61st Annual Young Artists Competition
The Young Artists Competition is held annually to promote and encourage talented student musicians across the region. Young musicians may compete in one of nine divisions. A jury of regional professional musicians evaluates the competitors. There will be cash prizes in each category. For information about the Young Artists Competition, contact the Symphony office at (509) 943-6602.
2021 Young Artists Competition
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
When: April/May 2021
Where: Virtual – Recorded
Applying To Compete
Registration form:
The online registration form is available HERE. Payment can be made within the application.
For complete rules and guidelines, click HERE.
To submit your video and PDF of music, click HERE.
You may print the Application Form from within the link and mail it in with a non-refundable $25 fee to the Mid-Columbia Symphony office at 1177 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99352.
Application deadline:
- Entry deadline and video submission deadline is April 16, 2021.
Application fee: $25 (non-refundable)
Eligibility: Instrumental students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 who reside in the Mid-Columbia area of Washington and Oregon. This area includes the Washington counties of Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Adams, Grant, Columbia, Klickitat, and Yakima and the Oregon counties of Umatilla and Morrow.
Past Winners: Overall winners who have performed with the Symphony are ineligible to win in the same division again, but they may apply with a different instrument or age category. Previous division winners who have not performed with the Symphony may enter again in the same division.
For complete rules and guidelines, click HERE.
To submit your video and PDF of music, click HERE.
Divisions
(to determine proper division, the competitor’s grade must be as of the date of the competition) Performer may choose to play piano, string or other instrument (wind, brass, percussion.)
Primary Division: Grades K to 5
Intermediate Division: Grades 6 to 8
Senior Division: Grades 9 to 12
Repertory
Performers should choose music from classical concert literature.
- Repertoire will consist of one work for orchestra and soloist. (Important, see video guidelines for recording details)
- Memorization is required for all repertoires.
Competition & Judging Procedure
The competition will be held virtually.
- Performers should choose music from a classical concerti literature.
- Students must submit the repertoire listed on the application.
- No minimum time limit.
- No minimum or maximum time limit
- Competitors will provide a pdf copy of the music.
- Winners may be selected in each of the divisions, but the judges are not obligated to choose a winner in any division. Judges will look for expressive ability, empathy of musical style, faithfulness to specific indications of the work (tempo, dynamics, phrasing) and technical security.
- Division winners, as well as two overall winners from different divisions, will be announced at the award ceremony.
- Overall winners and divisional winners will be awarded a monetary prize.
COMPETITION AGREEMENT
- It is the responsibility of the teacher, entrant, and parent/guardian to abide be all rules and regulations for the MCS Young Artist Competition. Failure to meet this responsibility will result in the disqualification of the entrant.
For more information, contact the Mid-Columbia Symphony office: (509) 943-6602 or by using our form on the Contact page.
Previous Young Artists Competition Winners
2020 Overall Winners:
Hannah Schafer
Sana Schiffern
2020 Division Winners:
Braelin Carter, Senior Winds/Other
Nathan Hu, Senior Piano
Hannah Schafer, Senior Strings
Sana Schiffern, Intermediate Piano
Jonathan Crosier, Intermediate Strings
Alice Xu, Primary Piano
Darin Choi, Primary Strings
2019 Overall Winners:
Anastasia Crosier
Joshua Wu
2019 Division Winners:
Thomas Kaminsky, Senior Winds
Izzabella Evangelista, Senior Piano
Anastasia Crosier, Senior Strings
Audrey Xu, Intermediate Piano
Eduardo Muniz, Intermediate Strings
Joshua Wu, Primary Strings
2015 Overall Winners:
Grant Bender
Nathan Hu
2015 Division Winners:
Grant Bender, Senior, other
Nathan Hu, Primary, piano
Rebecca Qian, Intermediate, piano
Anastasia Crosier, Primary, strings
Valeria Heredia, Intermediate, strings
Tommy Mahew, Senior, strings
Katherine Moon, Senior, piano
2014 Overall Winners:
Katherine Moon
Katharine Zorich
2014 Division Winners:
Tobin Castellano, Senior, strings
Lisa Hu, Intermediate, strings
Nathan Hu, Primary, piano
Geoffrey McKay, Senior, other instrument
Katherine Moon, Intermediate, piano
Jason Zhuang, Primary, strings
Katharine Zorich, Senior, piano
2013 Winners:
Justin-James Chua, piano
Diana Wang, violin
2012 Winners:
Carlie Berry, piano
Emily Campagna, violin