The Lawrence University Conservatory offers high caliber competitions open to all students. Below you can find competition guidelines, dates and times, as well as past competition winners.

LSO Concerto Competition Guide

This helpful guide provides information on the competition, including dates and how to prepare.

Download Competition Guide

LSO Concerto Nomination Form

Download, complete, and return this form to Claire Schmidt by the Thursday before the competition to register.

Download Form

Past Competition Winners

  • 2024-25 co-winners:
    • Benjamin Frueh ’27, violin - Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2, mvt. I
    • William Surtees ’26, piano - Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, mvt. I
  • 2023-24 co-winners:
    • Annika Schmidt ’26, cello - Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor
    • David Smith ’26, cello - Bloch Schelomo
  • 2022-23 co-winners:
    • Jasper Kashou ’24, saxophone - Bennett Concerto for Stan Getz
    • Benjamin Keating ’25, piano - Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major
  • 2021-23 co-winners:
    • Thomas Logan ’25, cello - Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33
    • Gabe Roethle ’24, violin - Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2, mvt. I
  • 2020-21 winners:
    • 1st Place: Alana Melvin ’23, viola - Bowen Concerto in C minor for Viola and Orchestra, op. 25, mvt. I
    • 2nd Place (tied): Jonathan Bass ’24, piano - Beethoven Concerto No. 3 in C minor, op. 37, mvt. I
    • 2nd Place (tied): Hung Phi Nguyen ’21, piano - Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1, op. 25, mvt. I
  • 2019-20 winners:
    • 1st Place: Ben Johnson ’23, piano - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1, mvt. I
    • 2nd Place: Bianca Pratte ’20, flute - Nielsen Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
    • 3rd Place: Keenan McDonald ’22, marimba - Séjourné Concerto for Marimba and Strings
  • 2018-19 co-winners:
    • Neil Krzeski ’19, piano - Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
    • Ned Martenis ’19, flute - Lindberg The World of Montuagretta
  • 2017-18 co-winners:
    • Anthony Cardella ’18, piano - Barber Piano Concerto, op. 38, mvt. I
    • Nicholas Suminski ’20, piano - Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, op. 22, mvt. I
  • 2016-17 winner: Derrick Hahn ’17, piano - Bartók Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major
  • 2015-16 co-winners:
    • Sofie Yang ’16, violin - Sibelius Concerto for Violin in D minor, mvt. I
    • Leo Sussman ’16, flute - Nielsen Concerto for Flute and Orchestra