Featured photo: Finalists in the 2026 Young Artist Competition
Note: Submissions for the 2026 Young Artist Competition are closed as of March 1, 2026.
The 2026 Young Artist Competition finalists (listed in alphabetical order):
- Yan Bucs, a violinist from Hershey Middle School, studies with Nikita Burakovskiy.
- Grace Campling, a double bass player from Exeter Township High School, studies with Mary Javian.
- Allie Kim, a violinist from Cumberland Valley High School, studies with Peter Sirotin.
- Nathan Kim, a cellist from Northern York Middle School, studies with Ai-Lin Hiseih.
- Jiarui Li, a pianist from Lancaster Mennonite School, studies with Dr. Xun Pan.
- Bryan Myers, a cellist from Spring Grove Area High School, studies with James McGonigle.
- Meredith Taylor, a horn player from Lower Dauphin High School, studies with Grace Salyards.
- Tiger Zebrowski, a vocalist from Cedar Cliff High School, studies with Jennifer Hughes.
These talented young musicians will compete in the final competition on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The winner will be announced that evening.
Celebrating young artists with superior musical ability in South Central Pennsylvania
Eligibility: The competition is open to all students enrolled in grades 7 through 11 during the 2025-26 school year who reside or attend school in the following counties in Pennsylvania: Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York. Those who have entered our competition in the past are encouraged to compete again (past winners are excluded).
Music Selection: Entrants should prepare one movement of any concerto for solo instrument (including operatic voice) written with orchestral accompaniment. Competitors chosen for the finals are responsible for bringing their own piano accompanists.
Prizes: $1,000 William & Ruth Cagnoli Award
Application: $40 application fee and audition materials must be received by Saturday, February 28, 2026. Submissions will be accepted beginning Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Entrants must submit a clearly recorded audition file. The audition may be submitted in one of two ways: (1) a link to an online file, (2) an MP3 emailed to yac@hersheysymphony.org. If you choose to submit a link to an online file, please be sure to grant necessary permissions for anyone with the link to view. In addition to the audition recording, entrants must complete the online form here and submit the $40 application fee via the link included in the form. The form is also available by scanning the code below:
Those selected for live audition will play in the finals before a panel of highly qualified professionals on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. The winner(s) will be announced that day.
The winner will perform with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra during the orchestra’s 2026-27 season, which commences Fall 2026. All finalists will be considered for a solo performance as part of Gretna Music’s First Listen Series. First Listen features mini-concerts by talented local youth before mainstage performances.
Questions may be addressed to yac@hersheysymphony.org or 717-533-8449.
The Hershey Symphony is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination. Please refer to our full statement here.
About our Prize Sponsor:
William and Ruth Cagnoli founded Cagnoli Music, offering instrument sales, repairs and more to musicians of all ages in Central Pennsylvania. The Cagnolis also owned and operated Marty’s Music in Lebanon for many years. A professional woodwind player in the region, William Cagnoli was also one of the early founders of The Hershey Symphony Orchestra and conducted the musicians on several occasions. Mr. Cagnoli also spent nearly 20 years at the Lebanon Veterans Hospital as a Registered Musical Therapist. Allan Cagnoli, their son, is honored to provide the one-thousand dollar award for the Hershey Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition winner, in memory of his parents, who deeply loved music, education, and their community.
See some images from past competition finalists in the gallery below.
