

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
Young Artist Competition Winners for 2025:
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Senior Piano Soloist - Indigo Della Badia. Performs with the Meridian Symphony in the May 3, 2025 concert.
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Junior Strings Soloist - Adrienne Jensen. Performs 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
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 Meridian Symphony has completed its 19th Annual Young Artist's Competition for student musicians through grade 12 from Southwest Idaho.
The annual competition is scheduled during the last week of January with competition auditions typically between 8am and 3pm on the competition day. 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 their two following season performances.
Competition guidelines [click here]
Competition application [click here]
The Symphony always looks forward to this annual event and the great music being prepared and performed by the outstanding young musicians in the Treasure Valley. We expect that this year will be no different and the feedback provided by our judges will continue to assist the student performers in their musical growth.
For any questions about the competition, please email Louise van der Eijk (Meridian Symphony harpist and YAC organizer) directly at drvandereijk@gmail.com, subject heading: YAC.

ANNUAL SOLOIST WINNERS
2025
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Adrienne Jensen
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Indigo Della Badia
2024
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Gunnar Henry
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Mia Huang
2023
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Hayoon Lee
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Darren Liu
2022
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Paige Malan
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Adelyn Bendorf
2021
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Julia Erway
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Truman Walker
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Zachary Cheng
2020
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Christian Nielsen
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Benjamin Gallafent
2019
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Alec Tzeng
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Gigi Finn
2018
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Reiko Tachibana
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Jake Curtis
2017
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Julia Caven
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Minjun Kwak
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Anthony Luo
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Christian Nielsen
2016
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Anna Black
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Fernando Perez
2015
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Aubrie Church
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Elizabeth Lee
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Anthony Luo
2014
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Anna Black
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John Shieh
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Lauren Vandervelden
2013
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Jacqueline Audas
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Noah Samuel Jessee
2012
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Anna Black
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Christa Cole
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Ethan Davis
2011
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Michelle Hembree
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Nolan Nguyen
2010
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Jacqueline Audas
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Jiwon Kim
2009
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Katherine Audas
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Stephanie L’Heureux
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Lisa Montierth
2008
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Nicole Oswald
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Sophie Petroski
2007
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Katherine Audas
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Kate Jarvis
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Jaymeson Pon