Our Youth Programs

For over sixty years, the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra has been committed to enriching the culture and encouraging the musical advancement of youth. School-age children and students of all ages receive deep discounts on our subscriptions and individual concert tickets. The MSO also encourages musically talented local youth through our special programs: the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and the Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship.

The Monmouth Symphony Orchestra
Young Artist Concerto Competition

Now Statewide!

The Monmouth Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition is now open to all New Jersey resident students who have not yet graduated from high school. String, wind, and piano players are eligible to apply.

Interested students must submit an application, to be received by the MSO by January 15, 2011, in which they state their intended competition piece, which should be from standard orchestral literature. An audition recording must be submitted with the application. The competition piece should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes in length, and may be a single movement or a number of short movements. The recording must include orchestral or piano accompaniment. The recording medium must be a standard CD, as playable on an ordinary home or car CD player. Other formats are not acceptable. The technical quality of the recording should be sufficient as to not negatively influence the screening panel.

A panel of orchestra personnel will select the finalists, who will perform their competition piece for an independent jury in a public audition in March 2011 (exact date and place to be determined).

Monetary prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third prize winners.

The first prize winner will play a concerto or other solo work in at least one performance with the MSO during the following concert season (fall of 2010). Concert dates are to be determined.

To apply, please click to open and then print the Young Artist Concerto Competition Application. This is an Adobe PDF file. If you need the free Adobe Reader, click the logo at the bottom of this page.

If you need more information about the Young Artist Concerto Competition, please write to youthprograms@monmouthsymphony.org.

Congratulations to our 2010-2011 Young Artist Concerto Competition Winners!
	First Place and Winner of $500 Scholarship Kevin Jang Kevin Jang is a pianist, having studied for 11 years. Kevin resides in Edison and is 15 years old. He is in the 10th grade and is home-schooled. He currently studies with Susan Starr and has studied with Victoria Mushkatkol. His ensemble playing experience includes being piano soloist with the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra, Edison Symphony, Giavane Sinfonietta Clodiense (Italy), Orchestra Sinfonica di Chioggia (Italy), Plainfield Symphony, and Warminster Symphony; chamber music ensemble with bassoon, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. He performed Edward MacDowell's Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 23, 1st (Larghetto calmato) and 2nd (Presto giocoso) movements.
	Second Place and Winner of $300 Scholarship Dawn Wang Dawn Wang is a violinist, having studied for 11 years. Dawn resides in North Haledon. She is 16 years old and is in the 11th grade at Eastern Christian High School. She currently studies with Maseo Kawasaki and has studied with Sally Thomas and Ann Setzer. Her ensemble playing experience includes school orchestra since first grade, Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra and Symphony for seven years, Juilliard Pre-College chamber music program for seven years (clarinet trio, string quartets, and piano trios), chamber music at Meadowmount School of Music, and Great Mountains Music Festival in Korea. She performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Opus 47, Allegro moderato (first movement).
	Third Place and Winner of $200 Scholarship Sydney Lee Sydney Lee is a cellist. Sydney resides in Oakland. She is 13 years old and is in the seventh grade at Valley Middle School in Oakland. Her current teacher is Clara Kim, and she has studied with Jerome Carrington, Wendy Warner, and Sue Lee. Her ensemble playing experience includes the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra (2006-present), the Thurnauer Chamber Music Summer Camp (2005) and the Bergen Youth Orchestra (2003-2004). She performed the Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, 4th movement.

Thanks to generous support from Herbert R. and Evelyn Axelrod, the MSO's annual Young Artist Concerto Competition held at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park, NJ on March 21, 2010 was a huge success!

The Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship

The Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship was established in memory of Michael Goldwasser, one of the founders and first president of the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra. The scholarship is awarded annually to a Monmouth County high school senior who plays a stringed instrument, including classical guitar, and intends to continue studying music in college. Applicants must submit a written application and play a short audition piece.

Interested students must submit an application, received by the MSO by April 1, 2011. Please click to open and then download the Application for the Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship. This is an Adobe PDF file. If you need the free Adobe Reader, click the logo at the bottom of this page.

If you need more information about the Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship, please write to youthprograms@monsym.org.

Contributions to the Michael H. Goldwasser Scholarship Fund may be made by sending a check payable to Monmouth Symphony Orchestra to the following address:

Monmouth Symphony Orchestra

131 Jumping Brook Road

Lincroft, New Jersey 07738

Please note on the check M. H. Goldwasser Scholarship Fund. All donations are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by letter.