Louis Scaglione, Music Director Rosalind Erwin, Program Director
The PYAO Young Artists Solo Competition is a prestigious solo competition that was established in PYO Music Institute’s 2014-15 season under the direction of Maestra Rosalind Erwin. This competition provides an opportunity for young musicians in PYAO to gain valuable experience preparing, auditioning for, and executing the performance of a movement from a concerto or a challenging solo work within their instrument’s repertoire. The Young Artists Solo Competition allows for the PYO Music Institute to showcase the talent, hard work, and dedication of their students, alongside presenting an opportunity for PYAO members to gain experience working with a soloist.
Auditions are open to all members of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO). Applicants audition live at the PYO Music Institute’s Rittenhouse Square location, St. Patrick’s Hall (Philadelphia, PA), for a distinguished panel of judges in January. The winner is featured as the soloist in the PYAO Annual Festival Concert held each spring in the Perelman Theater of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Audition and performance date and times for the 2023-2024 season will be announced at the beginning of the season.
“I am thrilled to perform the first movement of Wieniawski’s Second Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. This opportunity allows me to showcase my musicality and technical skill in one of the most profoundly exhilarating violin concertos, while collaborating with my amazingly talented peers under the baton of Maestra Rosalind Erwin. The prospect of creating a musical experience together in such a prestigious context represents an important milestone in my–and our–musical journey.”
– Noëlle Streuber-Eden, Winner of the Ninth Annual Young Artists Solo Competition
“In the solo role, concertmaster Kai Freeman delivered the first movement – from memory – with a presence beyond his 14 years… Between his impressively accurate intonation and adept phrasing, Freeman may be surprised at what the future holds.”
– Bruce Hodges, The Strad
Previous Winners
2014-15 Sabine Jung, Cello Violoncello Concerto in D Minor – Edouard Lalo 1. Prelude lento – Allegro Maestoso
2015-16 Esther Kim, Violin Concerto for Violin No. 4 in D Minor – Henri Vieuxtemps 1. Andante – Moderato
2016-17 Danny Bishop, Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor – Camille Saint-Saëns For Violoncello and Orchestra
2017-18 Lea Wang, Violin Zigeunerweisen – Pablo de Sarasate
2018-19 Vibha Janakiraman, Violin Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor – Henryk Wieniawski 1. Allegro con fuoco – Allegro Moderato
2019-20 Henry Zheng, Violin Violin Concerto in E Minor – Felix Mendelssohn 1. Allegro molto appassionato
