Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Seton Hill Performing Arts Center
Introducing the Young Artist Solo & Ensemble Festival
Presented by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music & Seton Hill University Music Department
Download the PDF information sheet
For more than four decades, the Westmoreland Symphony’s Young Artist Competition has celebrated outstanding young musicians across our region. Originally founded in the 1980s and reimagined in 2002 as a solo performance competition, it has long stood as a hallmark of excellence, fostering the next generation of classical performers.
In 2025, this beloved program enters an exciting new chapter as it expands into the Young Artist Solo & Ensemble Festival. This refreshed format broadens opportunities for young musicians—welcoming students in grades 3–12 to perform as soloists or in chamber ensembles—all within a supportive, educational, and community-focused environment. Co-hosted by the WSO Academy of Music and the Seton Hill University Music Department, the festival emphasizes growth, creativity, and collaboration while preserving the high artistic standards that have defined the Young Artist Competition for decades.
Open to classical pianists, woodwind, brass, percussion, and voice students who reside in or study with a private teacher in Westmoreland, Fayette, Allegheny, Greene, or Washington County (PMEA District 1), the festival offers participants professional feedback, meaningful performance experience, and the opportunity to be recognized for exceptional musicianship.
This evolution represents the WSO’s continued commitment to nurturing young talent and expanding access to transformative musical experiences. We look forward to welcoming students, teachers, and families to this exciting new celebration of youth music excellence.
Contact Adam Gillespie for more information adam@westmorelandsymphony.org
