At the beginning of the school year, the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) held their annual Concerto Competition. The YPAS Concerto competition was started by former band director Dennis Robinson in the 1993/1994 school year, Bryan Crady, assistant principal at YPAS, said. Over the history of the competition, pianists, vocalists and every instrument in between is well represented in the list of Concerto Competition winners.

“It’s an opportunity for our really talented musicians, that are juniors and seniors, to play an incredibly difficult solo with a large ensemble as their backup,” Crady said, “It definitely motivates our students to work really hard over the summer in preparing for those auditions.” 

Anywhere from 10 to 20 of the magnet’s most dedicated musicians compete in the competition every year. After multiple rounds of auditions culminating in a final round judged by professional guest musicians, three winners are chosen to perform their solos with orchestra accompaniment throughout the school year. 

Colin Selch (11, YPAS) was the first Concerto Competition finalist. He played his trumpet solo, “Centennial Horizon” by Kevin McKee, with the orchestra in December.

“It was super exhilarating,” Selch said, “It was a great ensemble experience and I felt very fulfilled at the end of the concert.”

The Concerto Competition is a wonderful opportunity for other student musicians as well.

 “It also gives the ensembles the opportunity to perform some really incredible masterworks that they wouldn’t get  to play anywhere else. It’s good for all of our students, whether you win or not, you’re probably going to play in the ensemble that gets to perform with the soloist,” Crady said.

“I was already very excited to play because I had had lessons from my teacher and other pianists,” Rashid Hong (12,YPAS) said. Hong performed the piano solo “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin in March, and said playing the piece with the orchestra behind him brought it to life even more. 

The caliber of music played by competition winners is unmatched almost anywhere in the country. 

“It’s not just your standard, high school students. It’s really professional quality,” Crady said, “A lot of them are masterworks, well known pieces that you might see the Louisville Orchestra perform with a guest artist or maybe some other large orchestra somewhere.” 

Reice Hudson (12, YPAS) is the final Concerto Competition winner for this school year and will play the first movement of the “Nielsen Flute Concerto” on May 8. 

“I feel excited and thrilled to share all of the hard work and dedication everyone has put into this piece with the audience,” Hudson said.

  The YPAS Concerto Competition was created to celebrate the talent of YPAS’ upperclassmen, but the competition also encourages everyone to be the best musician they can be. 

“It’s exciting every year. Competition is always good and makes everybody work harder,” Crady said. 

Tonight, Hudson will perform her concerto at the YPAS mainstage at 7 p.m. admission is free.