Young Artists' Competition
Where talent is tested and excellence recognized.
The Young Artists' Competition is now closed for this year.
Check back in the spring for details on the 2026/27 competition.
About the Competition
The Young Artists Competition provides a distinguished performance opportunity for emerging musicians.
Each season these musicians will present their highest level of artistry before adjudicators and compete for the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra.
Competition Benefits
Explore the benefits of participating in the competition.
Featured Solo Performance
Perform as a soloist with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra in an upcoming concert season.
Professional Distinction
Gain recognition through performance within a full symphonic setting.
Cash Awards
Monetary prizes recognizing artistic excellence.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the competition.
Discipline:
The 2025–26 competition is open exclusively to voice.
Categories:
Opera
Musical Theatre
Applicants Must:
Be a Canadian citizen
Reside in or study in Ontario
How to Apply
Those interested should send the following materials.
1. Submit Your Application
Complete the online application form with your basic information and category selection.
2. Prepare Your Repertoire
Opera Category: Three opera arias, preferably contrasting works and languages.
Musical Theatre Category: Two selections from musical theatre repertoire. Piano accompaniment is preferred.
3. Submit by the Deadline
Applications must be received by November 3, 2025.
Winners will be notified by November 14, 2025.
Adjudicators will not provide feedback to applicants.
For inquiries: youngartists@burlingtonsymphony.ca
Ready to Apply?
Begin your journey with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra.
Applications for this season are now closed. We look forward to welcoming applicants next season.
Past Winners
The Young Artists Competition has recognized exceptional vocal talent from across the region.
2025 - 2026
2024 - 2025
2024 – 2025
Tiffany Yeung, Violin
First Place Winner | Strings/Piano
Daniel Wang, Oboe
First Place Winner | Winds/Brass/Percussion
Alexandra Ma, Piano
Emerging Young Artist Winner
2019 - 2024
May 12, 2019
2018 Senior
Katelyn Emery, violin – Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, i. Allegro non troppo
2018 Junior
Eena Yoon, cello – Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, i. Allegro
May 10, 2020
2019 First Place
Diane Kim, violin – Jules Conus: Violin Concerto, 1st & 2nd mvmts
2019 Second Place (no performance)
Britton-Rene Collins, marimba – Sergei Golovko: The Russian Marimba Concerto
2019 Emerging Artist (no performance)
Samantha Yang, cello – Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, 4th mvmt
2023-24 Season Winners
Strings/Piano – Elliot Sloss
Winds/Brass/Percussion – Amiel Ang
Emerging Young Artist – Ethan Hyo Jeon
2013 - 2018
November 3, 2013
2013 Junior
Johann Derecho, piano – Greig: Piano Concerto in A minor, 1st movement
Jayyne Kao, bassoon – Weber: Andante & Rondo Ungarese, Op.35
March 7, 2015
2014 Competition
Leslie Bickle, soprano – W.A. Mozart: “Ach, ich fühls” (from Die Zauberflöte, K.620)
Artem Kopylov, piano – Beethoven: Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15, 1st movement
Julia Debowska, soprano – W.A. Mozart: “Ora Pro Nobis” (from Regina Coeli, K.108)
Lynn Sue-A-Quan, violin – Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
Marko Pejanovic, piano – Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, 1st movement
Christopher Cancian, clarinet – Weber: Concerto No. 1 in F minor, Op. 73, 1st movement
Thomas Dobrovich, piano – Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, 1st movement
March 6, 2016
2015 Junior
Sarah Ning, piano – W.A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K.491, 1st movement
2015 Senior
Marina Davis, mezzo soprano – W.A. Mozart: “Alma grande e nobil core”, KV 578
April 2, 2017
2016 Junior
Aled, Maslin & Matisse Blundell, trumpets – Georg Philipp Telemann: Concerto No. 3 for Three Trumpets in D
2016 Senior
Joanna Gorska, violin – Henri Wieniawski: Polonaise de Concert for Violin
2016 Junior runner-ups
Hannah Corbett, violin – Jules Conus: Violin Concerto, 1st Movement
Lindsay Bui, piano – Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, 1st Movement
2016 Senior runner-up
Kari Abraham, lyric soprano – Bizet: Michaela’s Aria from Carmen; Puccini: Musetta’s Walz from La Boheme
February 18, 2018
2017 Senior co-winner
Joshua Lee, violin – Saint-Saëns: Violin concerto No. 3 Op 61 in B minor, 1st mvmt
2017 Senior runner-up
Christina Bell, soprano – Puccini: “Sì, mi chiamano Mimì” from La Bohème
May 13, 2018
2017 Senior co-winner
Lyndsay Promane, mezzo-soprano – Gounod: “Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?” from Roméo et Juliette
2017 Junior
Erin Merkley, violin – Franz Joseph Haydn: Violin Concerto in G major, Hob.VIIa:4, I. Allegro Moderato
2009 - 2012
March 8, 2009
2008 Junior
Clarisse Schneider, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, 1st Movement
2008 Senior
Eric Mohr, bassoon – Nino Rota: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
March 7, 2010
2009 Junior
Leslie Ashworth, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, 1st Movement
Slavko Popovic, clarinet – Weber: Concertino for Clarinet, 1st Movement
May 23, 2010
2010 Junior
Bogdan Chetraru, bassoon – Mozart: Bassoon Concerto, 1st Movement
2010 Senior
Adam Despinic, violin – Mozetich: Affairs of the Heart, 1st Movement
November 13, 2011
2011 Senior
Blake Pouliot, violin – Paolo de Saraste: Carmen Fantasy
December 11, 2011
2011 Junior
Emma Meinrenken, violin – Lalo: Symphonie Espagnol, 5th Movement
2011 Senior
Clarisse Schneider, violin – Wieniawski: Violin Concerto #2
December 9, 2012
2012 Junior
Katelyn Emery, violin – Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, 1st & 2nd movements
2012 Senior
Paul Barna, viola – Ernest Bloch: Suite Hébraïque
2003 - 2007
November 1 and 2, 2003
2003 Junior
Gertrude Trinh, cello – Haydn: Cello Concerto in C, Allegro
2003 Senior
Jonathan Rogers, flute – Mozart: Flute Concerto in D, Allegro
December 3 and 5, 2004
2004 Junior
Jenna Rak, flute – Quantz: Flute Concerto in G, Allegro
2004 Senior
Joanna Tang, violin – Tchaikovsky: Concerto Op. 35, 3rd movement
2004 Senior (Voice)
Marion Samuel-Stevens, soprano – Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen, Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft, Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder
October 30, 2005
2005 Senior
Charlie Henderson, tuba – Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Tuba, 1st movement
March 10 and 11, 2006
2005 Junior
Josephine Liu, cello – Fauré: Élégie for Cello, Op 24
December 3, 2006
2006 Junior
Alex Morris and Elizabeth Gualtieri, violins – J.S. Bach: Concerto in D minor for 2 violins
2006 Senior
Joshua Morrison, saxophone – Glazunov: Concerto in E flat major
2006 Honorable Mention
Misty Johnson, Kelly Tiernay and Doda Song, flutes – Druste-Hulshuff: Symphonie Concertante for 3 flutes (Allegro)
November 30 & December 2, 2007
2007 Junior
Jeremy Trainor, violin – Vivaldi: Concerto in G minor, 3rd movement
2007 Senior
Adam Zinatelli, trumpet – Haydn: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra
Adam’s audition piece was Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Arutunian.
1997 - 2002
May 11, 1997
1996 Junior
Rachel Desoer, cello – Fauré: Élégie for Cello, Op 24
1996 Senior
Tanya Wolf, recorder – Vivaldi: Concerto in C for Recorder and Orchestra
1996 Senior (Voice)
Nathalie Pasche, soprano – Mozart: Exultate, jubilate
December 6, 1997
1997 Junior
Courtney Prizrenac, French horn – Richard Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
1997 Senior
Elspeth Poole, cello – Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor
November 27 & 28, 1998
1998 Junior
Radha Subramanian, flute – Quantz: Flute Concerto in G major
November 27, 1999
1999 Junior
Caroline Whiting, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto Op 64, 2nd movement
1999 Senior
Matthew Choi, piano – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
November 18, 2000
2000 Junior
Radha Subramanian, flute – Mercadante: Flute Concerto in E minor
2000 Senior
Erika Broughton, flute – Chaminade: Flute Concerto Op. 107
December 1, 2001
2001 Junior
Courtney Prizrenac, French horn – Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 2 K 417
2001 Senior
Sara Traficante, flute – Frank Martin: Ballade for Flute, Piano and Strings
November 16, 2002
2002 Senior
Lucy-Ana Gaston, violin – Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Op. 28
1992 - 1996
February 15, 1992
1991 Junior
Sara Ward, cello – Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
Adam Simpson, violin – Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2, 2nd and 3rd movements
1991 Senior
Francesca Brittan, piano – Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, K 466, 1st movement
February 20, 1993
1992 Junior
Anthony Rullo, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Op. 64, 1st movement
Amanda Keesmat, cello – Fauré: Élégie for Cello, Op 24
1992 Senior
Rebecca Morton, cello – Dvořák: Rondo for cello and orchestra
February 26, 1994
1993 Junior
Jennifer Mae Barizo, piano – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
Eric Mackinnon, cello – Elgar: Cello Concerto Op.85, 1st movement
1993 Senior
Sun-Young Park, piano – Prokofiev: Piano Concerto Op. 26, 1st movement
February 18, 1995
1994 Junior
Caitlin Boyle, viola – Teleman: Concerto in C for viola, 1st and 2nd movements.
1994 Junior (Voice)
Rae Ellen Hutley, soprano – Grundman: “Zoo Illogical”
1994 Senior
Galina Zisk, piano – Chopin: Piano Concerto Op 21, 1st movement
February 17, 1996
1995 Junior
Elspeth Poole, cello – Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 33, Allegro
1995 Senior
Adam Simpson, violin – Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5, Op. 37
Get In Touch
Have questions or need assistance? We’re here to help!
Reach out to us via phone, email, or by visiting us in person. Our team is ready to assist you with ticket information, event details, and more.
By Phone:
Inquiries: +1 (905) 681-6000
Ticket Sales: +1 (905) 681-6000
By Email:
info@burlingtonsymphony.ca
In Person:
1100 Burloak Drive
Suite 300,
Burlington, ON
Canada L7L 6B2