The Denton Bach Society is looking for serious high school musicians to join the society’s fifth annual Competition for High School Musicians. Young musicians will compete in piano, voice and instrumental categories.

Contest chairwoman Heidi Klein said that about 30 students auditioned for the contest last year.

“The contest was started as a way to get the community more invested in the society,” Klein said. “When you get local students involved in what you’re doing, the community becomes more invested in what you’re doing.”

The competition is aimed at serious music students in high school, Klein said. Local students who supplement their high school choir, band or instrumental studies with a private teacher — and pianists who are studying with private teachers — are candidates for the competition. A winner in each category stands to earn a $150 cash prize, a certificate for Penders Music Co. and a chance to perform at a Bach Society event.

Each musician will audition for a jury panel, and will perform two pieces of classical music that are of contrasting styles, Klein said. The pieces should take a combined total of 10 minutes.

“Selections from the [University Interscholastic League] Class One list are acceptable,” Klein said. She said contest pieces from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools also are acceptable.

“Many of these kids who do this contest are amazing young musicians who go on to major in music [in college],” she said. “And we see a lot of the competitors at our performances later, even if they didn’t win.”

Klein said she’d like to see more Denton students apply to audition.

“We would like to get more students from Denton this year, because we have a great reputation for great music programs in our schools,” she said.

The contest is scheduled for April 24 in Denton; times and location will be announced later. Musicians must provide their own accompaniment.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com .

• The contest will be held April 24 in Denton. Time and location will be announced later.

• To be eligible, musicians must be enrolled in a public or private school in Denton County or its adjacent counties. Home-schooled students in those counties are eligible.

• Application forms for the competition are available online at www.dentonbach.com  and at Penders Music Co. in Denton. Registration cost is $15.

• Audition selections must be approved by students’ teachers and the Bach Society audition committee.

• The application deadline has been extended to Friday, April 16. For more information, e-mail heidiklein@verizon.net , visit www.dentonbach.com  or call 940-566-5649.