Young Artist Mentorship
YOUNG ARTISTS’ COMPETITION
BURLINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Young Artist Competition 2024-25
Burlington Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce our 2024-2025 Young Artist Competition. The Burlington Symphony Orchestra supports and encourages promising young artists by offering them the chance to perform as a soloist with a symphony orchestra.
- The competition is open to woodwind, brass, strings, and piano.
- Applicants can be a maximum of 21 years of age at the time of application. There is no minimum age however only candidates 16 and under will be considered for the Emerging Young Artist Award.
Canadian citizenship is a requirement, and the musician must reside or study in Ontario.
The 2024 competition will have two categories and three awards:
Strings and Piano Category
A First Place Winner who will perform with the Burlington Symphony as a soloist during the 2025/2026 Season and receive a prize of $500.
Winds and Brass Category
A First Place Winner who will perform with the Burlington Symphony as a soloist during the 2025/2026 Season and receive a prize of $250.
An Emerging Young Artist
Who will receive a prize of $250 and be acknowledged at the concert, on our website and social media. Possible performance may be offered5
Using the Registration Form, please submit a video recording (via Youtube link, Google Drive, Dropbox etc.) of you performing your piece, preferably with piano accompaniment. Please ensure you have met the following conditions:
- one movement of a concerto or a one-movement composition, originally composed for your instrument and orchestra.
- orchestral parts must be readily available and accessible.
Application Steps
Step 1: Fill out the application form:
Step 2: Submit non-refundable application fee of $20 via this link:
Deadline for submission is November 15, 2024
Winners will be notified by December 15, 2024 . Adjudicators will not provide feedback to applicants.
Inquiries can be emailed to: [email protected]
2019 First Place (performance to be rescheduled)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2013 Junior
Johann Derecho, piano – Greig: Piano Concerto in A minor, 1st movement
Jayyne Kao, bassoon – Weber: Andante & Rondo Ungarese, Op.35
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
2011 Junior
Emma Meinrenken, violin – Lalo: Symphonie Espagnol, 5th Movement
2011 Senior
Clarisse Schneider, violin – Wieniawski: Violin Concerto #2
2011 Senior
Blake Pouliot, violin – Paolo de Saraste: Carmen Fantasy
2010 Junior
Bogdan Chetraru, bassoon – Mozart: Bassoon Concerto, 1st Movement
2010 Senior
Adam Despinic, violin – Mozetich: Affairs of the Heart, 1st Movement
2009 Junior
Leslie Ashworth, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, 1st Movement
Slavko Popovic, clarinet – Weber: Concertino for Clarinet, 1st Movement
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
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.
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)
2005 Junior
Josephine Liu, cello – Fauré: Élégie for Cello, Op 24
2005 Senior
Charlie Henderson, tuba – Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Tuba, 1st movement
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
2003 Junior
Gertrude Trinh, cello – Haydn: Cello Concerto in C, Allegro
2003 Senior
Jonathan Rogers, flute – Mozart: Flute Concerto in D, Allegro
2002 Senior
Lucy-Ana Gaston, violin – Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Op. 28
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
2000 Junior
Radha Subramanian, flute – Mercadante: Flute Concerto in E minor
2000 Senior
Erika Broughton, flute – Chaminade: Flute Concerto Op. 107
1999 Junior
Caroline Whiting, violin – Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto Op 64, 2nd movement
1999 Senior
Matthew Choi, piano – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
1998 Junior
Radha Subramanian, flute – Quantz: Flute Concerto in G major
1997 Junior
Courtney Prizrenac, French horn – Richard Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
1997 Senior
Elspeth Poole, cello – Lalo: Cello Concerto in D minor
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
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
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
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
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
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
