2024-25 Senécal Prize

The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the final year of the Senécal Prize competition, which offers one young musician the opportunity to perform in concert accompanied by the professional orchestra. In addition to this valuable performance opportunity, the winner of the 2024-25 Senécal Prize will receive $2,500 as well as travel and accommodation in Ottawa for the performance weekend.

This year’s repertoire for competition and performance is Mozart Violin Concerto No.4 in D major, K.218. The winner will perform with the OSO on Sunday February 9, 2025, under the direction of Jean-Michel Malouf.

Eligibility

  • The 2024-25 competition is open to violinists only;

  • Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

  • Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the audition deadline;

  • Must be a student attending a recognised post-secondary educational institution or a person who has completed their education at a recognised post-secondary educational institution within the past 12 consecutive months;

  • Must be available and able to travel to Ottawa for all rehearsals & performance from Friday February 7 (evening) until Sunday February 9, 2025.

Important Dates

  • Expression of interest deadline:  Friday September 27th, 2024, at 4:00 PM EDT

  • Video recording deadline: Friday October 11th, 2024, at 4:00 PM EDT

  • Winner rehearsal/performance schedule (TBC):

    • Friday February 7th, 2025 / 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

    • Saturday February 8th, 2025 / 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

    • Sunday February 9th, 2025 / 3:30 PM (concert)

    • All services will take place at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Ottawa

Regulations

  • Competitors must perform the specified repertoire (Mozart Violin Concerto No.4 in D major, K.218) in its entirety, and on the appropriate instrument (violin).

  • Participants must be accompanied on the piano (and not by a recording). 

  • Video recordings must be done in one take, with no cuts and no editing.

  • In your video recording, before you begin playing, please state your full name and where you are studying.

  • Video auditions must be submitted via URL (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.). 

    • Please ensure that the privacy settings allow our panel to view your video, and that it remains available for viewing until the end of the competition. “Unlisted” status or equivalent is recommended.

    • If you have questions about this process or need support, please contact cresta@ottawasymphony.com.

To Apply

  • Submit an expression of interest no later than Friday September 27th, 2024, at 4:00 PM EDT using the “Apply Now” button below.

  • Applicants who have completed the above form will be sent instructions on how to submit their audition videos. The deadline for submission is Friday October 11th, 2024, at 4:00 PM EDT.

  • Full terms and conditions can also be found below.

We look forward to hearing from you!