September 2, 2025

[Vancouver, WA. September 2, 2025] – The nine finalists for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA’s 31st Young Artist Competition were announced today by VSO’s CEO, Dr. Igor Shakhman. The final round of the competition, which is free and open to the public, will take place on October 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm (PT) at First Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, WA. Steve Bass, recently retired President and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting, will emcee the competition, which will also be available as a simultaneous live stream at vancouversymphony.org.

Continuing the competition format of past years, nine of the nation’s finest young musicians will compete in three categories: piano, strings, and winds/brass. Gold Medal winners in each category will receive the opportunity to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Salvador Brotons on January 17 and 18, 2026 at Skyview Concert Hall. Additionally, all finalists will receive generous cash prizes. Gold Medalists will be awarded $5,000 each; Silver Medalists, $2,000 each; Bronze Medalists, $1,000 each.

An extraordinary panel of renowned performers and educators will judge the final round, including:

Zuill Bailey: GRAMMY Award-winning cello virtuoso, Artistic Director of several major music festivals in the US, including Sitka Summer Music Festival, and a professor of Cello at UT El Paso.
Dr. Julia Hwakyu Lee: Award-winning solo and chamber pianist, faculty at the University of Portland and Portland State University, and previous faculty at Southern Utah University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Philippe Quint: GRAMMY-award nominee recording artist, critically acclaimed violin virtuoso, featured soloist with some of the world’s finest orchestras, and an active chamber musician.
Dr. Ken Selden: Award-winning Director of Orchestral Studies at Portland State University and the conductor and music director of the Portland State University Orchestra.
Dr. Igor Shakhman: Principal Clarinetist and Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Co-founder of the Vancouver USA Arts and Music Festival and VSO Chamber Music Series. Former Clarinet Faculty of the University of Portland and Willamette University.

Grand pianos for the competition will be provided by Michelle’s Piano Co.

What: VSO 31st Annual Young Artist Competition Finals
When: Saturday, October 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm PT
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663
Tickets: This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, please reserve your seat at vancouversymphony.org

The virtual live stream programming begins at 2:00 pm. All patrons who RSVP to the event will receive a secure email link to access the live stream. Our tech support team will be available to assist you if you encounter any issues logging in during the competition.

2025 FINALISTS:
Piano
Alvin Gao (age 15), Piano; Hillcrest High School, South Jordan, UT performing Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor Op. 16 movt. 1 by Sergei Prokofiev
Wilson Liu (age 11), Piano; Mt. Pleasant Middle School, Livingdton, NJ performing Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor K466 movt. 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Jacob Rockower (age 17), Piano; The Nueva School, Palo Alto, CA performing Piano Concerto in B Flat Minor Op. 23 movt. 1 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Brass/Woodwinds
Soomin Oh (age 17), Flute; Westwood High School, Austin, TX performing Flute Concerto: I. Allegro con fermezza by Aram Khachaturian
Jacob Peizner (age 17), Alto Sax; Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, OR performing Concertino Da Camera by Jacques Ibert
Felix Zhou (age 13), Bassoon; Thomas Grover Middle School, Princeton Junction, NJ performing Bassoon Concerto in F Major by Carl Maria von Weber

Strings
Hana Gottesman (age 16), Violin; Bellevue Digital Discovery, Bellevue, WA performing Tzigane by Maurice Ravel
Angela Rose Padula (age 18), Cello; The Juilliard School, Ojai, CA performing Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Lily Richards (age 17), Violin; Bonney Lake, WA performing Violin Concerto movt. 1 by Erich Korngold

About the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA
The VSO, now in its 47th season, enriches lives in the Pacific Northwest and beyond through world-class symphonic concerts, other musical performances, and engaging educational programming. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.

About our Sponsors
The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Realvest Foundation, Keller Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The AC Hotel Marriott, United Grain Corporation, Columbia Credit Union, All Classical Radio, Gravitate, Dick Hannah Dealerships, The Columbian, Michelle’s Piano Co., Pacific Office Automation, Salsbury & Co., Steinway & Sons Portland, The VIC, Kiggins Theatre, Opsahl Dawson, and Willful Wine Company.

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Media contact:
Allison Van Etten
Vice President
[email protected]
8VA Music Consultancy
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