The Atlanta Festival Academy (AFA) in Georgia hosted its first-ever Young Artist Competition on July 25 and 26, 2025, held at the Johns Creek United Methodist Church Sanctuary. Marking a milestone, this event was the first international classical music competition for youth and collegiate musicians ever held in Georgia.
Participants competed across three divisions: Young Artist (ages 14-23), Senior (ages 14-18), and Junior (age 13 and under).
Young Artist Division Highlights
In the Young Artist category, 14-year-old violinist Kazuki Kyo won the grand prize, receiving $10,000, a concerto performance opportunity with the AFA Festival Orchestra scheduled for August 2, 2025, and a solo recital to open the AFA Summer Music Institute in 2026.
The second prize of $2,000 was awarded to 19-year-old violinist Didi Stone, while third prize of $1,000 went to 17-year-old cellist Melissa Lam. Fourth place earned pianist Yiduo Zhao $300, and there was a joint fifth prize of $300 each given to 22-year-old cellist Gabriella McClellan and 19-year-old violinist Sam Vaillancourt.
Senior Division Results
In the Senior division, a joint first prize of $1,500 was shared by 14-year-old violinist Hamin You and 17-year-old pianist Dahyun Katie Yang. Third prize of $300 was awarded to 14-year-old violinist Ellie Kim, while 14-year-old violist Fisher Yu took fourth prize with $150.
Junior Division Winners
For the Junior division, first prize of $600 went to 12-year-old violinist Ling-Xi Ma. The second prize of $300 was claimed by 11-year-old pianist Chloe Jung. Third prize of $200 was awarded to 13-year-old violinist Jessie Wu. Additionally, two $100 prizes for fourth and fifth place were given to 10-year-old violist Ling-Rui Ma and 13-year-old flutist Charlotte Rogers, respectively.
Additional Opportunities and Jury Panel
Prize winners in the Senior and Junior divisions, along with selected participants, will benefit from free masterclasses led by jury members. Winners also gain opportunities to perform as soloists with an AFA orchestra and receive free tuition to participate in AFA Orchestras for one year.
The 2025 competition jury consisted of clarinetist Seunghee Lee, violinist Herbert Greenberg, pianist Ben Kim, and conductor Henry Cheng.
Herbert Greenberg, a violin instructor at the Peabody Conservatory and former concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, remarked, “Watching these young musicians perform on stage is a powerful reminder of everything that remains good and right in the world.”
Building on Established Foundations
Although this was the first year the AFA hosted the competition, it builds upon six years of international programming, including its summer institute, youth orchestras, and artist residencies, further enriching Georgia’s classical music scene.
Source: The Strad
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
