The MASO Young Artist Competition (YAC) is a biennial event with the purpose to recognize and encourage the musical talent of young Montanans.  For full information on the Young Artist Competition please see the .PDF application form below.

To open the YAC Application, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or above. If you do not have this software, a FREE download can be obtained by clicking the "Get Adobe Reader" button. This will open in a new window.

2011 Winners - Click thumbnails for a larger image
		Junior Division Rosalyn Weiss, violin Honorable Mentions John Little, piano and Emily Young, violin
		Senior Division Andree Werner, cello Honorable Mentions Franziska Hodde, viola and Jessica Chon, violin
		College Division Damian Garvey, piano

When:  The Eleventh Biennial Competition will be held January 2013. Where:  MSU Bozeman; Howard Hall, Department of Music.  Link:  MSU's interactive map.  (Howard Hall is building 27)

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to students between the ages of 13 through 22 who play any of the standard orchestral instruments.  Students who are attending college out-of-state are eligible if they have retained their Montana resident status (proof of resident may be requested.)  Past winners of this competition are ineligible to compete again in the same division.  For the purpose of eligibility and division placement, a contestant’s age is determined by his/her age reached on January 1, 2013.

Prizes: In addition to a cash prize, winners will be invited to perform with at least one MASO member orchestra.
Junior Division (Ages 13 through 15):  $450 prize
Senior Division (Ages 16 through high school graduate):  $650 prize
College Division (Post high school through age 22):  $1,000 prize

Past winners of the Young Artist Competition:

Junior Division, agse 13 through 15
Senior Division, ages 16 through High School graduate
College Division, post High School through age 22

2007

Junior Division: Jessie MacDonald, Bozeman, violin.
Senior Division: Hélène Werner, Belgrade, cello.
College Division: Ashlee Young, Billings, piano.

The judges were Stephen Allen, Pocatello, Idaho; Linda Khn, Helena, and Rob Wells, Billings.

Gordon Johnson, Music Director of the Great Falls Symphony, chaired the competition.

2005

Junior Division: April Sun, Bozeman, piano, and Denny Shin, Billings, cello.
Runner-up: Emily Stearns, Butte, piano.

College Division: Charles Martin, Bozeman, cello.

The judges were musicians Thad and Sue Suits, Great Falls, and Dr. Greg Young, Montana State University, Bozeman.

Matthew Savery, Music Director of the Bozeman Symphony, and John Zoltek, Music Director of the Glacier Symphony, co-chaired the competition.

2003

Junior Division: Helene Werner, cello, Belgrade.
Runner-up: Eric McEwen, piano, Helena.
Honorable mention: Doug Brown, bassoon, Red Lodge.

Senior Division: Alice Yoo, cello, Bozeman.
Runner-up: Leah Emineth, violin, Great Falls
Honorable mentions: Oliver Huang, piano, Butte, Andrea Padgett, French horn, Billings.

College Division: Jacquelyn Marie Weitz, piano, Billings.
Runner-up: Beth Morgan, flute, Bozeman.
Honorable mention: Irene S. Duke, clarinet, Billings.

The three judges were musicians Norbert Boehm, Lethbridge, Marni Constantino, Great Falls, and Eric Funk, Bozeman.

Gordon Johnson, Music Director of the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra chaired the competition.

2001

Junior Division: Oliver Huang, piano, Butte.
Runner-up: Leah Emineth, violin, Great Falls.
Honorable mention: Alexandra Antonioli, piano, Butte.

Senior Division: Jaquelyn Weitz, piano, Billings.
Runner-up: Karin Hancock, piano, Great Falls.
Honorable mentions: Brian Murphy, violin, Billings, Andrea Padgett, French horn, Billings.

College Division: Andrew Schultz, clarinet, Bozeman.
Runner-up: Megan Murphy, violini, Billings.
Honorable mentions: Elijah Scheidler, piano, Ballantine Loy Koch, violin, Bozeman.

The three judges were Reid Merley, principal oboe, Glacier Orchestra, Linda Kuhn, principal cello, Helena Symphony, and Brian Johnson, pianist, on the faculty at Montana State University.

The competition was chaired by Gordon Johnson, Music Director of the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra.

1999

Junior Division: Alice Yoo, cello, Bozeman.
Runner-up: Oliver Huang, piano, Butte.
Honorable mention: Eli Harmon, violin, Scobey.

Senior Division: Julia Corey, cello, Bozeman.
Runner-up: Robin Hok, piano, Kalispell.
Honorable mentions: Billie Jean Howard, piano, Bozeman, Laura Trauscht, violin, Missoula.

College Division: Jason Bell, violin, Missoula.
Runner-up: Elizabeth Mick, flute, Missoula.
Honorable mentions: Neel Hammond, violin, Billings, Will Scharen, trombone, Missoula, Laura Skinner, clarinet, Billings.

The single judge was Maestro Henry Charles Smith, Music Director of the South Dakota Symphony.

Dr. Uri Barnea, Music Director of the Billings Symphony, chaired the competition.