61st Annual Young Artists Competition
The Young Artist 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. Up to two musicians may be selected to perform with the Mid-Columbia Symphony. There will be cash prizes in each category. For information about the Young Artist Competition, contact the Symphony office at (509) 943-6602.
2021 Young Artists Competition
Stay tuned for more information!
When: January 2021
Where: TBD
Time: TBD
Applying To Compete
Application form: Print the Application Form (will be posted online once dates and location are determined) and mail it in with a non-refundable $50 fee to the Mid-Columbia Symphony office at 1177 Jadwin Ave, Richland, WA 99352.
Application deadline: TBD
Application fee: $50 (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.
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. Each young artist has 12 minutes to perform. Movements may be abridged to fit the time limit for the competition. All music must be performed from memory.
Competition & Judging Procedure
The competition will be held at TBD.
Copies of the music should be provided to the judges at the competition: an original copy, with any notated cuts, and two photocopies. Judges will look for expressive ability, empathy of musical style, faithfulness to specific indications of the work (tempo, dynamics, phrasing) and technical security.
Winners may be selected in each of the divisions, but the judges are not obligated to choose a winner in any division. Division winners, as well as two overall winners from different divisions, will be announced at the award ceremony.
Overall winners will be awarded a monetary prize.
No recording (audio or visual) is allowed during competition or during the subsequent Symphony performance. Attendance at the competition is free and open to the public. 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