FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS
The Meridian Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition is an immeasurable motivation for advanced junior high and high school students. Students who participated prepare with such diligence that their technical and interpretive insights develop considerably. Students who are selected to solo with the orchestra invariably mature musically as they acquire performance skills with a greater sense of artistry. I strongly urge all serious young musicians to participate and reap the benefits from this remarkable opportunity!
— Craig Purdy, participant teacher
​
The Meridian Symphony Young Artist Competition provided our daughter with an exceptional opportunity to debut her musical skills. The competition itself was rewarding for all participants, who received constructive and insightful feedback from the distinguished panel of judges. The Meridian Symphony is the only organization in the Treasure Valley offering young artists this kind of supportive audition process and potential subsequent performance with a professional orchestra. Our daughter will always be grateful to the Meridian Symphony, its wonderful conductors and musicians, and its appreciative audience.
— Michael Vandervelden, parent of YAC participant
ABOUT THE YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
The opportunity for a young musician to appear in concert as a soloist with a symphony orchestra is both extremely valuable and quite rare.
​
The Symphony always looks forward to this annual event and the great music prepared and performed by the outstanding young musicians in the Treasure Valley. We look forward to each year as the feedback provided by our judges continues to assist the student performers in their musical growth.
The Meridian Symphony has now completed its 19th Annual Young Artist's Competition for student musicians through grade 12 from Southwest Idaho.
This year's annual competition is scheduled for January 31, 2026. Competition auditions will be between 8am and 3pm on the competition day at the Dunkley Music Recital Hall. Warm-up and performance times to be announced.. The event is limited to 40 participants with earlier applications receiving priority.
The Junior Division and Senior Division Soloist Award recipients from this competition will have the opportunity to perform with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra onstage at the Orchestra's February and May performances.​
Competition guidelines [click here]
Competition application [click here]
Application deadline is January 23, 2026. For any questions about the competition, please email Louise van der Eijk directly at drvandereijk@gmail.com (Meridian Symphony harpist and YAC organizer).
Young Artist Competition Winners from 2025
​​
-
Senior Piano Soloist - Indigo Della Badia. Performed with the Meridian Symphony in the May 3, 2025 concert.
-
Junior Strings Soloist - Adrienne Jensen. Performed with the Meridian symphony on the March 8, 2025 concert.
​
Other Category Winners:
Senior Strings: Abigail Eddy
Senior Instrumental: Amulya Tanikella
Junior Piano: Leathan Li
Junior Instrumental: Siyoon Jung
Junior Strings Honorable Mention: Daniel Kim​
ANNUAL SOLOIST WINNERS
​2025
-
Adrienne Jensen
-
​Indigo Della Badia
​​
2024
-
Gunnar Henry
-
Mia Huang
​2023
-
Hayoon Lee
-
Darren Liu
​​
​2022
-
Paige Malan
-
Adelyn Bendorf​​​
​2021
-
Julia Erway
-
Truman Walker
-
Zachary Cheng
​​2020
-
Christian Nielsen
-
Benjamin Gallafent
​​​
​2019
-
Alec Tzeng
-
Gigi Finn
​
​2018
-
Reiko Tachibana
-
Jake Curtis
​2017
-
Julia Caven
-
Minjun Kwak
-
Anthony Luo
-
Christian Nielsen
​
​2016
-
Anna Black
-
Fernando Perez
​
​​2015
-
Aubrie Church
-
Elizabeth Lee
-
Anthony Luo​​​
2014
-
Anna Black
-
John Shieh
-
Lauren Vandervelden
​​​
​2013
-
Jacqueline Audas
-
Noah Samuel Jessee
​​
​2012
-
Anna Black
-
Christa Cole
-
Ethan Davis​​​
​2011
-
Michelle Hembree
-
Nolan Nguyen
​
2010
-
Jacqueline Audas
-
Jiwon Kim
​
​2009
-
Katherine Audas
-
Stephanie L’Heureux
-
Lisa Montierth​​​
​​​​2008
-
Nicole Oswald
-
Sophie Petroski
​
​2007
-
Katherine Audas
-
Kate Jarvis
-
Jaymeson Pon