Celebrating young artists with superior musical ability in South Central Pennsylvania
Congratulations to pianist Daniel Huang, winner of the 2024 Young Artist Competition. Learn more about Daniel’s selection here.
Details on submissions for the 2025 Young Artist Competition will be posted in the fall of 2024. Please check back then for specific audition information.
About the Young Artist Competition
Eligibility: The competition is open to all students enrolled in grades 7 through 11 who reside in the following eight counties in Pennsylvania: Adams, 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 (divided if more than one winner)
Application: Application fee and audition materials must be received by early March (exact deadline to come) to be considered for selection. Finalists will audition live for a panel of judges later that month.
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.
