Student Performances
Performance Opportunities for MacPhail Students
MacPhail provides numerous opportunities for students to perform. More than 400 recitals are scheduled each year, ranging from informal recitals to auditioned honors recitals and Concerto & Aria.
MacPhail 2025 – 2026 Student Performance Opportunities
MacPhail is pleased to announce a hybrid schedule of in-person and online student performances for the 2025 – 2026 school year!
There are a few items of note:
- MacPhail Student Performance Opportunities are listed in the Student Performance Opportunities Calendar (pdf).
- All instrumental and vocal recitals are funneled into general All-School Recitals. Students of all ages, instruments, genres, and abilities are encouraged to participate.
- There will be two Performance Festivals in December and April as well as one Achievement Day in February. These are exciting performance and learning opportunities for students. Students of all ages, instruments, genres, and abilities are encouraged to participate.
- There will be five Honors Recitals per year: three Honors Recitals for students of all ages and two Junior Honors Recitals for younger students. For more information about the Honors Recital auditions, please check the Honors Recital audition application link.
- Please plan ahead of time to perform at the MacPhail Student recitals. Slots might fill up quickly even before the deadline.
Please feel free to contact Soojin Lee, Student Performance Coordinator, with any questions.
MacPhail Staff Accompanist
If you wish to use the services of a MacPhail staff accompanist for a performance or audition, please complete and return a MacPhail Staff Accompanist Request form and submit it with a copy of the piano accompaniment. This service is provided free of charge for performances.
Accompanist Fee For Auditions
MacPhail students can request the service of MacPhail staff accompanists free of charge for performances (All-School recitals, Adult Student Soirées, Performance Festivals, Achievement Days). A $30.00 accompanist fee is required for an audition (Honors Recital auditions, Concerto and Aria auditions, and Scholarship auditions).
Requirements:
- The request form must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the recital date.
- A pdf(s) of the piano accompaniment must be submitted with the form at least two weeks prior to the recital date.
Types of Performances
Intended for students of all ages, instruments, and abilities, All-School Recitals typically feature a nice mix of performers, composers, and genre. Please plan ahead of time to perform at the MacPhail Student recitals. Slots might fill up quickly even before the deadline. Performances are limited to 10-12 minutes of music.
Upcoming Dates
In-Person (all in-person recitals are at 7:30pm in Antonello Hall)
Monday, October 13, 2025 (Deadline to signup: September 29, 2025)
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 (Deadline to signup: October 22, 2025)
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 (Deadline to signup: January 7, 2026)
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (Deadline to signup: January 28, 2026)
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (Deadline to signup: March 11, 2026)
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (Deadline to signup: May 6, 2026)
Online via Zoom (all performances will be held at 2:00pm)
Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Deadline to signup: November 23, 2025)
Sunday, April 26, 2026 (Deadline to signup: April 12, 2026)
The Adult Student Soirees performance opportunities for adult students (18 years and older) and meant for those who want to share their music in a low-pressure performance situation. All dates are in-person. Please plan ahead of time to perform at the MacPhail Student recitals. Slots might fill up quickly even before the deadline.
Friday, October 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Antonello Hall (Deadline to signup: September 26, 2025)
Friday, November 7, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Room 126 (Deadline to signup: October 24, 2025)
Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:30 pm in Room 127 (Deadline to signup: November 23, 2025)
Friday, January 16, 2026 at 7:30 pm in Room 126 (Deadline to signup: January 2, 2026)
Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7:30 pm in Antonello Hall (Deadline to signup: January 30, 2026)
Friday, March 20, 2026 at 7:30 pm in Room 126 (Deadline to signup: March 6, 2026)
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:30 pm in Room 127 (Deadline to signup: April 12, 2026)
Friday, May 15, 2026 at 7:30 pm in Room 126 (Deadline to signup: May 1, 2026)
The MacPhail Concerto & Aria Concert is MacPhail’s premiere performance event featuring MacPhail student soloists performing with an orchestra of professional musicians conducted by Mark Mandarano.
While there are two performance opportunities, there is only one application and audition process; seven performances total will be selected. Please see the bottom of this application page for more details regarding audition piece length, orchestra size, instrumentation and orchestral difficulty.
Applications due: Friday, December 5, 2025
Preliminary Auditions: Sunday, January 11, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm
Final Auditions: Sunday, January 25, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm
MacPhail Concerto & Aria Concert: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 3:30pm
*Application fee: $20.00
*MacPhail staff accompanist can be requested with the fee, $30.00. See information above.
MacPhail Honors Recitals are distinguished student recitals. There are five per year: three Honors Recitals and two Junior Honors Recitals. Student audition before a panel of faculty judges in order to be selected for the recital. The judges’ decisions and selection of performers is based on the demonstrated musical and artistic merits of the student at the age and ability level performed during the audition. MacPhail values artistry and musicianship: anything performed artistically and musically is eligible to be selected.
Junior Honors Age Limits
Strings: age 12 & under
Piano: age 12 & under
Guitar: age 12 & under
Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion: age 14 & under
Voice: age 16 & under
If you have any questions, please contact Soojin Lee, Student Performance Coordinator.
Upcoming Dates
Fall Honors Recital
Auditions: Sunday, November 9, 2025 starting at 12:30 pm (Deadline to apply: October 26, 2025)
Recital: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Fall Junior Honors Recital
Auditions: Sunday, November 16, 2025 starting at 12:30 pm (Deadline to apply: November 2, 2025)
Recital: Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Spring I Honors Recital
Auditions: Sunday, February 15, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm (Deadline to apply: February 1, 2026)
Recital: Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Spring Junior Honors Recital
Auditions: Sunday, March 29, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm (Deadline to apply: March 15, 2026)
Recital: Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 3:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Spring II Honors Recital
Auditions: Sunday, April 12, 2026 starting at 12:30 pm (Deadline to apply: March 29, 2026)
Recital: Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:30 pm in Antonello Hall
*Application fee: $20.00
*MacPhail staff accompanist can be requested with a fee of $30.00. See information above.
Students who participate in Achievement Day will receive written feedback from faculty judges as a part of their “Achievement Review.” This mid-year opportunity is a great motivator and goal towards which students can work. Achievement Day is open to all registered MacPhail students; all ages, instruments, ability levels and genre are welcome!
In-Person and Online
In-person and Online (pre-recorded video on YouTube)
Sunday, February 8, 2026 (Deadline to signup: January 25, 2026)
The Performance Festival is an opportunity for students to share their music with family, friends and adoring fans. Student performers will be grouped together in cohorts of eight to 10 to perform live for one another. The Performance Festival is open to all registered MacPhail students; all ages, instruments, ability levels and genres are welcome! Please plan ahead of time to perform at the MacPhail Student recitals. Slots might fill up quickly even before the deadline. Performances are limited to 10-12 minutes of music.
In-Person and Online via Zoom
Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Deadline to signup: November 23, 2025)
Sunday, April 26, 2026 (Deadline to signup: April 12, 2026)
The Composition Recital is open to composers in the MacPhail community. Please contact Dr. Sarah Miller directly about participating in this event.
Upcoming Dates
Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 12:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 12:30 pm in Antonello Hall
Sign Up: Contact Sarah Miller
Upcoming Performances
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