FIVE FIRST PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE 2018 YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL AUDITIONS

Here are the Winners of the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions: 

22-year-old American violinist Randall Goosby

17-year-old Japanese violinist Risa Hokamura

15-year-old American pianist Maxim Lando

22-year-old Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham

22-year-old Danish/American cellist Jonathan Swensen

Watch their winning performances on Facebook!

These young musicians now join the roster of Young Concert Artists, which provides management services for three or more years, concert engagements including debuts in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, publicity and career guidance.

The Young Concert Artists International Auditions differ from a competition, as there are no rankings, and any number of winners can be selected – with each candidate competing against a standard of excellence, not each other. The 2018 Winners were chosen from an initial pool of almost 200 applicants from 15 countries.

The Jury members of the Finals were: Susan Wadsworth (Chair), voice Peggy Bouveret and Randall Scarlata (YCA alumnus), violinists Koichiro Harada (YCA alumnus) and Chee-Yun (YCA alumnus), pianists Jerome Lowenthal and Ilana Vered (YCA alumnus), violist Scott Nickrenz, cellist Fred Sherry (YCA alumnus) and trumpeter/conductor Gerard Schwarz (YCA alumnus).

Founded in 1961, Young Concert Artists has launched the careers of such illustrious musicians as violinists Pinchas Zukerman and Anne Akiko Meyers; pianists Emanuel Ax, Murray Perahia, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Jeremy Denk; vocalists Sasha Cooke and Julia Bullock; and composers Kevin Puts and Mason Bates.

Read more about YCA's auditions here.