The Program is designed to give advanced amateur and other accomplished musicians an opportunity to solo in a concerto with a fine orchestra. The program runs annually. Currently there are four sections, corresponding to the four orchestras that are used: the Immaculata Symphony, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, the Penn Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Soloists choose their own repertoire, which can be as little as one movement or an entire concerto. About 90 minutes of music is assigned to each orchestra. Thus there are generally three or four soloists per orchestra.

There are two rehearsals with the orchestra, and then a performance. A video of the performance will be available.

An audition is required - an online video is fine. The purpose is to be sure that the soloist can play his/her concerto well enough to succeed in the program. Moxart will accept players for the Concerto Program in its sole discretion. We will let you know shortly after your audition or receiving your recording.

All costs are paid by the soloists. You should expect to spend $2000 to $4500 for the program, depending on how much orchestra time you need. The biggest expenses are hiring an entire orchestra and paying the conductor.

Each soloist pays a percentage of this cost proportional to his/her use of the orchestra. For example, someone playing one movement of Mozart will require considerably less time than someone playing three movements of Brahms. Other costs such as paying the videographer, renting a venue, preparing music, and paying Moxart overhead are split among the players.

Please note that contemporary works usually carry additional charges. Those which are in copyright can be very expensive to obtain. That cost is passed along to you. Many contemporary works require extra orchestra players, which can be provided only if you pay for them. Even if you are okay with the extra cost, the conductor may refuse a concerto.

Before the program, we estimate costs, based on how much rehearsal and performance time you will probably need. During the program things can happen which might increase or decrease this estimated time. Should your actual cost be considerably different from the estimated cost, we will bill you or provide a refund as appropriate.

What instruments do you accept?

Most instruments are accepted. We will provide a piano, but you will have to bring or arrange your own instrument otherwise.

Are there any age restrictions?

No. Thus far we have had players from pre-teens to 80-somethings.

Where do soloists come from?

All over. It is international.

What concertos can I play?

Most baroque, classical and romantic concertos are accepted, as well as many contemporary works. The orchestra conductor will make the final determination as to whether the concerto you selected can be accommodated.

Please note that contemporary works usually carry additional charges. Those which are in copyright can be very expensive to obtain. That cost is passed along to you. Many contemporary works require extra orchestra players, which can be provided only if you pay for them. Even if you are okay with the extra cost, the conductor may refuse a concerto.

Where can I find the instrumentation needed for my concerto?

• Get onto the site http://imslp.org/. Most standard concertos are listed there, and IMSLP usually lists the instrumentation in the notes at the bottom. You can also download your part. Sometimes there is a piano reduction of the orchestral parts as well.
• The classic reference book is "Orchestral Music; A Handbook" by David Daniels.

Should I have my own score?

It is recommended. By looking at the score you can understand what is going on in the orchestra. It is a good idea to listen to various performances of your concerto, so you have in your ear what is going on. You may also find some interpretive ideas by listening.

Does Moxart have preferences for what I will play?

We are happy with whatever you choose to play. There are restrictions on what we can accept in any given year, because we need to put together good programs for the audience. For example, we will not assign two Mozart concertos to the same orchestra We won't accept the same work at an orchestra where is was played in recent years. There are many other considerations which go into what we can accept, and what orchestra we can assign you to.

All that said, we will do our best to accomodate your choice.

Are there time restrictions?

You can play one or several movements or an entire concerto. Some concertos are long, and up to about 45 minutes is okay. But remember that your charges are based on how much orchestra time you use. A longer, harder concerto will cost more. We recommend that you plan on at least 15 minutes of performance. Some of the costs are fixed and have to be paid whether you play 2 minutes or 50 minutes.

Can I change my mind about what I will play?

If you wish to drop a movement, add a movement or change your concerto you must inform us at least four months before the beginning of the program. The orchestras usually hand out the music early, and once they have started learning it we will not change the repertoire. So we will accommodate you if we can, but we cannot guarantee to make changes. Once you are accepted we have a lot of preparation to do before rehearsals begin, and we make financial commitments based on your chosen repertoire.

What if I have to drop out?

If you drop out you create a lot of extra work for us, and it disrupts the orchestra planning as well. If you drop out long before the concert date, we will keep your non-refundable deposit. If you drop out within 5 months of the concert date AND WE CAN FIND A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOU, we will refund all but $1000. If we cannot find a substitute at that late date, there is no refund.