Orchestra Omaha has the honor of holding a Young Artists Competition during the fall/winter of each season. The competition is open to students in the following categories from Nebraska, western Iowa, and southeast South Dakota.
- String players ages 9-13 compete in the Junior Division
- String players ages 14-18 compete in the Senior Division
- Wind, brass, percussion, piano and harp players ages 13-18 compete in the Orchestral Division
The winner in each division is awarded a solo opportunity on an Orchestra Omaha concert, along with a cash prize. Past winners of the Junior Division must wait until they are the minimum age of the Senior Division (14) before they can compete again. Winners of the Senior Division are not eligible to compete again.
Pay your application fee online.
The 2025-2026 application period is closed. The 2026-27 application period will be opening late fall, updates will be posted here.
Concerto Competition Application Packet 2025-26
Information regarding past winners of this competition can be found here.
2026 Young Artist Competition Results for the Senior Strings Division (ages 14 & up):
- Senior Division Winner (tie): Auspy Li, violin 🎻
- Senior Division Winner (tie): Akiho Sugiyama, violin 🎻
- Senior Division Honorable Mention: Emelia Weaver, violin
2026 Young Artist Competition results for the Junior Strings Division (ages 9-13):
- Junior Division Winner: Faith Eugenia Scott, violin 🎻
- Junior Division Honorable Mention: Daah Oh, violin
2026 Young Artists Competition results for the Orchestral Division (Winds/Brass/Piano, ages 13 & up):
- The judges selected no winner in this division
