2025 Young Artist Auditions Winners

Hosted by the Rochester Philharmonic League since 1955, the Young Artist Auditions is the region’s most prestigious competition for high school-age musicians, recognizing talent and dedication in Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Strings, Piano, and Instrumental categories.

Final Round Winners - YAA 2025 - Photo by Daryl Kaplan

Grand Prize

Maria and Alberto Uy Scholarship ($1000 college scholarship) and an opportunity to perform with the RPO
Winner:  Gabriel Kulick, Marimba, Grade 11, Brighton High School, Kyle Peters

Aldridge-Tinker Scholarship for Instrumentalists

($1000 college scholarship)
Winner:  Milo Anderson, Piano, Grade 11, Fairport High School, Elier Suarez

Jan DeGaetani Scholarship for Vocalists

($1000 college scholarship)
Winner:  Juliet Besch-Turner, Mezzo-Soprano, Grade 10, Homeschool, Diane Abrahamian

Helen and George Greer Instrumental Award

(Winner: $750, Runner-up $300)
Winner:  Tristan Zhang, Oboe, grade 10, Pittsford Mendon High School, Erik Behr
Runner-up: Gabriel Kulick, Marimba, Grade 12, Brighton High School, Kyle Peters

Mildred and Julius Ness Award for Piano

(Winner: $750)
Winner:  Milo Anderson, Grade 11, Fairport High School, Elier Suarez

Nobel Hirsh Award for Male Vocalists

(Winner: $750, Runner-up $300)
Winner:  Vincent Mussumeci, Tenor, Grade 12, Greece Athena High School, Diane Abrahamian
Runner-Up: Ryan Hinks, Tenor, Grade 12, Newark High School, Judith Ranaletta

Ness Award Winner with Judges and Paul - 2025 photo by Daryl Kaplan
Contestant 111 and Accompanist Backstage - 2025 - Photo by Daryl Kaplan

Ruth and Sidney Salzman Award for Strings

(Winner: $750, Runner-up $300)

Winner:  Mia Sakonju, Violin, grade 12, Fayetteville-Manlius High School, Renée Jolles
Runner-up: Peyton Crony, Viola, Grade 12, School of the Arts, Roberta Zalkind
Honorable Mention: Abigail Feng, Cello, Grade 12, Jamesville-DeWitt High School, David Ying

Tessa Martin Award for Female Vocalists

(Winner: $750, Runner-up $300)

Winner:  Juliet Besch-Turner, Mezzo-Soprano, Grade 10, Homeschool, Diane Abrahamian
Runner-Up: Aaliyah Nicholas, Soprano, Grade 12, Pittsford Sutherland High School, Judith Ranaletta
Honorable Mention: Morgan Kerr, Mezzo-Soprano, Grade 12, Greece Arcadia High School

ABOUT THE RPL

 

The Rochester Philharmonic League (RPL) was founded in 1929 as a volunteer support group for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). For more than 80 years, the two organizations have collaborated to further their common goal of providing great music and music education in the greater Rochester community. The League’s current activities focus on educating young people about music and the RPO, and on fostering the advancement of music talent in the community’s youth.