Young Artist Competition

The Young Artist Competition, WAMSO's longest running education program, discovers and encourages exceptional young musical talent through a regional competition. Young performers come from eleven Midwest states and two Canadian provinces. These performers can win scholarships and monetary awards, as well as an opportunity to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra. The competition celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.

The 2007 Young Artist Competition is scheduled for:

Semifinal Round
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Final Competition
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Download the 2007 Young Artist Competition Application

Click here to download the Young Artist FAQ

The Young Artist Competition application is available in PDF format. PDFs require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.

Applications must be postmarked on or before September 11, 2006. [International entries outside North America must be postmarked on or before September 5, 2006.]

Prizes for the 2007 Competition:

• GRAND PRIZE (Awarded to the First Prize winner at the discretion of the Minnesota Orchestra music director or designee)
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  · $1,000 Award from the Minnesota Orchestral Association in memory of Isaac Stern for his dedication to young artists
• FIRST PRIZE
  · $5,000 WAMSO Young Artist Award
  · $2,250 WAMSO Achievement Award
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  · Taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, WQXR, New York
• SECOND PRIZE
  · $4,000 WAMSO Award plus stencils from stencilgiant.com
  · Taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, WQXR, New York
• THIRD PRIZE
  · $2,000 WAMSO Award

Prizes for the 2006 Competition:

• GRAND PRIZE (Awarded to the First Prize winner at the discretion of the Minnesota Orchestra music director or designee)
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  · $1,000 Award from the Minnesota Orchestral Association in memory of Isaac Stern
  for his dedication to young artists
• FIRST PRIZE
  · $5,000 WAMSO Young Artist Award
  · $2,250 WAMSO Achievement Award
  · Performance with the Minnesota Orchestra
  · Taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, WQXR, New York
• SECOND PRIZE
  · $2,500 WAMSO Award
  · Taped performance on McGraw Hill's Young Artist Showcase, WQXR, New York
• THIRD PRIZE
  · $1,000 WAMSO Award

ELAINE LOUISE LAGERSTROM MEMORIAL AWARD - $1,000 Violin Award
MATHILDA HECK AWARD - $1,000 Woodwind Award
TWIN CITIES MUSICIANS UNION AFM AWARD - $1,000 Award
VINCENT R. BASTIEN MEMORIAL AWARD - $500 Cello Award
MARY WINSTON SMAIL MEMORIAL AWARD - $500 Piano Award

Other Performance Opportunities:

SAINT PAUL CIVIC SYMPHONY

THE SCHUBERT CLUB OF SAINT PAUL

Summer Study 2007:

ASPEN MUSIC SCHOOL, Aspen, Colorado
Sponsored by WAMSO and the Aspen Music School. The award covers tuition, room and board for the full 2007 nine-week session scheduled from June 13 to August 19, 2007. www.aspenmusicfestival.com.

MADELINE ISLAND MUSIC CAMP, LaPointe, Wisconsin
Sponsored by WAMSO and Madeline Island Music Camp, for violin, viola, cello and piano. The award covers tuition, room and board for four weeks. Piano and strings: June 10 to July 8, 2007, ages 14-24. Woodwinds and horns: July 15 to July 22, 2007, college-age. www.music-camp.org.

INTERLOCHEN ARTS CAMP, Interlochen, Michigan
Sponsored by WAMSO and Interlochen Center for the highest-ranking high school contestant in the competition. www.interlochen.org.

2006 Young Artist Competition Winners

First Prize
Andrew Staupe, Piano

Second Prize
Alisa Horn, Cello

Third Prize
Anna Burden, Viola

Scholarship to the Aspen Music School in Boulder, Colorado & Mathilda Heck Woodwind Award
Eileen Walsh, Clarinet

Elaine Louise Lagerstrom Memorial Violin Award
Eunice Keem

Twin Cities Musician Union Award
Kevin Gebo, Trumpet

Past Winners (archives)