Adelphi Orchestra announces the 20th anniversary Young Artist Competition winners

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The finals of the Adelphi Orchestra’s 20^th Young Artist Competition concluded on 20 April at the National Opera Center’s Marc Scorca Recital Hall in New York City, US. The grand prize was awarded to violinist Matthew Hakkarainen, who will perform with the Adelphi Orchestra during its 2024-2025 season.

The competition was open to musicians up to the age of 23 and comprised three categories.

In the junior category for musicians aged 14 and under, first place was awarded to violinist Jayden King, and second place to violinist Elizabeth song.

In the senior category for musicians aged 15–18, first place was won by cellist Nathaniel Yue, and second place by violinist Johnathan Okseniuk.

The college division was for musicians aged 18–23 or studying at university, college, or conservatory. First place was awarded to clarinettist Kingsley Hsieh, and second place to oboist Yang Yu. Grand prizewinner Hakkarainen was selected from this category.

US violinist Matthew Hakkarainen is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Pamela Frank, and is currently pursuing a master of music degree at the Juilliard School with Ronald Copes and Sylvia Rosenberg. He has won competitions including the Premio Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition, the New World Symphony’s Concerto Competition, and shared first prize in the Prix Ravel at the Conservatoire américain de Fontainebleau. He was also awarded the second prize, audience prize, and contemporary piece prize at the Mirecourt International Violin Competition, and third prize at the Stuttgart International Violin Competition. Hakkarainen performs on a 1790 Giuseppe Guadagnini violin and Étienne Pajeot bow on loan from Canimex Inc.

The Adelphi Orchestra is a professional, non-profit orchestra, and has sponsored the Young Artist Competition and Young Artist Concerts for 20 years. This year’s competition made honourable mentions of violinist Simone Hagopian and pianist Hongbo Cai.

Winners will have the chance to perform in the Adelphi Orchestra’s Young Artist Concert. Previous winners include violinists SoHyun Ko, Hikaru Yonezaki, Randall Goosby, Xiaoxuan Shi, Nathan Meltzer, Aris Boutris, Brieuc Vourch, and Ethan Siegel, and cellists Bryan Cheng, Dylan Wu, Jennifer Choi, Lindy Tsai, and Philo Lee.

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