2026: Closed
Our annual youth music competition is open to middle- and high-school musicians, ages 13-18 (strings, winds, brass, piano and vocalists) who reside in Washtenaw County. The competition is professionally judged and winners receive cash prizes.
THE PROCESS:
Preliminary Round Deadline: January 23, 2026
- Submit application below with nonrefundable $15 fee
- Submit a YouTube link (maximum length: 8 minutes) to info@annarborsma.org.
Students may choose their own repertoire; please include your name in the subject line of the email; also list the composer and title of your piece(s) with your submission. If your piece has an accompaniment, your video submission must include an accompanist. (NOTE: Your YouTube performance will only be considered if your application fee has been received by the above deadline date.)
Finalist Live Round: Sunday, February 8, 2026, beginning at 3:45 p.m.
Selected finalists will perform for judges at Northside Community Church, 929 Barton Drive, Ann Arbor 48105.
Participants are responsible for providing their own piano accompanist. Judges may determine that the March 4th concert will showcase two or more prize winners. Prizes will be awarded at the concert.
Live Winners Recital: Winners will perform on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
The recital is part of the Society for Musical Arts Spring Concert Series at the Ann Arbor City Club. Performers are responsible for providing their own piano accompanist. (In order to be judged, participants must agree to perform, if selected, at this recital; and also attend the luncheon following, as guests of S.M.A. No additional complimentary tickets for the concert or luncheon will be provided.)
Questions?
Please contact info@annarborsma.org with any questions.
Apply
Past Winners
Congratulations to all who participated! This past year’s winners are:
- First Place: Salem Dinh, flute (Huron High School 11th grade)
- Second Place (tie): Violet Weizer, cello (Greenhills 12th grade) & Luke Hayden, viola (Pioneer High School 12th grade)
- Third Place (tie): Annabella Mi, harp (Clague Middle School 8th grade) & Annamaria Riccardi, flute (Clague Middle School 8th grade)
| 2024 | 1 — Yuma Tsubouchi, piano 2 — Yohei Kuroda, violin & Luke Mourad, piano (tie) 3 — Violet Weizer, cello & Jiaqi Huang, piano (tie) |
| 2023 | 1 — Minji Kim, violin 2 — Selah Dowell, violin & Justin Hu, piano (tie) 3 — Allison Mi, harp & Luke Hennebury, cello (tie) |
| 2022 | 1 — Maya Fu, cello 2 — Gracie Hou, piano & Bryce Yung, violin (tie) 3 — Yohei Kuroda, violin |
| 2019 | 1 — Sebastian Berofsky, cello 2 — Allison Mi, harp 3 — Jonathan Zou, flute & Elizabeth Li, flute (tie) |
| 2018 | 1 — Derek Zhu, piano 2 — Jonathan Zou, flute 3 — Ian Hajra, piano |
| 2017 | 1 — Charles Berofsky, piano 2 — Lucas Atkinsmith, violin 3 — Jennie Rupp, voice & Alon Hayut, cello (tie) |
| 2016 | 1 — Soomin Lee, violin 2 — Lucas Atkinsmith, violin 3 — Esther Kim, flute & Alan Zheng, piano (tie) |
| 2015 | 1 — Katie Sesi, violin & Brian Cong, alto sax (tie) 2 — Teagan Faran, violin 3 — Evan Wright, french horn & Sarah McCurrach, soprano (tie) |
| 2014 | 1 — Forrest Flesher, piano 2 — Sarah Xie, piano & Paddy Harvey, cello (tie) 3 — Chihiro Kakishima, violin & Annie Huang, piano (tie) |
| 2013 | 1 — Stuart Carlson, violin 2 — Forrest Flesher, piano 3 — Paddy Harvey, cello & Yiran Liu, piano (tie) |
| 2012 | 1 — Vivian Anderson, piano 2 — Dana Johnson, violin 3 — Celisa Gutierrez, harp |
| 2011 | 1 — Joshua Wu, piano 2 — Vivian Anderson, piano 3 — Kayoon Jung, flute |
| 2010 | 1 — Davis West, violin 2 — Elspeth Hayden, flute 3 — Andrew Chou, piano |
| 2009 | 1 — Yesse Kim, piano 2 — Ashley Park, voice 3 — Andrew Chou, piano |
| 2008 | 1 — J.J. Bennett, piano 2 — Yesse Kim, piano 3 — Daniel Lee, violin |
| 2007 | 1 — Stephanie Webb, piano 2 — Kellen McCoy, soprano |
| 2006 | 1 — Jacob Joyce, violin 2 — J.J. Bennett, piano 3 — Stephanie Webb, piano |
| 2005 | 1 — Elizabeth Beilman, violin & Andrea Jarrett, violin (tie) 2 — Eric Tinkerhess, cello 3 — Stephanie Webb, piano |
| 2004 | 1 — Benjamin Beilman, violin 2 — Colleen Wang, violin 3 — Misha Dhar, clarinet & Powell Peng, alto sax (tie) |
| 2003 | 1 — Chie Tanaka, piano 2 — Christopher Li, cello 3 — Wei Pen, flute |