemble to perform a movement of a concerto with the Amati or Stradivari Players. VAM will ensure that the competition is impartially and professionally conducted with a two-person adjudication panel consisting of experienced musicians with no affiliation with the competing musicians. Eligibility Eligible students: -are currently members in good standing of VAM Amati or Stradivari Players; Dates Application Deadline: October 26, 2025, 11:59pm Competition: November 17, 2025 Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Performance date: May 30, 2026, 7pm | Koerner Recital Hall Repertoire -The selection must be one movement of the repertoire listed in the link below: Amati & Stradivari Players Concerto Competition - Repertoire List -Repertoire selections must not exceed 15 minutes in duration. -Selections must meet all length, orchestration, and proficiency requirements. -Works that include supplementary orchestration (winds, brass, percussion) are permitted; if selected as a winner, the repertoire will be adapted for string ensemble configuration. -Repertoire approval will be confirmed within three (3) business days of the application deadline. -If the selected repertoire requires performance licensing or copyright clearance, the student is responsible for any associated costs if chosen as a winner and invited to perform. Competition Rules 1. Students must perform on the instrument they currently play in Amati or Stradivari Players. 2. Students must provide 2 copies of the solo part or piano reduction for the adjudication committee (photocopies are permitted). 3. Performers must perform from memory. 4. Performers must perform with and provide their own pianist. 5. The competition phase is closed to the public with the exception of the parent/guardian and teacher of the student performing; no video or audio recording permitted. 6. All applications must include a non-refundable $60 application fee. 7. For each ensemble (Amati Players and Stradivari Players), one winner will be chosen from the upper strings (violin) and one from the lower strings (viola, cello, and double bass). The winners will perform their concertos with their respective ensembles at the spring concert. 8. If the selected repertoire requires performance licensing or copyright clearance, the student is responsible for any associated costs if chosen as a winner and invited to perform. 9. By applying to the competition, the student and parent/guardian agree that any resulting recordings from the winner's performance with VAM Amati and Stradivari Players may be used for VAM's promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="251" title="true" description="true"]

Jerold Gerbrecht Woodwind & Brass Competition

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Jerold Gerbrecht Woodwind and Brass Competition is designed to offer recognition and financial assistance to talented woodwind and brass students. $1,200 total in scholarships will be awarded for 2026/27 VAM tuition. Instruments Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion Eligibility Eligible students are those enrolled in VAM private lessons for any of the instruments listed above. Dates Application Deadline: January 12, 2026, 11:59pm Competition: February 9, 2026* * Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline. Categories Junior: ages 15 and under Senior: ages 16+ Adjudicators Students will be evaluated by two distinguished musicians external to VAM. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -Two copies of the music must be submitted to the adjudicators (photocopies permitted). -Applicants must prepare one work with accompaniment not to exceed 15 minutes in duration. -All applicants are responsible for arranging a pianist. -The competition phase will be closed to the public with the exception of the parents/guardians and teacher of the student performing; No audio or video recording is permitted. -The adjudicators retain the right to withhold any prize if, in their opinion, it is not merited. All decisions made by the adjudicators are final and without appeal. Application Form [gravityform id="160" title="false" description="true"]

Edith Lando Gifted Youth Competition

Class Description: The Vancouver Academy of Music Edith Lando Gifted Youth Competition is designed to identify young talented students and afford them recognition and financial assistance. Two adjudicators external to VAM will choose eight finalists with $3,000 in total awarded for 2026/27 VAM scholarships. Dates Application Deadline: January 26, 2026, 11:59pm Competition: February 23, 2026* Winner's Recital: March 8, 2026, 2pm *Students will receive notice of their specific time slot following the application deadline and competition date. Eligibility Eligible students: - are 13 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2025. - have been enrolled in VAM private lessons since the beginning of the academic year. - have not appeared in more than three previous Gifted Youth Scholarship Recitals. Repertoire -Instrumentalists (except guitar students): Students will be required to prepare one work for a maximum of 10 minutes, from memory (minimum RCM 8 or equivalent). Those selected will be required to perform the same repertoire at the Winner's Concert. -Guitar students: Students will be required to prepare one work for a maximum of 10 minutes, from memory (minimum RCM 6 or equivalent). Those selected will be required to perform the same repertoire at the Winner's Concert. -Voice students may prepare two contrasting songs from classical, folk, or musical theatre genres, with a combined total duration of no more than 10 minutes (minimum RCM level 6 or equivalent). Those selected will be required to perform the same repertoire at the Winner’s Concert. Competition Rules -Applications must include a non-refundable registration fee of $60 made payable to the Vancouver Academy of Music. -Two copies of the music must be submitted to the adjudicators during the competition phase (photocopies permitted). -All scholarship recipients are required to perform in the Winner's Recital as part of their award. Failure to participate in the Recital will result in the forfeiture of the scholarship, except in cases of illness or other extenuating circumstances, which must be communicated and approved in advance. -The competition phase will be closed to the public with the exception of the parents/guardians and teacher of the student performing; no audio or video recording is permitted. -By submitting an application, students and their parent/guardian understand that any recording resulting from the Winner's Recital may be used for VAM promotional purposes. Apply [gravityform id="159" title="false" description="true"]