Northwest Horn Symposium Competitions

The Northwest Horn Symposium will feature competitions for performers and composers.

THE DEADLINE FOR COMPETITIONS HAS PASSED, WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE SOLO OR MOCK AUDITION COMPETITION.

GENERAL REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SYMPOSIUM. 

2026 Performance Competitions

All Performance competition participants must be registered for the full symposium in order to participate. Competitors may compete in more than one category. Winners will be announced at the featured artist concerts of the symposium.

2026 Orchestral Horn Mock Audition
All excerpts can be found at: www.hornsociety.org/hornexcerpts-org

This excerpt list contains the types of excerpts you may find in a utility horn, regional orchestra, or sub-list audition. Both high and low-horn excerpts are present.

Age restriction:  None
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Excerpts:
  • R. Strauss, Til Eulenspiegel, horn 1, beginning to rehearsal 1.
  • L. v. Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, movement 3, horn 2, measures 171 to 202.
  • L. v. Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, movement 1, horn 1, measures ms. 84-101 and 423-end
  • J. Brahms, Academic Festival Overture, horn 3, ms. 143-188
  • D. Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, movement 1, horn 2, rehearsal 17 to first bar of 21.
  • P. Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, movement 1, horn 4, beginning to 6 after A.
  • J. Brahms, Symphony No. 1, ​movement 2, horn 1, rehearsal E to F.

2026 NwHS Solo Competition

The 2026 Northwest Horn Symposium will have two divisions, a high school division and a collegiate division.

The University Division and High School Division of the 2026 Solo Competition will happen at the same time and judged separately. Each competition will have one winner, and the winners of each competition will be invited to perform on the final concert of the symposium. 
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There is no set repertoire list - players are welcome to bring any piece that they feel represents their playing. Players may choose from the following four collaboration options: 

1. The competitor can bring their own collaborative pianist.

2. The competitor can request a collaborative pianist be provided through the Symposium organizer. (see registration form to select this option) 

3. The competitor can play without accompaniment. 

4. The player can bring an unaccompanied piece and therefore none of the above applies.