Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition

The Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition (RC3) is an annual event which celebrates Calgary’s young musicians. The competition (originally the Calgary Concerto Competition) was founded in 1981 by the Calgary Registered Music Teachers Association, the Calgary Piano Technicians Guild, and the Calgary Civic Symphony. The competition rebranded to the Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition in 2018 to reflect the investment of the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown as a major sponsor. The Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown believes in supporting youth and the arts and is proud to support the RC3. The Civic Symphony provides leadership and financial oversight of this community project.

The Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition is an opportunity for Calgary’s talented young musicians to show off their skills. The annual competition, held in March, is open to all piano and instrumental students under the age of 18 who are studying with a music teacher in Calgary. Each participant is required to play—from memory—the first movement (or last but NOT a slow movement) of a concerto (or an approved work of Grade X difficulty or above). Up to four winners are selected by an impartial jury to perform with the Calgary Civic Symphony.

The RC3 Concerto Concert showcases the winners of the competition, giving them invaluable experience of rehearsing and performing with an orchestra. This experience helps prepare them for competing at the National and International levels where performing with an orchestra is mandatory. A volunteer Board of Directors organizes the Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition which is a registered non-profit society.