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College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs

  1. Office of External Programs
  2. Community School of the Arts
  3. Sinfonia Concerto Competition

Sinfonia Concerto Competition

Application deadline: Oct. 20, 2025
Competition date: Nov. 8, 2025
Application fee: $75

Linc Smelser directs the CSA Sinfonia, a full youth orchestra performing varied and exciting repertoire in NIU's Boutell Memorial Concert Hall every year since 1999. The Sinfonia Concerto Competition began in 2000.

  • This competition is open to students who are 18 years of age or younger and live within 75 miles of DeKalb.
  • Auditioning musicians are not required to be members of CSA Sinfonia youth orchestra.
  • The winner will perform the concerto with the CSA Sinfonia at the Spring concert and receive a $200 prize presented at the concert.

Apply to audition today

Rules and Regulations

  • The music to be performed at the audition must be one movement of a standard solo concerto or an appropriate one-movement composition. All audition music is subject to approval by CSA Sinfonia music director Linc Smelser.
  • The time limit for an audition is eight minutes. This time limit will be strictly enforced, and exceptions will not be allowed. If the concerto is longer than eight minutes, you may either make cuts or end the piece at an appropriate place within the time limit. If you make cuts, be sure to note them in the judges' music.
  • Audition selections must be memorized.
  • All auditions must be performed with accompaniment. Each competitor is responsible for his or her own piano accompanist. Our office provides a list of pianists who might be available to provide accompaniment.
  • Bring the original music plus two photocopies of the music to the audition for the judges.
  • Once a musician has won the CSA Concerto Competition, they may not compete again on the same instrument.
  • Due to the increased cost of rental music, we are unable to accept applications with works that are not available for purchase or are not in the public domain.

We look forward to receiving your application. You will receive your assigned audition time and an invoice for the audition fee soon after the application deadline. If you have any questions, contact our office at 815-753-1450.

Gabriel Raviv (Cello) 2025–2026 Winner

A student of Tanya Carey and Hans Jorgen Jensen, 17-year-old cellist Gabi Raviv is thrilled to join the CSA Sinfonia! Gabi will make his solo debut in January with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, as a finalist in the 2026 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition.  He is also the recipient of awards from DePaul Concerto Competitions, the International Grande Competition, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra concerto competition, the Music Teachers National Association Illinois strings competitions,  the Society of American Musicians competitions, and the Chinese Fine Arts Society Music Festivals.

Gabi has enjoyed engagement with chamber music, at the Meadowmount School of Music and the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy program, and with orchestral repertoire, through multiple seasons with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, including a year as a principal in the cello section.  He is currently a proud member of the Valinor trio,  sponsored by Chicago’s New Music School. Together with his brother, Eytan, Gabi frequently performs as a heavy metal cello duo. Some of their most recent performance venues include the Avondale Music Hall, Northwestern’s Welsh Ryan Arena, and the United Center.

Contact Us

College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs
Music Building 132

Kristin Sherman
815-753-1450
ksherman2@niu.edu

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(lunch from noon – 1 p.m.)

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