The participants in this year’s competition provided us with two days of exceptional musical performances. Congratulations to all contestants and their teachers!
The first-place winner in each division will perform with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, directed by Branden Muresan. Concerts will take place at:
Mira Costa College – Oceanside Campus Concert Hall (Bldg 2400), 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
DIVISION I PIANO (through 11 yrs old)
First Place: JANELLE CHEN – Mozart Concerto in A Major, K.414, 1st mvt
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat March 15-16, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Second Place: Claire Chen
Third Place: Claire Ding
Honorable Mentions: Kye Urgolites, Julia Yu, Mananya Debnath, Daren Ren
Studios represented for these award winners: Elena Edgar, Berta Godkin, Chris Kim, Carol Seefeldt, Anna Stal, Lori Vickers.
DIVISION II: PIANO (12-14 yrs old)
First Place: YEN-CHENG WU – Haydn Concerto in D Major, 3rd mvt
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat March 15-16, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Second Place: Luna Lee
Third Place: Ashley Li
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Jian, Clara Stone, Euan Lee, Aven Ko
Studios represented for these award winners: Carol Ong-Chen, Sun Yung Cho, Karen Follingstad, Minji Lee, Chetan Tierra, Lori Vickers.
DIVISION III: PIANO (15-18 yrs old)
First Place: VICTORIA CHEN – Grieg Concerto in A Minor, 1st mvt
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat March 15-16, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Second Place: Celine Kargodosa
Third Place: Khai West
Honorable Mentions: Yo Yo Wu, Ethan Chen
Studios represented for these award winners: Brendan Nguyen, Carol Seefeldt, Chetan Tierra, Ting Ting Zhang.
DIVISION IV: WINDS
First Place: MAGGIE LIANG – Ibert Concerto for Flute, 1st mvt
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat May 16-17, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Honorable Mentions: Ruth Tu
Studios represented for these award winners: Elena Yarritu
DIVISION V: STRINGS (through 13 yrs old)
First Place: EMEL CUBUKCU, violin – Mendelssohn Concerto E minor, 1st mvt
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat May 16-17, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Second Place: Aaron Seo
Third Place: Sequoia Jain-Hong
Honorable Mentions: Olivia Min
Studios represented for these award winners: Sunjin Kim, Michael Tseitlin, Pasha Tseitlin.
DIVISION VI: STRINGS (14-18 yrs old)
First Place: CAITLIN WANG, violin – Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21
~ Performs with the Mira Costa College Symphony Orchestra, Branden Muresan, conductor, on Fri-Sat May 16-17, 2025 (7:30 pm)
Second Place: Julian Wu (cello)
Third Place: Tracie Liu (violin)
Honorable Mentions: Caroline Lee (violin) Alvin Wang (violin), Helen Wang (cello)
Studios represented for these award winners: Ruslan Biryukov, Chia-Ling Chien, Susanna Han, Irina Tseitlin, Michael Tseitlin, Pasha Tseitlin.
Thank you to those who were tremendously helpful to me during the competition:
Sun Yung Cho, Kathy Kim, Carol Ong-Chen, Carol Seefeldt, Chetan Tierra, Melissa Tierra, Lori Vickers, Ting Ting Zhang in piano. Elena Yarritu in winds, and Michael Dvoskin, Susanna Han, and Pasha Tseitlin in strings. And a SPECIAL thank you to Carol Seefeldt who scanned all judges’ comment sheets so they could be emailed to you quickly!
There were 27 teachers who participated this year and a total of 55 students competing!
Cheers to all!