Our Competitions

Concerto Competition

The Concerto Competition looks for distinction in solo performance across the Harvard musical community of undergraduates. The 2024-2025 Concerto Competition has concluded, with Ayaan Ahmad ‘28 and Sidney Lee ‘26 playing the winning performance of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. Information from this year’s competition is available below for reference — please check back in early October 2025 for details about the 2025-2026 competition!

Composition Competition

The Bach Society Orchestra's Composition Competition celebrates greatness in composition in the Harvard undergraduate body. The 2023-2024 Composition Competition has concluded, with the judges selecting the winning piece, Life Cycle of a Galaxy, composed by Kieran Chung ‘27. We hope all undergraduate composers will consider applying in the 2024-2025 season, and this year’s guidelines are included below for reference.

Previous Winners

Concerto

  • 2025 - Ayaan Ahmad ‘28 and Sidney Lee ‘26, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante

  • 2024 - Dylan Wu ‘26, Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor

  • 2023 - Enoch Li ‘26, Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major K.218

  • 2017 - Martine Thomas '18, Hindemith Der Schwanendreher for Viola and Orchestra

  • 2016 - Bennett Parsons '18, Copland Clarinet Concerto

  • 2015 - Aristo Sham '19, Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op. 11

  • 2014 - Allan Yuan '15, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 "The Emperor"

  • 2013 - Stella Chen '15 and Jacob Shack '14, Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola

  • 2012 - George Fu '13, Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124

  • 2011 - Lucien Werner '13, Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1 in E flat major, Op. 107

  • 2010 - Keir GoGwilt '13, Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61

  • 2009 - Stephanie Brinton Parker '10 and Lindsey Brinton '12, Poulenc Double Piano Concerto

  • 2008 - Alexander Bernstein '10, Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major

  • 2007 - Charlie Albright '11, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

  • 2006 - Nora Bartosik '08, Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

  • 2005 - Ariel Jeong '07, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

  • 2004 - Brad Balliet '05, Mozart Bassoon Concerto in B flat major K.191/186e

  • 2003 - Wei-Jen Yuan '06, Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

  • 2002 - Katherine Chen '06, Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op. 11

  • 2001 - Peter Anderegg '04, Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1 in E flat major, Op. 107

Composition

  • 2024 - Kieran Chung ‘27, Life Cycle of a Galaxy

  • 2017 - Victoria Tong '20, Variations: Coming Home

  • 2016 - Brandon Snyder '18, The Give and Take

  • 2015 - Auburn Lee '17, Piano Concerto Op.1

  • 2014 - Sam Wu '17, Europa

  • 2013 - Lydia Winsor Brindamour '14, not now, not only

  • 2012 - Danielle Rabinowitz '14, Animus, A Symphonic Poem

  • 2011 - Zachary Sheets '13, Kaleidoscopes

  • 2010 - David Johnson '11, Inquietude

  • 2009 - Zachary Sheets '13, Nightclub Scenes

  • 2008 - Matthew Mendez '09, Two Serious Songs

  • 2007 - Elizabeth Lim '08, Night Dance Ritual

  • 2006 - Matthew Mendez '09, Concertino for Small Orchestra (In Three Movements)

  • 2005 - Derrick Wang '06, Sonatina

  • 2004 - Brad Balliett '05, Mass for Orchestra

  • 2003 - Carson Cooman '04, Desiring the Solicitude of Rain

  • 2002 - Ben Greene '06, Azura Rising

  • 2001 - Brad Balliett '05, Kaleidoscope Night