2023 Young Artist Competition

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As part of our mission to motivate, encourage and enhance the musical careers of outstanding young musicians, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce its 32nd Annual Young Artist Competition.  All auditions must be submitted digitally and all applications/submissions are due by Friday, November 11, 2022.

Piano, voice, and instrumental students throughout the U.S. are encouraged to compete. Please read ALL of the information at https://www.reillyartscenter.com/symphony/yac/ carefully before applying. Please direct any administrative questions to pamela@reillyartscenter.com and musical questions to matt@reillyartscenter.com.

To learn more visit: https://www.reillyartscenter.com/symphony/yac/about

Audition Rules

• All auditions must be submitted digitally (YouTube or Vimeo link preferred) Friday, November 11, 2022.
• Auditions are strictly limited to 10 mins. Accompanist cuts are encouraged to reduce audition time. If your video is longer than 10 mins, the judges will stop the video at the 10 min mark.
• All audition submissions must be a single take and with a live accompanist.
• All repertoire must have readily available orchestral parts and be available for the March 2023 performances with the OSO. If you are not sure orchestra parts are available, please research by asking your teacher, other players, etc. If still not sure, email the OSO’s Music Director and Conductor, Matthew Wardell at matt@ocalasymphony.com.
• Auditions are strictly limited to 10 mins. Accompanist cuts are encouraged to reduce audition time. If your video is longer than 10 mins, the judges will stop the video at the 10 min mark.
• Finals/Honors Recital performance duration should not exceed 15 minutes, and will be restricted to a single movement in most circumstances. If you are chosen as a division winner, the Music Director may consult with you re: your ability/desire to play more than a single movement if the concert duration allows. In most cases, only a single movement will be performed.
• Applicants are responsible for their own expenses (i.e. travel to the finals recital).
• Applicants must provide an accompanist and at least two copies of the piano score for the judges at the finals recital.
• Previous winners are ineligible for competition, but all other previous competitors (including finalists) are encouraged to audition.
• Winners must be available to perform their concerto live with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra at the subscription concert “Renderings” on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 3:00 PM (And also attend rehearsals on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM.) Inability to perform at this concert, will cause forfeiture of the winner’s additional cash award.

The application deadline has officially closed. Thank you to everyone who has submitted their application. 

The 32nd Young Artist Competition Winners

Jay Julio, viola – Senior Division Winner

From Uniondale, New York, first-generation Filipino-American Jay Julio (25) began studying music formally at the age of 14; since then, Jay has been recognized in national competitions held by the National Federation of Music Clubs, the Music Teachers National Association, and the YoungArts Foundation. Festival appearances include the Thy, Pacific, Spoleto, and Aspen Music Festivals (the latter as a New Horizons Fellow), as well as the New York String Orchestra Seminar and Music Academy of the West. Jay is grateful for crucial support in recent years from the Virtu Foundation, the American Viola Society, the FilAm Music Foundation, and the WeInspire Foundation, which named Jay a WeInspire Ambassador for justice work in 2021. Jay was a full-scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music (BM) and the Juilliard School (MM), studying with Karen Ritscher, Misha Amory, Matthew Lipman, and Heidi Castleman, and has recently joined the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra as their Assistant Principal Viola.

Isabelle Tseng, violin – Junior Division Winner

Isabelle Tseng is a violinist from Gainesville, FL. She has played violin in numerous festivals including the BUTI Young Artists Orchestra, All-National Symphony Orchestra, and the Honor Orchestra of America. Awards have included First Prize at the New York International Young Musician Competition and the top prize of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, the Connie-Tuttle All-Performance award. As concertmaster of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, she enjoys chamber music as well as her soloist endeavors. She currently studies with Ms. Rimma Bergeron-Langlois. Previous mentors have included Dr. Lev Gurevich, Ms. Bing Wang, Dr. Klaudia Szlachta, and Ms. Melissa White. Outside of violin, Isabelle is an avid debater, composer, biker and journalist.

Watch them perform with the Ocala Symphony during “Youthful Renderings.“

Congratulations to all the 32nd Young Artist Competition finalists!