MARILYN MINFORD MCCOID YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
Named for Marilyn Minford McCoid, an oboist with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra for over 15 years and an enthusiastic supporter of young people in the arts, the competition gives area students the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the orchestra during the 2025-2026 season.
The Mort and Virginia Schmucker Memorial Scholarship Award will be presented to the winners: $200 for first place and $100 for second place.
open to students in southeast iowa, northern missouri, and western illinois
The competition is open to instrumentalists and vocalists who are in high school or younger who reside in Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Monroe, Muscatine, Van Buren, Washington, and Wapello counties in Iowa; Hancock, Henderson, and Mercer counties in Illinois; and Clark, Schuyler, Scotland, and Putnam counties in Missouri. Home school students that reside in the counties above are eligible for the competition.
For a complete list of rules and guidelines, please see the application below.
2025 competition information
We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist Competition!
November 3, 2025 - Application Deadline
November 17, 2025 - Audition schedule sent to contestants.
December 6, 2025 - Auditions in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Location TBA.