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The 2025 competition, held at the Eastman School of Music in March, saw talented high school students from the Greater Rochester Area compete for a total of $7,250 in cash awards and scholarships. Each award category, the two scholarships, and the Grand Prize are judged by a panel of professional performing musicians and educators who provide valuable written feedback to the young contestants on their auditions.

Forty accomplished high school students from the Greater Rochester Area competed for ten cash awards: $750 for winners and $300 for runners-up, offered for female vocalist, male vocalist, strings, piano and instrumental (woodwind, brass, percussion, harp or guitar). This year, winners and runners-up from four of the award categories then competed for the vocal and instrumental $1,000 college scholarships. A Grand Prize winner – chosen from among the winners in the award categories – has the opportunity for a solo performance with the RPO. All winners will be invited to perform in a free, public recital.

2025 Young Artist Auditions Winners

3D Tour of Kilbourn Hall