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3 artists have been awarded First Prize in the 2020 YCA International Auditions, and will perform in a livestreamed concert at 7pm ET on Monday, November 9.
Winners will receive management services for a minimum of three years, concert engagements including debuts in New York and Washington, D.C., publicity, and career guidance.
New York, NY - November 9, 2020 - Three First Prize Winners have been announced following the Finals of the 2020 Young Concert Artists International Auditions:
Zhu Wang, piano (Chinese, 23)
William Socolof, bass-baritone (American, 24)
Megan Moore, mezzo-soprano (American, 30)
These musicians now join the roster of Young Concert Artists, which provides management services for a minimum of three years, concert engagements including debuts in New York and Washington, D.C., publicity, and career guidance.
The Winners Concert will be livestreamed from Cary Hall at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music on Monday, November 9 at 7:00pm ET. The livestream will be available to watch on YCA’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as The Violin Channel’s Facebook page.
The Final Round of the auditions was livestreamed on Sunday, November 8 from Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, and remains available on YCA’s YouTube and Facebook.
Young Concert Artists President Daniel Kellogg says of the 2020 Competition: "During this time it is more important than ever to offer opportunities to young musicians and forge the future of classical music. Both the artists and the jury have found it profoundly moving to share live music with each other during the final round of our auditions. We are reminded of the power of live music, and hope you will celebrate with us at the Winners Concert."
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 2020 Winners were chosen from an initial pool of over 100 applicants from around the world.
The jury members of the Finals were: Daniel Kellogg, YCA President and jury chair; J’Nai Bridges, soprano; Eugene Drucker, violin; Wolfram Koessel, cello; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Rossen Milanov, conductor; Orli Shaham, piano; Weston Spott, trombone; Barbara Allen, harp; Michael Stern, conductor & violinist; Howard Watkins, pianist & vocal coach; and Susan Wadsworth, YCA Founder.
Founded in 1961, Young Concert Artists has launched the careers of such illustrious musicians as violinist Ray Chen and Pinchas Zukerman; pianists Emanuel Ax, Jeremy Denk, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet; soprano Julia Bullock; and composers Mason Bates and Kevin Puts.
About Young Concert Artists
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Each year, through a rigorous audition process, Young Concert Artists chooses a new group of exceptional young musicians to add to its roster with the promise of debuts in both New York City and Washington, D.C. followed by at least three years of career management. This includes providing performance opportunities, promotional and marketing services, travel arrangements, educational residency experience, and extensive professional development.
Founded in 1961 by Susan Wadsworth, Young Concert Artists has presented nearly 300 artist debut concerts, has commissioned more than 30 compositions from YCA composers, and has facilitated thousands of residencies through the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program. |
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About YCA President Daniel Kellogg
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| Daniel Kellogg steps into the leadership role of Young Concert Artists with the unique perspective of an alumnus of Young Concert Artists, one of the extraordinary musicians whose careers were discovered and launched to prominence by this innovative non-profit organization. Chosen as YCA Composer-in-Residence in 2002, Daniel Kellogg was a member of the Young Concert Artists roster for ten years. His compositions have been premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, at the Aspen Music Festival, and by the Takacs Quartet and eighth blackbird. He holds degrees in music composition from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Yale School of Music, and served as the Head of Composition at the University of Colorado, College of Music from 2005 to 2019. He has also served as Composer-in-Residence for the South Dakota Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, and Lexington Philharmonic. |
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