Congratulations to the Winners of the 2019 Young Artists’ Competition!

ENSEMBLE DIVISION:
First Place (tie):
String Trio — Kai Skaggs, violin; Andrew Nix, viola; Nico Miller, cello
Duo Cantabile — Bethany Radtke, cello; Hannah Lui, piano
Honorable Mention:
Cellobration Cello Quartet —
      Mei-Mei Turner, Sarah Roland, Bradley Breen, Lee MacDonald
Friesen Ensemble —
      Nathaniel Friesen, violin; Colin Friesen, piano

JUNIOR STRINGS (Grades 8 and under):
First Place: Jacqueline Rodenbeck, violin
Second Place: Josh Thai, violin
Honorable Mention: 
      Ayla Moreno, violin
      Cello Duo — Lee MacDonald and Bradley Breen

SENIOR STRINGS (Grades 9-12):
First Place: Ryan Chen, guitar
Second Place: Bethany Radtke, cello

JUNIOR PIANO (Grades 8 and under):
First Place: Yuha Kim
Second Place: Marina Galasso
Honorable Mention: 
      Alva Yijing Zhao
      Sophie Gao

SENIOR PIANO (Grades 9-12):
First Place: Minu Kim
Second Place: Hua Zhang
Honorable Mention: 
      Damian Galasso
      Jisue Choi

JUNIOR WINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION (Grades 8 and under):
First Place: Campbell Stewart, xylophone
Second Place: Joseph Han, flute

SENIOR WINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION (Grades 9-12):
First Place (tie): Nate Roland, trombone, and Samuel Herschler, clarinet
Second Place: Julian Valenzuela, horn
Honorable Mention: Flute Duo — Mia Pearson and Marisol Childress

COT’s first Young Artists’ Competition (YAC) in 1984 was the only event of its kind in this area for high-school age musicians. Other competitions in town were open to college-age students as well, so the younger children rarely had a chance to win the opportunity to perform.

Now in its 35th year, the competition has expanded to three categories: winds and percussion, piano, and strings. Each category is judged separately with both a junior and a senior division. The competition offers students a good introduction to the audition process.

Winners gain public exposure and are awarded cash prizes. The event provides each entrant a unique learning experience, and music teachers from both studios and schools applaud the orchestra for this contribution to the young musicians’ development. To date, COT has hosted over 70 performances by students ranging from elementary to high-school age.

We will again be offering an Ensemble category, the first of its kind in Tucson. Groups of 2 to 10 young musicians may apply together as an ensemble and perform a chamber work. Groups may consist of students of any age (up through Grade 12). The selected piece should not require orchestral accompaniment.

Read the Rules & Eligibility document below for all the details.
(Documents below are for the 2019 Competition, now over.)