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Applications now being accepted for 32nd Young Texas Artists Music Competition

By: Susan Love Fitts Communications
| Published 11/17/2015

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Applications are now being accepted for the 32nd Young Texas Artists Music Competition (YTA), hosted by the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society, March 10-12, 2016 at the historic Crighton Theatre in Conroe, Texas.

A Texas competition for Texas artists, YTA is dedicated to celebrating and supporting the Lone Star State’s new generation of classical musicians and vocalists. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 32 and Texas residents or students enrolled in a Texas college, university or music school. Professional performance opportunities and $20,000 in monetary prizes will be awarded.

“YTA not only showcases the world-class performers who are right in our own backyard – we invest in them,” said Susie Pokorski, YTA chair. “YTA is a manifestation of Texas pride, Texas hospitality and a labor of love for the citizens of Conroe. The competition proves year after year to be a place of new friendships, insightful discoveries and support for talented young performers.”

The musicians will compete in their choice of four divisions: Voice; Piano; Strings; and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar.

“YTA takes a more global approach to artistry and therefore is not limited to one art music genre. YTA celebrates music-making at its highest form, regardless of the choice of instrument,” said Emelyne Bingham, YTA artistic director.

Unique to YTA, a panel of five judges, all esteemed leaders in their respective disciplines, provide valuable, written critique to all competitors. While the 2016 YTA judging panel will be announced soon, past panelists have hailed from such respected institutions as Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Juilliard School, The Metropolitan Opera, Eastman School of Music, Santa Fe Opera, Manhattan School of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music.

“I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity that everyone involved with YTA showed me,” said clarinetist Graeme Johnson, YTA 2014 Silver Medal winner of the Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar division. “I was thrilled to perform for a theater full of such enthusiastic concert-goers, and in talking with several attendees after the final concert, it was very clear to me that the competition has a devoted following in the community. I was also very impressed by the caliber of musicians the competition attracts. Every stage of the competition was an exciting and positive experience for me.”

Praise also comes from top music educators. "I've heard so much about the competition from students of mine over the years, including [pianist] Andrew Staupe, and it is one competition I always encourage my best students to enter," said Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

Preliminary rounds of the competition, which are free and open to the public, will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 10, 11 and 12, 2016.

The Finalists' Concert and Awards, featuring the top two finalists from each category will be held at the Crighton Theatre in Conroe on Saturday evening, March 12, 2016. Gold and Silver Medals will be awarded for each division, and a Grand Prize and Audience Choice award will be presented.

Complete information, application forms and eligibility requirements are available at youngtexasartists.org. All submissions, including the application, required fees and materials, must be received by Dec. 31, 2015. Contact Young Texas Artists Music Competition at info@ytamc.com or 713-574-9820 for more information.

The annual Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala will be held the evening of the Finalists' Concert and Awards. Tickets to the gala and Finalists' Concert and Awards are available at crightontheatre.org.

For sponsorship information, contact Susie Pokorski at 936-756-7017 or susiepokorski@gmail.com.

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