New York, NY – For Immediate Release – Young Concert Artists (YCA)

Young Concert Artists (YCA) is proud to announce its Fall 2020 season of programming, that both reaffirms its core commitment to discovering and launching the careers of exceptional young musicians, while also offering an array of creative solutions towards managing and presenting artists amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 60th Anniversary Season programming opens with an October 21 livestreamed performance from Merkin Hall, featuring current YCA artists, alums, and a world premiere. YCA’s world-renowned artist auditions will continue with a Final Round on November 8, and a Winners Concert on November 9—both livestreamed on YCA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Later in the season, on December 9, pianist Aristo Sham will have his YCA debut concert livestreamed from Merkin Hall.

The 60th-Anniversary Season will open on October 21 with a performance livestreamed from the Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall, featuring three YCA alums and five current YCA artists, including the first-ever saxophonist on the YCA roster. The program includes solo Bach and chamber works by Ravel, Handel, Higdon, and more, as well as the world premiere of Partita for solo violin by YCA composer Chris Rogerson. 

YCA’s famously rigorous auditions process continues in the Fall with a final round taking place on November 8 and a Winners Concert on November 9. Both events will be livestreamed. The jury of this final round represents a cross-section of industry luminaries, confirmed as of October 14, 2020 to include YCA President and Jury Chair Daniel Kellogg, cellist Wolfram Koessel, violinist Jennifer Koh, conductor Rossen Milanov, flutist Tara O’Connor, pianist Orli Shaham, San Francisco Performances President Melanie Smith, trombonist Weston Sprott, conductor Michael Stern, MetLiveArts General Manager Limor Tomer, and YCA founder Susan Wadsworth. 

YCA has continued to find creative opportunities to support its artists throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring, YCA was able to redirect a portion of its budget to provide emergency relief grants to artists. With the creation of the Keep Our Artists Working Fund in June, YCA expanded its services to support the next wave of innovative music-making as its artists break ground with new collaborations, models for interactive educational residencies, virtual performances, and more. YCA exceeded its $150,000 fundraising goal in August, which has so far enabled Keep Our Artists Working to provide grants, mentorship, technology support, and studio time to 10 new projects. Further demonstrating the support and ongoing enthusiasm of YCA’s community, a generous board member gave $500,000 in August to help YCA fulfill its mission during these turbulent times.

In June, YCA hosted “Learning To Listen”, a roundtable discussion organized by three BIPOC artists on YCA’s roster that created space for conversation around the nuances of the Black experience in classical music and beyond. Additionally, violinist Randall Goosby was recently signed to Decca Classics, and will release his debut album celebrating African-American composers in Spring 2021. YCA composer Katherine Balch also recently won the Rome Prize as well as a Dallas Symphony Career Advancement Award.

Under the new leadership of Daniel Kellogg, who took over as President following founder Susan Wadsworth’s retirement in 2019, the organization entered its next chapter with a new logo, website, and vision. In anticipation of the 60th Anniversary Season, YCA reimagined its postponed May 2020 Gala as a Virtual Celebration of the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program. Held in September 2020, the evening featured intimate musical performances and video tributes from around the world. This celebratory season will conclude with a May 9, 2021 Gala honoring YCA founder Susan Wadsworth.