CONROE, Texas – Oct. 26, 2018 – The Young Texas Artists Music Competition is now accepting applications for its classical music mentoring and career development event to be held March 7-9, 2019, at the Crighton Theatre, 234 North Main St., in Downtown Conroe.
The three-day event offers awards in four divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. Open to musicians between the ages of 18 and 32 who are Texas residents or attending a Texas college, university or music school, applicants will have an opportunity to compete with their peers for a share of $20,000 in cash prizes and several performance opportunities.
“To meet, mentor and promote the exceptionally talented musicians the competition brings to our community is the best possible payback for the many hours of hard work provided by the loving hands and hearts of Conroe- and The Woodlands-area volunteers,” YTA President and CEO Susie Pokorski said. “We consider the success of our winners as our success and are very proud of the professionals the competition has helped launch.”
To judge the artists, YTA invites highly regarded musicians and educators from respected institutions that in the past have included Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Juilliard School, Metropolitan Opera, Eastman School of Music, Santa Fe Opera, Manhattan School of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music, who will provide written critique to all competitors.
“I first became affiliated with the Young Texas Artists Music Competition as a judge and was inspired by the program’s mission to continually encourage excellence in its musicians and wanted to do more,” Emelyne Bingham, YTA artistic director, said. “I love being a part of the mentoring process these young artists experience throughout the event.”
Preliminary rounds of the competition are free and open to the public and will take place at the Crighton Theatre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 7, 8 and 9, with the Finalists’ Concert and Awards on Saturday evening, March 9. In addition to Silver and Gold Medals in each division, a Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award will be presented.
Information, application forms and eligibility requirements are now available at youngtexasartists.org. All submissions, including the application, required fees and materials, must be received by Dec. 31, 2018. The Young Texas Artists Music Competition can be reached at info@ytamc.com or 713-574-9820.
Prior to the Finalists’ Concert and Awards on Saturday, the annual fundraiser – Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala – will be held in downtown Conroe. For tickets to the gala and Finalists’ Concert and Awards, visit youngtexasartists.org.
To help sponsor or volunteer for the event contact Pokorski at 936-756-7017 or ytasusiep@gmail.com.
About Young Texas Artists
An official music competition of the State of Texas, Young Texas Artists Music Competition is a program of Young Texas Artists, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since its founding in 1983, YTA has encouraged excellence in young musicians, inspired their audiences and helped further the careers of thousands of classical musicians. It is one of the few competitions in the country that features four divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. This Texas competition for Texas artists has helped produce many distinguished professionals who have gone on to join orchestras, opera companies, universities and music schools around the world. Young Texas Artists is a member of the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance and the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce. youngtexasartists.org