The 5th Annual Port Townsend Young Artist Competition is over for 2024. See winners list below.
5th Annual Port Townsend Young Artist Competition
April 20, 2024
Grace Lutheran Church, 1120 Walker St, Port Townsend
Application deadline is April 1.
YAC Coordinator: Mike McLeron , yac@PTSymphony.org
Young Artist Competition Information and Guidelines
Eligibility:
• The Senior Young Artist Competition is open to any student in the age range of 4 to 22 years who plays strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion or piano, and who resides in Jefferson County and who did not win first prize in the Senior Competition the previous year.
• Cash prizes: 1st Place $500, 2nd Place $250, 3rd Place $200. First place
winner (or any winner) may be invited to perform as a featured soloist with the
orchestra during our 2024-25 season.
• The Junior Young Artist Competition is open to any student who may not be ready for the Senior Competition who plays strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion or piano, who resides in Jefferson County and who is age 14 or under at the time of the competition.
• Cash prizes: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $75.
• One contestant from either Division may be recognized by Maestro Arakelyan
for the Conductor’s Prize of $100.
All contestants will perform in person at the event. Pre-recorded
performances will not be considered.
Three adjudicators with expertise in strings, winds, percussion and piano will evaluate the performances, give comments and suggestions to performers and allocate the awards.
Feel free to contact me, Mike McLeron, yac@PTSymphony.org, with any questions you may have. Our goal is to provide students a positive performing experience. I hope you will choose to participate!
Repertoire:
~ Contestants will perform one piece of music from the repertoire for their instrument which demonstrates their level of ability and musicianship.
~ The performance piece should be no longer than 10 minutes.
~ Players will prepare with the help of a teacher or coach to make their performance as musical and polished as possible.
~ Participants other than pianists will arrange for piano accompaniment unless the piece was composed as an unaccompanied piece.
~ Please prepare four copies of your music, one for each of the auditors.
~ The judges would like to hear you announce your name and your piece, but you may request that the emcee do so. The judges will want to speak with you after the performance so remain on stage until they have finished giving you their comme.
Times:
~ The competition will start at approximately 9:30. Each soloist will be assigned a 15 minute performance time to present their music and receive their coaching.
~ A schedule for the day will be emailed to everyone in advance. It will be subject to changes and refinements so please remain flexible.
~ Arrive 30 minutes in advance of your official time. A warm up room will be available for you 20 minutes in advance of your time.
~ Competitors may leave as soon as they are dismissed by the judges, or they may choose to stay and listen to other competitors provided they remain still and quiet so as not to distract the judges or the performers.
Judging:
~ The judges will evaluate each performance for fundamental musical skills such as intonation and tone, rhythmic coherence, dynamic range and clear articulation and all aspects of performance skill including stage presence.
~ They will assemble a ranking. The competitors with the 3 highest rankings shall be granted 1st Prize, 2nd Prize and 3rd Prize Cash Awards for each division.
~ Senior Competition
1st Prize – $500
2nd Prize – $250
3rd Prize – $200.
~ Junior Competition
1st Prize – $250
2nd Prize – $125
3rd Prize – $75
~ Conductor’s Prize – $100
~ Results will be e-mailed to competitors by the evening of the Competition. The winners (or any participant) may be invited to perform at a future orchestra concert or event.
~ Cash awards will be sent by check to the mailing address noted on the application form.
Dress Code:
Please wear something slightly formal that feels comfortable to you. “Concert black” is fine but colorful is good too. You are a soloist! It’s okay to dress up a little. Please no blue jeans, tee-shirts, torn or dirty shoes and your tuxedo or prom dress would be too formal. Appearance is part of your stage presence and demonstrates respect for the music and the audience.
Publicity:
~ The publicity release on the application form must be signed. Thank you,
Thank you for your interest. We are looking forward to receiving your application and hearing you play! Please give me a call if you have a question,
Mike McLeron, chair
Young Artist Competition
yac@PTSymphony.org
The Young Artist Competition is sponsored by the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra
Tigran Arakelyan, music director and conductor
The mission of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra is to entertain, inspire and engage the community through musical excellence and affordable concerts.
Past Winners
2024 5th Annual Young Artist Competition Winners
SENIOR
1 Anabel Moore – Praeludium and Allegro-Fritz Kreisler
2 Amidah Soong – Sonata in D major Op. 1 #13, Affettuoso and Allegro-Handel
3 Bella Ferland – Sonatina 1st Mvt-Arthur Olaf Anderson
JUNIOR
1 Juniper Fleischer – Nocturne op. 55 No. 1-Chopin
2 Annaleigh Harrison – Fur Elise – Beethoven
3 Bodhi Fleischer/Kai Anderson – Concerto for Two Violins Dmin BWV 1043-JS Bach
CONDUCTOR AWARD
Nola Bertucci – 4 Morceaux, Op. 82: No. 1. Les Nymphes: Allegro leggiero – M. Moszkowski
2023 4th Annual Young Artist Competition Winners
First: Zia Magill, violin, for her Mozart A major concerto movement
Second: Anabel Moore, violin, for her Bach A minor concerto movement
Third: Nola Bertucci, violin, for her Schumann Sonata movement
Conductor’s prize, chosen by Nan Toby Tyrrell, went to Aiden Murney, piano, for his Satie “Gnossienne #1”
2022 3rd Annual Young Artist Competition Winners
1st Prize: Aliyah Cassidy Yearian, violin
2nd Prize: Magdaline Ferland, viola
3rd Prize: Cora Brinton, violin
Conductor’s Prize: Elijah Hill, piano
2021 2nd Annual Young Artist Competition Winners
1st Place: Maria Powell, tenor saxophone
2nd Place: Tusker Behrenfeld, violin
3rd Place: Magdaline Ferland, viola
Conductor’s Prize: Mateu Yearian, electric bass
2019 1st Young Artist Competition
1st Place: Kincaid Gould, clarinet
2nd Place: Aliyah Yearian, violin
3rd Place: Zia Magill, violin
2019 Young Artist Competition Winners
