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50th Annual Edith Knox
Performance Competition

Results

The application period is closed.

First Prize $1600


Preliminary Competition
(Audience By Special Invitation)
 
Saturday
February 11, 2023 9am-5pm
Los Angeles Harbor College
Previous Winners
Recent Winners

Second Prize $850


Final Showcase Competition
(Open to the public)
 
February 26, 2023, 2pm-6pm
Auditorium
Redondo Union High School
222 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach,CA 90277

The First Place winner will be invited to perform as soloist with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro David Cubek, at our June 25, 2023 concert, and in recital on May 5, 2023 in Classical Crossroads' First Fridays at First concert series at Torrance, California. On-line applications will be accepted from November 15, 2022 through noon January 15, 2023.

Cash Prizes
First Place $1600
Second Place $850
Third Place $600
Fourth Place $450
Fifth Place $350

Competition Rules:

The Competition is open to instrumentalists who have not attained the age of 25 by June 1, 2023. Proof of age may be required at the Preliminary Competition. Audition times will be assigned based upon date applications are received. In the event there are an unusually large number of applicants, you may be asked to provide a CD or DVD of a sample performance, and not all applicants may be selected for the preliminary round.

Entrants must perform a concerto in its entirety or other work for solo instrument and orchestra from the standard repertoire that is equivalent in terms of difficulty and length. Selections are subject to approval by the Chairs of the Knox and Artistic committees and the Music Director and must be performed from memory with piano accompaniment.

Accompanists must be provided for both Preliminary and Final Competitions. Please ensure your accompanist is available for both performances. In addition to appearing at both Competitions, finalists must be available to appear in concert with the Symphony on June 25, 2023 and are required to attend scheduled one or two rehearsals at Harbor College and the final rehearsal on June 25 at Redondo Union High School. The winner must also be available to play a short, solo recital at 12:15 PM on May 5 in the Classical Crossroads' First Fridays at First concert series. An honorarium of $1000 will be provided by Classical Crossroads for this recital.

Decisions of the judges are final. Neither oral nor written critiques will be provided.

Applications must be submitted on-line beginning November 15, 2022 and not later than noon (PST) on January 15, 2023.

Edith Knox Performance Competition and prizes are made possible through support provided by Edith Knox Fund, the Mimi Horowitz Fund, and individual donors (Angels).


 

Results from 2023

Winner Cameron Akioka, Piano Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major
Second Rin Homma, Piano Ravel: Piano Concerto G major
Third Sophie Bell, Violin Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor
Fourth Lauren Spring, Violin Neruda: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major
Fifth Nathaniel Yue, Cello Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor

Results from 2022

Winner Mei Hotta, Cello Shostakovich: Cello Concerto in E-flat major
Second David Choi, Piano Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
Third Rachel Kim, Violin Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major
FourthElaine Tai, Cello Schumann: Cello in A minor
Fifth Natalie Kwok, Cello Tchaikovsky: Variations of a Rococo Theme

Results from 2020

Winner Mi-Hyun Suh, Piano Chopin: Concerto for Piano in F minor
Second (tie)Tiffany Koo Piano Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 for Piano
Second (tie)Kevin Song, CelloTchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
ThirdAustin Ho, PianoRachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Paganini
Fourth Dallas Noble, Violin Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor

Results from 2019

Winner Audrey Park, Violin Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor
Second Irene Lee, Cello Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Third (tie)Tiffany Koo Piano Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 for Piano
Third (tie)Dominik Yoder, PianoRachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Paganini
Fourth Eilene Tai, Cello Elgar: Cello Concerto

Results from 2018

Winner Victor Shlyaknenko, Piano Liszt Concerto for Piano No. 1
Second Strauss Shir, Violin Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor
Third Max Hammond, Violin Prokofiev: Concerto for Piano No. 3 in C major,
Fourth Clayton Dungey, Tuba Vaughn Williams: Concerto for Tuba
Fifth Annie SeEun Hyung, Cello Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor

Results from 2017

Winner Nicholas Mariscal, Cello Samuel Barber: Concerto for Cello, Opus 22
Second Michael Harper, Trumpet Arutunian: Concerto for Trumpet
Third Heidi Hatch, Violin Korngold: Concerto for Violin, Opus 35
Fourth Tomlin Su, Violin Glazunov: Concerto for Violin, Opus 82
Fifth Max Hammond, Piano Schumann: Piano Concerto, Opus 54

Results from 2016

WinnerCaroline Ho Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 for Piano in B-flat minor, Opus 23
SecondRainer Crosett Bloch Schelomo: Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello
Third Dillon Parker Edward Gregson Concerto for Trumpet
Forth Max Hammond Rachmaninoff Concerto for Piano No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18
Fifth Kristi Kim Elgar Concerto for Cello in E minor, Opus 85
   

Results from 2015

Winner Jihyun Lily Moon Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
Second Usha Kapoor Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
Third Minh NguyenRachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Opus 30
Fourth Kristi KimElgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Opus 85
Fifth Jamie Kim Chaminade Flute Concertino in D major, Opus 107
   

Results from 2014

Winner Erick Y. ChongDvořák Concerto for Cello in B minor
Second Howard ChenProkofiev Concerto no. 3 for Piano in C major
Third Karen Su Bruch Violin Concerto no. 1 G minor
FourthJeffery Li Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor
Fifth Yuet Ka (Keri) HuiSaint-Saëns Piano Concerto no. 5 in F major
   

Results from 2013

WinnerHao Zhou Wienaiwski Violin Concerto no. 1
Second Joseph Morris Nielsen Clarinet Concerto
Third Erick Y. Chong Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations for Cello in A major
Third Shotaro Matsumoto Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major
Honorable Mention Karen Su Wieniawski Violin Concerto no. 2 in D minor
Honorable Mention Geneva Lewis Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no. 3
Honorable Mention Noah Sonderling Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 1 in D♭
   

Results from 2012

WinnerMichelle TsengTchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D
SecondJonathan Mamora Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 3
ThirdJeffery LiProkofiev Sinfonia Concertante in E minor
ThirdJesse ChenSibelius Violin Concerto
Honorable MentionYifan ZhouBrahms Violin Concerto in D
Honorable MentionIsabella MaGrieg Piano Concerto in A minor
   

Some previous winners

  • 2014: Erick Chong (Dvorak Cello Concerto ) will attend USC where he will study cello.Watch him at Spotlight 2014 and in a trio (can you believe these kids!) Leonard Chong and Isabella Ma (Knox 2012 Honorable Mention).
  • 2014 2nd: Howard Chen (Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3) is a piano performance and composition student at UCLA. See him in rehearsal at UCLA
  • 2013: Hao Zhou, 16 (Wienaiwski Violin Concerto #1 in F# minor) is at the Colburn School and continues to show well in competitions. Colburn Honors String Quartet
  • 2012: Michelle Tseng, 20 (Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major) is at USC studying violin. A Jazz Violin video. Brahms Clarinet Quintet with Joseph Morris (Knox 2013 2nd Place).
  • 2011 (co-winner): Stephanie Ng, 21 )Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini) For her YouTube page.
  • 2011 (co-winner): Mimi Jung, 16 (Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major) Mimi is at Carnegie Mellon. To see her perform.
  • 2010: Chloe J. Y. Hong, 13 (Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor) Chloe is a student at the Colburn School.
  • 2009: Kristie Su, 14 (Glazunov Violin Concerto in A minor) is in Rotterdam studying history and playing the Lebet String Quartet. Click for her bio. Click to see them play.
  • Susan Boettger is a professional musician and teacher. She is in Huntington Beach California.
  • Jeffery Li is a software engineer by day and professional cellist.
  • Kyle Shafiee is a professional musician.
  • Derek Polischuk is assistant professor of Piano at Michigan State University College of Music.
  • 2008: Kristina Jacinth, 19 (Prokofiev Piano Concerto #3 in C Major) is working as a pianist, teaching piano and as a photographer, some of her work can be found on her photography website, kristinajacinth.com.
  • 2007: Yina Tong, 19 (Bloch Schelomo Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello) has a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory.She is working as a cellist. To see her perform.
  • 2006: Min Hwan Kim, 18 (Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 in Bb Minor) Please send an update.
  • 2005: Sean Lee, 18 (Brahms Violin Concerto) is a concert soloist and teaching at The Juilliard School as a member of the Pre-College Chamber Music Faculty. Click to hear him play.
  • 2004: Alice Chen, 17 (Liszt Piano Concerto #1 in Eb Major) has a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago and is still winning concerto competitions. Watch her play.
  • 2003: Esther Kim, 15 (Ravel Tzigane for Violin) worked as a soloist. She toured Japan and made a CD which is available from Amazon Japan. Click to hear her play. Click for her website.
  • 2002: Christine Yu, 22 (Liszt Piano Concerto #1 in Eb Major) is teaching piano in the San Francisco bay area. She has BS in Biology, BA in Piano from Stanford, Master and Doctorate in Piano Performance from USC.
  • 2001 co-winner: Joon Sung Jun, 24 (Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello) is teaching at Cal State Long Beach and performing professionally as a soloist and in chamber groups.
  • 2001 co-winner: Xin Xin, 23 (Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3 in D Minor) was born in Beijing China, studied piano in Southern Calofornia and is now teaching at Central China Normal University. Watch him play.
  • 2000: Grace Fong, 20 (Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor) is currently the Director of Keyboard Studies at Chapman University Conservatory of Music. She has degress from USC and PhD from Cleveland Institute of Music. She still performs and is a judge for music competitions. Listen to her play.
  • 1999: Sally Kikuchi, 11 (Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2)Please send an update.
  • 1998: Joseph Keel, 15 (Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor) Please send an update.
  • 1997: Esther Keel, 11 (Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1) is working as a piano soloist. She has Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. She has performed with over twenty orchestras across the United States including the Jacksonville Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Korean American Symphony, The Juilliard Orchestra, Merrick Symphony, Mozart Festival Orchestra, Peninsula Symphony, Colburn Orchestra, and the San Francisco State Symphony, She is scheduled to play with the Pasadena Symphony on January 17, 2015.
  • 1996: Yvonne Lam, 14 (Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor) has performs as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, the Auckland Philharmonia, and the American Youth Symphony. She is with the Grammy-Award-winning contemporary music ensemble eighth blackbird. Visit website or listen her play.
  • 1995: Angela Wu, 14 (Schumann Piano Concerto) earned PhD and Master degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan. She has toured as a soloist and taught at Murray State University and Unoversity of Michigan. Click here to watch her play and for her website.
  • 1994: Jian Wang, 21 (Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 1 in A minor) Please send an update.
  • 1993: Jennifer Bai (Mozart Violin Concerto No.4 in D Major) is playing with the Seattle Symphony. She played on recordings by Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews and Alejandro Sanz.
  • 1992: Kevin Kumar, 16 (Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor) is a professional soloist and atristic director for Salastina Music Society in Pasadena.Click to to hear him play.
  • 1991: Jeremy Justeson, 20 (Ibert Concertino de Camera for Alto Saxophone) has a PhD from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Justeson currently serves as the Director of the Wind Ensemble and Professor of Saxophone at Kutztown University. Click to hear him play and here for his website.
  • 1989: Linda Wang (Barber Violin Concerto) is teaching at the University of Colorado. She has worked as a soloist with orcheatras around the world. She has 4 CDs, available at iTunes and Amazon. Click here to see her repertoire.
  • 1987: Sheryl Staples, 18 (Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major) is with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She has with more than 40 orchestras nationwide, including The Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles and Louisiana Philharmonic orchestras, and the San Diego Pacific, and Albany symphony orchestras. She made her New York Philharmonic solo debut in 1999 performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. She is on the faculty of The Juilliard School, where she teaches orchestral excerpts. Ms. Staples performs on the “Kartman” Guarnerius del Gesu, c. 1728.
  • 1986: Alan Gampel (Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor) is a professional piano soloist. Click here to see his repertoire. He has played with the Chicago Symphony, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and Ensemble Orchestrale de Paris. Here he is playing "Pictures at an Exhibition"
  • 1983: Andrew Pearce (Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto in A minor)joined the Boston Symphony in 1997. Has played with Boston Pops and Chris Botti. Taught at Vancouver Academy of Music.
  • 1982: Allison Glass (Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1)
  • 1981: Brian Bader, 23 (Liszt Totentanz (Dance Macabre)) studied at San Francisco Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Played at Weill Recital Hall in New York.



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