BRAVO! Competition

Established in 2001, the BRAVO! competition was incorporated into Fontana Chamber Arts’ outreach program in 2015 and 2016. In collaboration with local arts organizations and community advocates, Fontana is excited to sponsor BRAVO! once again. Similar in format to NPR’s “From the Top,” BRAVO! is a free public recital that celebrates the talents of area student musicians who audition for spots on the program in front of a panel of professional musicians.

BRAVO! supports advanced-level students’ musical talent by offering a competitive performance opportunity. Performers are selected for the competition via auditions for a public performance that will showcase the highest level of musical proficiency represented by locally based students ages 13-18.

In 2024, seven winners were selected from 17 applicants and were presented in a public recital at the Judy K. Jolliffe Theatre in the Epic Center. At the recital, which was recorded for a potential future broadcast, WMUK announcer Cara Lieurance introduced and interviewed each performer. The students also received coaching from notable professionals including university music faculty.

Supporting Organizations

While BRAVO! has been administered by various arts organizations in Kalamazoo over the years, its administration will be under the auspices of Fontana Chamber Arts’ outreach program. The competition is supported by a consortium of local arts organizations and community advocates, including the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Crescendo Academy of Music, Education for the Arts, Gilmore Piano Festival, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Public Media Network, Stulberg International String Competition, and WMUK-FM.

Cori Somers (csomers@fontanachamberarts.org) is the BRAVO! Competition Coordinator.

More information about the BRAVO! Competition – including the 2025 application – will be posted in the weeks to come.