The Medalist Concert Band is pleased to continue its sponsorship of an annual performance competition for high school band students. Named for a long-time music educator and the original conductor of the Medalist Concert Band, the Earl C. Benson Concerto Competition is now in its sixteenth year.
The purposes of the competition are to identify talented wind and percussion musicians and to encourage high school students to pursue further musical study. In doing so, the competition supports one of the key tenets of the Medalist Concert Bandʼs mission statement: to provide young musicians with a model of music as a lifelong hobby.
Application Requirements and Process
Application submissions are no longer being accepted; applications were due on January 30, 2026. Finalists will be announced on Friday, February 6, 2026, and finalists' auditions will be held at the Bloomington Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
The winner of the Earl C. Benson Concerto Competition will receive a $1,000 cash award and be the featured soloist with the Medalist Concert Band at its 2025–2026 finale concert on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts (1800 West Old Shakopee Road).
In addition, the winner of the competition must be able to meet these conditions:
For the May 17 performance, the winner will play a piece selected by the Medalist Bandʼs music director in advance of the performance (approximately two months).
The winner will attend three rehearsals with the Medalist Band before the performance, as well as a dress rehearsal the day of the concert (see dates below).
Key Dates
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED | Applications were due Friday, January 30, 2026
Finalists selected and audition times announced: Friday, February 6, 2026
Finalists’ auditions held (at Center for the Arts in Bloomington): Saturday, March 21, 2026
Winner notified: Friday, March 27, 2026
Winner rehearses with Medalist Concert Band (at Jefferson High School in Bloomington): three Mondays—April 20, May 4, and May 11, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Winner performs with Medalist Concert Band (at Center for the Arts in Bloomington): Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (Dress-rehearsal/Sound check at 3:00 p.m.)
EARL C. BENSON COMPETITION WINNERS
2010 | Carley Olson, clarinet | Watertown-Mayer HS
2011 | Timothy Morris, euphonium | Hopkins HS
2012 | Hallie Houser, flute | Eastview HS
2013 | Brandon Caplin, percussion | Apple Valley HS
2013 | Kaitlyn Mann, clarinet | Rosemount HS
2014 | Olivia Nichols, alto saxophone | Eastview HS
2015 | Brenna Sherman, flute | Rochester Lourdes HS
2016 | Anders Peterson, clarinet | Northfield HS
2017 | Lauren Swee, trombone | Waconia HS
2018 | Duncan Henry, bassoon | Prior Lake HS
2019 | Adam Pazandak, alto saxophone | Bloomington Jefferson HS
2020 | Joe Mahin, euphonium | Wayzata HS
2022 | Jacob Welch, alto saxophone | Lakeville South HS
2023 | Arlo Hollander, trombone | Robbinsdale Cooper HS
2024 | Christian Garner, trumpet | Minnetonka HS
2025 | Ryan Vecchio, tuba | Edina HS
Upcoming Performances
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