The Dearborn Symphony is pleased to announce the 2025 Youth Artists Solo Competition (YASC) to be held in April 2025.
The Youth Artists Solo Competition is intended to identify, recognize and encourage youth in the southeastern Michigan area who are pursuing the study of classical music and afford them an opportunity to perform with a professional orchestra. YASC is a prestigious solo competition that was established in 2004 under the direction of Maestro Kypros Markou and has produced nationally recognized winners such as violinist, Benjamin Beilman and clarinetist, Nicholas Hamblin.
This competition provides an opportunity for young musicians in southeast Michigan 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. YASC allows for any music school in the area to showcase the talent, hard work, and dedication of their students.
Auditions are open to all students age 18 and under, who take music lessons in Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. Applicants will audition in person at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church, located in Dearborn, for a distinguished panel of judges on April 26, 2025. Finalists will be selected to perform on April 27. The winner will receive $500 award plus the opportunity to be featured as the soloist with the award-winning Dearborn Symphony, performing on the opening concert of the 2025-26 season on Oct 3, 2025.
The awards to the winners for playing at the Concert are underwritten by the Dearborn Symphony Endowment Fund with trusts established by Anina & Ben Bachrach, Sandra and Paul Butler, and Mary & Frank Padzieski. It is also sponsored in part by Mrs. Anne Bakalyar.
2025 Dearborn Symphony Youth Artists Solo Competition Flyer
2025 Dearborn Symphony Youth Artists Solo Competition Eligibility
2025 Dearborn Symphony Youth Artists Solo Competition Application
Applications must be postmarked by March 28, 2025.
History
YASC is a prestigious solo competition that was established in 2004 under the direction of Maestro Kypros Markou and has produced nationally recognized winners such as violinist, Benjamin Beilman and clarinetist, Nicholas Hamblin.
In 2007, the event was renamed the Dearborn Symphony Youth Artists Solo Competition.
Former Winners
| Name | Instrument |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| Shuya Zheng | Piano |
| 2017 | |
| Greg Turner | Piano |
| Nickolas Hamblin | Clarinet |
| 2016 | |
| Jubilee Wang | Piano |
| Calvin Mayman | Flute |
| 2015 | |
| Phillip Huang | Piano |
| Landon Oja | Violin |
| 2014 | |
| Isabelle Lian | Piano |
| Allen Chang | Clarinet |
| 2013 | |
| Heather Shen | Piano |
| Anna Mieczkowski | Violin |
| 2012 | |
| Yiran Liu | Piano |
| Haeji Kim | Violin |
| 2011 | |
| Heather Gu | Piano |
| Abigail Elder | Viola |
| 2010 | |
| Yesse Kim | Piano |
| Jacob Joyce | Violin |
| 2009 | |
| Allen Yuan | Piano |
| Nathaniel Pierce | Cellist |
| 2008 | |
| Christine Wu | Piano |
| Andrea Jarrett | Violin |
| 2007 | |
| Alexandra Zetye | Piano |
| Benjamin Beilman | Violin |
| 2006 | |
| Josh Romatowski | flute |
| Elizabeth Beilman | viola |
| 2005 | |
| Colleen Wang | Violin |
| June Wu | Piano |
| 2004 | |
| Tiffany Pao | Piano |
| Erik Asgeirsson | Cello |