2022 Caprio Young Artists Competition Winners Announced!

The Riverside Symphonia is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 Caprio Young Artists Competition!

This competition offers exceptional young musicians 22 years old and under who live or study in NJ, NY, PA, or DE the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform with the orchestra.

The $2000 First Prize recipient is Yvonne Wang, clarinet, a 17 year old student in the Pre-College Program at The Juilliard School of Music.

The $1000 Second Prize recipient is Zoe Yost, viola, a 19 year old student who will be part of the Class of 2026 at the San Francisco Conservatory.

The $500 Third Prize recipient is Bethany Bobbs, cello, an 18 year old student at The Juilliard School.

The Caprio Competition honors the life and memory of John Michael Caprio, founding Founding Music Director and Conductor of the Riverside Symphonia. Since 1998, many outstanding musicians have received financial support and performance opportunities.

Thank you to our 2022 sponsors:

First Prize: The Arts & Letters Foundation, New York, NY
Second Prize: Barbara & Jay Belding, New Hope, PA
Third Prize: ShopRite of Flemington, Flemington, NJ

Listen now to our winners:

Chelsie Lim, Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, 1st movement: 

Dylan Hamme, Barber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,1st movement:  

Yihang Li, Shostakovich Cello Concerto, 1st movement

Press:
Bucks County Herald 2016

2018

First Prize: Robin Park, Cello, 17, Princeton, NJ;
Second Prize: Eliana Yang, 18, Cello, Philadelphia, PA;
Third Prize: Joshua Choi, 13, Clarinet, Palisades Park, NJ.

2016 

First Prize: Zachary Fung, cello; student at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and Temple University Music Prep.
Second Prize: Ania Filochowska, violin; student at the Curtis Institute.
Third Prize: Joshua Park, marimba; student at Millburn High School, Millburn, NJ.

2012

First Prize: Piotr Filochowski, Violin. Winner of over 30 national and international violin competitions, Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music.
Second Prize: Yuki Koyama, Cello. Recipient of Stephen Kates Memorial Fellowship; national finalist in the MTNA Young Artist Competition, ASTA National Solo Competition.
Third Prize: Lillian Lee, Violin. Soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Warminster Symphony Orchestra; first prize at 2010 and 2011 Music Teachers National Association Connecticut State Competitions.

2010

First Prize: Clare Semes, Violin. Graduate of The Juilliard School; Member of violin duo “Les Deux”; soloist with Newark Symphony, Riverside Symphonia, Ocean City Pops, Shanghai Philharmonic.
Second Prize: Su Hyun Park, Violin. Graduate of The Juilliard School soloist with The Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, Monmouth Symphony Orchestra and Taegu Philharmonic Orchestra.

2008

First Prize: Malwina Sosnowski, Violin. Chamber musician and soloist. Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music where she received “Milka Award”. Performs internationally with orchestras and on TV and radio.
Second Prize: Coline-Marie Orliac, Harp. Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music. Performed with Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustave Mahler Youth Orchestra.
Finalists: Ah Young Julia Choi, Violin; Ryu Cipris, Flute; Achilles Liarmakopoulos, Trombone

2006

First Prize: Fora Baltacigil, Double Bass. Active recitalist and international performer; Principal Bass Player, New York Philharmonic (2012-2014).
Second Prize Tie: Jenny Chang, Violin. Violinist with Royal Northern Sinfonia, Great Britain;  and Brian Jordan, Marimba. Principal Percussionist, Naples Philharmonic; performed with orchestras across the country including Philadelphia Orchestra, and National Reperatory Orchestra in Colorado
Finalists: Ania Filochowska, Violin; Grace Kang, Violin; Jessica Sibelman, Clarinet

2004

First Prize: Christina Ann Vigilante, Flute
Second Prize: Peanut Wai-Ping Wong, Marimba
Finalists: Jessica Wang, Cello; Honorable Mention: Robyn Bollinger, Violin

2002

First Prize: Hannah Stitzinger Eldridge, Violin. Native of Bucks County, PA and member of “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army Strings since September 2008. Soloist with National Philharmonic, Delaware Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and many others. Received dual Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University.
Second Prize: Rachel Ku, Violin. Violinist with Philadelphia Orchestra; soloist with Delaware Symphony Orchestra; recipient of many awards and teaches privately.
Finalists: Kiran Auerbach, Violin; Lear Janiv, Violin

2000

First Prize: Denise Djokic, Cello. Soloist and chamber musician based in Canada who performs in North America and Europe .  Star of “Seven Days, Seven Nights” documentary film and featured artist on 2002 Grammy Awards.  Award winning recording artist for several CDs including “Folkore”. Her Carnegie Hall debut occurred in 2012.  Frequent guest at music festivals and teaches with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
Second Prize: Harumi Rhodes, Violin. Assistant Professor, Syracuse University; founding member of Trio Cavatina; soloist and performer; graduate of The Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory.
Finalists: Soo Bae, Cello; Rachel Ku, Viola; Robert Moose, Violin; Harumi Rhodes, Violin; Hanna Stitzinger, Violin, Shawn Wyckoff, Flute

1998

First Prize: Jeremy Kurtz, Double Bass. Principal Bassist of the San Diego Symphony and on the faculty of San Diego State University.  Graduate of Curtis Institute and Rice University.  Solo CD “Sonatas and Meditations”.
Second Prize: Giora Schmidt, Violin
Finalists: Mimi Stillman, Flute; Jacob Hines, Piano; Jason Calloway, Cello