March 2, 2019 - 51st Annual Young Artists Competition (YAC)
Piano and Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion
March 2, 2019 in the Whittier College Chapel, 13439 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA, 90601
Aubree Oliverson, Violinist, 50th Annual YAC Strings Winner
The chairman of the Young Artist Competition is Russ Litchfield, Director of Music and Organist at First Friends Church in Whittier, and retired secretary for the Music Department at Whittier College.
The categories for the 2019 contest are Piano and Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion. The entry fee is $50 and application may be made through our website by downloading this Young Artists Competition Application (PDF), filling it out and mailing it to:
Rio Hondo Symphony Association
PO Box 495
Whittier, CA 90608
The application deadline is February 23, 2019.
The contest is limited to the first 25 eligible applicants. Applicants must be residents of California, or students from out of state attending college or with a private teacher in California, not older than age 26 at the time of the competition, or 30 for vocalists.The application DEADLINE is Saturday February 23, 2019.
Contestants are to prepare a full concerto or concert piece and a solo piece of contrasting style. Selections are to be performed from memory unless prior arrangements are made with the Young Artists Competition chairman.
Applicants will provide their own accompanist and original scores of their music will be made available for the judges.
The two top winners will perform as soloists during the 2019-2020 season, one at each separate performance. Each will also receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Musicians placing second in each category will receive $500 cash prizes.
For more information, please call the Symphony Office at (562) 698-8626. You may also email Russ Litchfield at russorgan@aol.com.
Winners of the 50th Annual YAC
Youna Choi, Cellist, 50th Annual YAC Strings Category 2nd place
Aubree Oliverson, 19 yr old violinist, was 1st place winner in the strings category. Aubree presented Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Prokofiev and her own arrangement of Chopin's Waltz in B minor.
The 2nd place strings award was given to Youna Choi, 25 yr old cellist, who played Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 by Tchaikovsky, and Elfentanz, Op. 39 by D. Popper.
Honorable Mention in the strings category was given to 13 yr old Matthew Chang, violin, who played Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.
Kendall Harb, Soprano, 50th Annual YAC Vocal Category Winner
Kendall Harb, 25 yr old soprano, was the winner of the vocal division of the competition. She performed Dich Teure Halle by Richard Wagner, Allerseelen by Richard Strauss and Climb Every Mountain by Richard Rodgers.
The 2nd place vocal award went to Jessica Choi, 29 yr old soprano, who sang O mio babbino caro by Giacomo Puccini, Le Balcon by Claude Debussy, and It's My Wedding by Jonathan Dove.
Jessica Choi, Soprano, 50th Annual YAC Vocal Category 2nd place
