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through their shared love for the arts."
2024-25 Jefferson Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition
The JSO*YAC live finals take place at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
The top finalist of JSO*YAC performs their winning concerto repertoire with Jefferson Symphony Orchestra in Spring 2025 in Golden, CO, and receives $5,000 in cash prizes.
Visit acceptd to begin your application.
2023-24 JSO*YAC - Top Finalists
FIRST PLACE - Ann Kuo, 22, studies at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, CA, with Jim Walker. Kuo has performed around the globe at venues in Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Japan. Last summer, she programmed a charity recital in Taiwan called “Sound of Home”, for
which she commissioned a new work by a Taiwanese composer and donated proceeds to youth
service organizations in Taiwan.
Ann Kuo will perform a solo recital of flute repertoire on Friday, April 5, at 7:30 PM at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden. Kuo performs her winning concerto repertoire, Jacques Ibert's Flute Concerto, with Jefferson Symphony and conductor Arturo González at the Season 71 Young Artists concert on April 7, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., at the Green Center in Golden. View press release here.
SECOND PLACE - Najee Greenlee, 20, with Copland's Clarinet Concerto. Najee is currently a student of Richie Hawley at the Shepard SoM at Rice University in Texas.
THIRD PLACE - Alexandre Meyer, 22, with Jolivet's Flute Concerto. Alexandre is currently a student of Demarre McGill at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
HONORABLE MENTION - Glenn Choe, 19, with Concerto for Marimba by Emmanuel Sejourne. Glenn is currently a student at the Manhattan School of Music.
Previous Winners of JSO*YAC
Hans-Derek Yu YAC 2023, piano
Ji Eun Park
YAC 2022, viola
Daniel Gostein
YAC 2020, marimba
Samuel Vargas
YAC 2019, violin
Each year the instrumental focus changes: JSO*YAC '24 for Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion instruments performing concerto repertoire or similar works; and JSO*YAC '25 for orchestral strings, guitar, and harp. Jefferson Symphony invites you to contact jso.yac@gmail.com for any further inquiries and we will continue to post updates on this page.
JSO*YAC Experiences
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to come to Colorado and play for the judges, audience and my peers. It is sometimes very hard as a young musician to find rewarding venues to play for. Here, the music is obviously treasured by the listeners and participants alike. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I could not have hoped for a better weekend.”
– Finalist
“The finalists are all winners! It was a very exciting event to judge. It was revitalizing to be able to listen to such high quality performances, which reflect the musicians' dedication to their art. It made me want to go home and practice!”
– Judge
History