MSYO holds an annual Concerto Competition in December and the winner(s) will be selected to perform a concerto movement or work for soloist and orchestra alongside Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra. The concerto must be on your orchestral instrument, memorized, and your audition should be accompanied by a pianist. The competition will be judged by professional musicians who do not work regularly with the auditioning candidates. Students will receive constructive feedback from the judges. (Participants must be members of MSYO for one year or longer and the competition is not open to the previous year’s winners.)
Kartikeya Akella, piano
Kartikeya, age 12, began his musical journey at age 5 and has been studying under Ms. Elizabeth Smolgovsky of B-Sharp Piano Studio in Foster City. Kartikeya passed Level 8 of the Music Teachers’ Association of California’s Certificate of Merit and played at the Los Angeles Convention in the summer of 2024 for earning State Honors. Over the years, he has received numerous accolades in top competitions, including the US Open Music Competition and San Mateo County Competition. He enjoys balancing piano and percussion in two prestigious youth orchestras: the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Golden State Youth Orchestra, and he also studies the guitar under Paul Psarras.
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, 2nd movement
Sydney Li-Jenkins, violin
at the Family Concert
2022-23 Winners:
Marin Symphony Family Concert and Symphony Day performer:
Jesse Chi, trumpet, Arutunian Trumpet Concerto
MSYO Concerto Soloists – Spring Concert:
Dheyan Lim, violin, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64 1st movement
Micaela Schillinger-Hyman, violin, Bruch Violin Concerto in g minor, Op. 26 1st movement
Marin Symphony Family Concert and Symphony Day performer:
Jesse Chi, trumpet, Arutunian Trumpet Concerto
MSYO Concerto Soloists – Spring Concert:
Dheyan Lim, violin, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in e minor, Op. 64 1st movement
Micaela Schillinger-Hyman, violin, Bruch Violin Concerto in g minor, Op. 26 1st movement