2006 Young Artist Competition
The 2006 Young Artist Competition Application is now available to download here:

Download the entire application packet. This is a ZIP file containing all nine pages which make up the application packet. The individual Microsoft Word files can also be downloaded here:

Cover Letter
List of Prizes
Rules and Instructions for Application
Repertoire Requirements
Preparing CD or TAPE for Preliminary Round
2006 Application Form
Repertoire Form
Summer Study Form
Affidavit for CD or Tape


Young Artist Competition...

About the Young Artist Competition
49th WAMSO Young Artist Competition at Orchestra Hall
2005 WAMSO Young Artist Competition Winners
Previous Years' WAMSO Young Artist Competition Winners

About the Young Artist Competition
Created in 1956, the Young Artist Competition is WAMSO's oldest education program. The contest is designed to discover and encourage exceptional young musical talent through a regional competition. Applicants submit taped performances for the preliminary round of judging.

49th WAMSO Young Artist Competition at Orchestra Hall
Six talented musicians provided an afternoon of exciting music at Orchestra Hall on Sunday, January 16, 2005, in the final round of the 49th annual WAMSO Young Artist Competition.

The competition's first prize was awarded to Nuiko Wadden. The 24-year old harpist earned her Masters of Music in 2004 from Rice University as a student of Paula Page. She received the $3,000 WAMSO Young Artist Award; the $2,250 WAMSO Achievement Award; a performance with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä; a taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, WQXR in New York City, and the Erma Strachauer medal.

Maestro Osmo Vänskä, first place winner harpist Nuiko Wadden and WAMSO President Teri Popp at the 49th annual WAMSO Young Artist Competition at Orchestra Hall on January 16, 2005.

Second prize was awarded to 20-year old cellist Anna Burden. Burden is a junior at Northwestern University and studies with Hans Jensen. The second prize includes a $2,500 case award from WAMSO plus a taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, custom cornhole board with his performance,, WQXR in New York City. Burden also won the $500 Vincent R. Bastien Memorial Cello Scholarship Award.

Two $1,000 third prizes were given to percussionist Matthew Coley and violist Yangyoon Kim. Coley, 25, received his Masters of Music degree in 2003 from Northwestern University. Kim, 22, is attending Indiana University, Bloomington, and studying viola with Alan de Veritch. Kim was also the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship to the Aspen Music School in Boulder, Colorado.

Violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley, 20, a student of Mauricio Fuks at Indiana University, was awarded the Elaine Louise Lagerstrom Memorial Award that carries a prize of $1,000.

He was also awarded the Twin Cities Musicians Union prize of $1,000. Performance opportunities with The Schubert Club of St. Paul and the St. Paul Civic Symphony were awarded to Stefan Kac, 22, of Minneapolis. Kac is a tuba player and a student of David Werlen at the University of Minnesota. A semifinalist, Scott Meek, 23, who studies piano with Alvin Chow at the Oberlin Conservatory, received a scholarship to the Madeline Island Music Camp in LaPointe, Wisconsin.

For the final round, Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä was joined on the judges' panel by distinguished artists pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist Pamela Frank.

The Young Artist Competition is a collaborative effort between WAMSO—Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association and the Minnesota Orchestra. Musicians under the age of 26 years compete for more than $15,000 in cash prizes, scholarships, performance opportunities, and summer program scholarships. The six finalists were drawn from an original field of 65 applicants who submitted audition CDs for the preliminary round. Nineteen contestants advanced to the semifinals held at Macalester College.

Started in 1956, the competition now draws talented young musicians to Minneapolis from all over the world and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2006. WAMSO—Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Association is in its 54th year of providing support for the Minnesota Orchestra and promoting music education throughout Minnesota.

2005 Young Artist Competition Winners:
First Prize
Nuiko Wadden, Harp

Second Prize
Anna Burden, Cello

Third Prize
Matthew Coley, Percussion, and Yangyoon Kim, Viola

Twin Cities Musician Union Award
Noah Bendix-Balgley, Violin

Elaine Louise Lagerstrom Memorial Violin Award
Noah Bendix-Bagley

Vincent R. Bastien Memorial Cello Award
Anna Burden, Cello

Recital Performance with The Schubert Club of Saint Paul
Stefan Kac, Tuba

Concerto Performance with the Saint Paul Civic Symphony
Stefan Kac, Tuba

Aspen Music School Award
Yangyoon Kim, Viola

Madeline Island Music Camp Award
Scott Meek, Piano

Interested in previous Young Artist Award Winners? You can see them here