Young Artists Competition

The Young Artists Competition promotes excellence through competition in the field of music performance. The competition is open to classical instrumentalists who are residents of either Westmoreland or Fayette County or take private music lessons in either of those two counties and have not yet graduated from high school. Participants compete for performance opportunities as determined by a three-judge panel. Cash prizes will be awarded as determined by the judges.

Download an Application Packet

2020 Dates

January 17, 2020—Application and audio recording due in the WSO office. Late entries will not be accepted. If sending by mail, send application early.

February 2, 2020— Finals begin at 11 a.m.

February 9, 2020 —Winners’ Recital at 3 p.m.

Requirements

Entrants submit an application and a recording with a minimum of two contrasting pieces from classical repertoire. Preliminary judges listen to the recordings and select finalists for the live auditions.

Winners and those earning an honorable mention will present a recital for family, friends and the public at Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center. Cash prizes are awarded.

Guidelines

• Applicants must perform a minimum of two contrasting pieces representing different periods of classical repertoire, highlighting both lyricism and facility.

• Performing from memory is required for pianists and encouraged for others.

• Contestants choosing to perform accompanied works must provide their own accompanist for the recorded and live auditions. If chosen to perform, winner must use the same accompanist for live audition and recital.*

•  Audition tape/CD/MP3 (no videos allowed) must include the entire program that applicant plans to perform in the live audition.

• Finalists must provide three copies of their music (one for each judge), with measure numbers listed at the beginning of each line. This includes full scores for instrumentalists.

Congrats to the 2019 Winners!

Level I – up to Grade 9
Instrumental –
1st place – Connor Canobbio, tenor sax (Franklin Regional HS, teacher – Jim Sheppard)
2nd place – Lawrence Liu, flute (Dorseyville MS, teacher – Dan Parasky)
3rd place – Ariana Aranovich, violin (Sloan Elementary, teacher – Ramona Coppage)
Honorable Mention – Juliana Matteo, harp (Penn-Trafford MS, teacher – Sara Magill)
Honorable Mention – Megan Shaw, clarinet (Franklin Regional HS, teacher – Lisa Thackrah)
Piano-
1st place – Hannah Zheng (Franklin Regional MS, teacher – Tatyana Gelman)
2nd place – Michael Matthews (Franklin Regional MS, teacher – Jacqueline Herbein)
3rd place – Bryan Li (Franklin Regional MS, teacher – Tatyana Gelman)
Honorable Mention – Michelle Yan (Sloan Elementary, teacher Tatyana Gelman)

Level II – Grades 10-12
Instrumental-
1st place – Gracie Zielinski, violin (Kiski Area High School, teacher – Lorien Hart)
2nd place – Julia Rostcheck, piccolo (Franklin Regional HS, teacher – Dan Parasky)
3rd place – Mia Heron, flute (Franklin Regional HS, teacher – Dan Parasky)
Honorable Mention – Ben Hopkins, violin (Franklin Regional HS, teacher – Doug Bevan)
Honorable Mention – Audrey Lawrence, flute (Plum SHS, teacher – Dan Parasky)

Piano
2nd place – Nathaniel Gaut (Scottdale resident – Wilson Hill (online) Academy, teacher – Levi Graft)

2018 Winners

Young Artists Competition Winners 2018