Dearborn Symphony is proud to announce Jisoo Park, a junior at Troy High School, as the winner of its 2025 Youth Artists Solo Competition. Sponsored by Dearborn Symphony and the Dearborn Orchestral Society Endowment Fund, this prestigious competition highlights the extraordinary talent of young classical musicians across southeastern Michigan and offers them a $500 award and the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Dearborn Symphony.
The competition was held on Saturday, April 26 with the final found round on Sunday, April 27. As this year’s winner, Jisoo will take center stage during the 25/26 Season-opening concert on October 3, 2025, performing a featured solo with the orchestra.
Jisoo has studied cello for nine years, currently under the tutelage of Wei Yu, principal cellist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He previously studied with Jui Chao Wang and Youngeun Lee. A dedicated musician, Jisoo has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2022 and has served as principal cellist at Troy High School. His musical experiences also include attending the Interlochen Arts Camp in 2024, 2025, and 2026, and being selected for the Michigan All-State Orchestra in both 2024 and 2025.
Jisoo’s talent has earned him multiple honors from the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), including nominations for the Outstanding Soloist award in 2024 and 2025, and the Outstanding Ensemble award in 2024, showcasing his excellence in both solo and chamber performance. With aspirations to major in music in college, Jisoo is committed to advancing his artistry and contributing to the future of classical music.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jisoo as a featured soloist this fall,” said James Clements, Executive Director of Dearborn Symphony. “His musicality, dedication, and poise embody the very spirit of the Youth Artists Solo Competition. We look forward to sharing his artistry with our audience in what promises to be a remarkable season opener.”
The Dearborn Symphony Youth Artists Solo Competition seeks to inspire the next generation of musicians by offering high-level performance opportunities and artistic recognition. Each year, the winner is selected through a competitive audition process adjudicated by a panel of professional musicians. The award is generously underwritten by the Dearborn Orchestral Society Endowment Fund with trusts established by Anina and Ben Bachrach, Sandra and Paul Butler, and Mary and Frank Padzieski along with many individual contributors.
For tickets and more information about the October 3 concert and the upcoming 25/26 Season of “Music That Moves,” visit dearbornsymphony.org or call (313) 565-2424.
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 |