Are you a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Listz or Yo Yo Ma who's waiting in the wings for your opportunity to take centre stage?

If you answered yes, then make sure you submit your entry for the Bay of Plenty Symphonia's Rising Stars Competition which will run over the course of the year.

The Bay of Plenty Symphonia's Rising Stars Competition is on again this year. The competition is open to Secondary school students like 2013 finalists, from left: Dominic Lee, Anna Wright, Anna Lee and Janet Reid. Photo: File

Rising Stars is designed to give young Bay musicians a platform to exhibit their talent while introducing them to the New Zealand public.

It is the fourth competition run by the Symphonia and is open to all students either enrolled at Bay of Plenty secondary schools or home schooled at a secondary level.

This year, and for the very first time in the event's history, there will be two categories: the usual concerto competition for instrumentalists plus a category for young composers.

But Symphonia president Maggie Gething says to be in the running young musicians need to submit an expression of interest to enter the competition via email or post by February 20.

Maggie, who is also an oboist with the Symphonia's orchestra, says it's a rigorous process selecting the next Rising Star, who will be chosen following a Finals concert in September.

'In the past the standard has been very good,” says Maggie. 'In fact, we reserve the right to not run the competition if there are no applicants of a suitable calibre, so there is automatically a judging process, even with the entries.

'Every finalist will receive a cash prize and be offered a place with the orchestra as we're always open to having young people.”

While they're looking for 'best of the best”, Maggie adds there are huge benefits for every young musician who enters.

'They get a chance to work hard on a piece and get it up to a high performance standard, which gives them and teachers a focus to work towards.

'The eventual finalists will then have a chance to rehearse with the Symphonia, as well as perform as a soloist with a live orchestra, which is pretty rare for a secondary students.”

The composition category introduced this year also has Symphonia members excited and they're all eager to hear how young Bay musicians express their musical ideas and emotions.

Maggie says there will be a slightly different format for the composition category compared to the concerto category.

'Students submit a written score which is judged and the winner will be announced before the final concert in September.

'Their winning piece will then be performed by the Bay of Plenty Symphonia at that final concert.”

The most important thing at this stage is for young Bay musicians to submit their entry forms by the February 20 deadline.

For those taking part in the concerto competition, they will then need to submit a video of them playing the piece they intended to perform via YouTube by May.

From those audition clips the finalists are then picked for the Finals concert in September.

'The more entries we have the better,” says Maggie. 'I think it's a great opportunity for students to put their musical hats on and focus towards a goal.

'It could be a real stepping stone for a career in music and could lead to all sorts of things, you never really know.”

Expressions of interest for the Bay of Plenty Symphonia's Rising Stars Competition 2015 must be submitted by February 20.

To enter and for more information email [email protected] or visit the Symphonia's website at: www.bopsymphonia.org.nz

The Bay of Plenty Symphonia Orchestra