Concerto Competition

Each year, Eastern Music Festival holds a concerto competition. Auditions are open to all Young Artists. Contestants may perform any solo work with orchestral accompaniment that was originally composed for their instrument and that does not exceed 18 minutes in length. Preliminaries are held on the second Sunday of the Festival; finals are held on the third Sunday. Concerto Competition Finale held the final Thursday of the season. Memorization of standard solo repertoire is required for the final round and the performance.

Past Winners

2021 Winners

Cameron Jeppson, Violin

Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, op.63
Allegro moderato

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Credit: Mekaila Bostic for Eastern Music Festival (2021)

Bonhwi Kim, Piano

Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, op.16
Allegro molto moderato

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Credit: Mekaila Bostic for Eastern Music Festival (2021)

Anastasia Samsel, Flute

Chaminade: Concertino for Flute in D major, op.107

young white femail with long blond hair smiling in front of greenery wall
Credit: Mekaila Bostic for Eastern Music Festival (2021)

Adrian Wittmer, Bassoon

Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in C major, RV 477

young white male with blond hari in black dress shirt smiling in front of greenery wall
Credit: Mekaila Bostic for Eastern Music Festival (2021)

Anthony Wu, Piano

Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op.25

 Molto allegro con fuoco

Young asian american mal in black dress shirt and red bowtie wearing eye glasses smiling broadly in front of greenery wall
Credit: Mekaila Bostic for Eastern Music Festival (2021)

2020 Winners

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Festival and 2020 Concerto Competition did not occur.

2019 Winners

Nathaniel Hoyt, Cello

Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, op.104
Allegro

Credit: Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

Elise Kim, Flute

Devienne: Flute Concerto No. 7 in E minor
Allegro

Elise Kim
Credit: Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

Jonathan Fong Ho Man, Cello

Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor
Prelude, lento – Allegro maestoso

Ho Man Fong
Credit: Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

Clara Saïtkoulov, Violin

Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47
Allegro moderato

Clara Saitkoulov
Credit: Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

Ariel Wang, Piano

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op.18
Moderato

Ariel Wang
Credit: Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

2018 Winners

NameInstrumentComposer: WorkMovement
Asher HarrisClarinetCopland: Clarinet Concerto
Ela KodžasViolinBruch: Scottish Fantasy, op.46 Introduction; Grave, Adagio cantabile
Abigail LeidyCelloLalo: Cello Concerto in D minorPrelude, lento – Allegro maestoso
Jon McGarryHornR. Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, op.11 Allegro
Jonathan MillerDouble BassBottesini: Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor Allegro
Morgan ShortHarpPierné: Concertstück, op.39
Yihan SunPianoChopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op.11Rondo – Vivace

2017 Winners

NameInstrumentComposer: WorkMovement
Madison BlakePianoBeethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op.73Allegro
Nathan LowmanViolinVieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, op.37Allegro non troppo
Keeheon NamClarinetDebussy: Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra
Elena RubinFluteReinecke: Flute Concerto in D major, op.283Allegro molto moderato
Zesen WeiMarimbaSéjourné: Marimba ConcertoTempo souple

2016 Winners

NameInstrumentComposer: WorkMovement
Grace AndrianjatavoBassoonCrusell: Concertino for BassoonAllegro
Juliette AngoulvantViolinVivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in C major
Drew DansbyCelloDvorak: Cello Concerto, op.104
Donald LeePianoLizst: Totentanz
Yejoo Esther LeeviolinTchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, op.35Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
Dorien TateBass TromboneBrubeck: Bass Trombone ConcertoThird Movement
Yao-Yueh Jimmy TsengPianoProkofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3Allegro, ma non troppo

2015 Winners

NameInstrumentComposer: WorkMovement
Rixiang HuangPianoBeethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op.73Allegro
Nathan LowmanViolinVieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, op.37Allegro non troppo
Keeheon NamClarinetDebussy: Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra
Elena RubinFluteReinecke: Flute Concerto in D major, op.283Allegro molto moderato
Zesen WeiMarimbaSéjourné: Marimba ConcertoTempo souple