Youth Artist Competition

Each year, the Dexter Community Orchestra hosts a Youth Orchestra Competition with the goal of supporting and promoting talented young musicians in our community. By recognizing these musicians, the DCO strives to offer a platform where talented young individuals can showcase their talents as they develop into the next generation of performers. The winner has the opportunity to perform a concerto with a full orchestra, and will be recognized with a prize amount of $500. 

The competition is open to all piano, band, orchestra, and vocal students in grades 6 through 12 who reside in or attend school in any of the following Michigan counties: Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Jackson, Livingston, and Ingham. Past winners are ineligible. 

Previous winners include:

  • 2025 Sophia Chacko, Viola

  • 2024 Shuya Zheng, piano

  • 2023 Nathan Leung, saxophone

  • 2022 Ella Saputra, violin

  • 2020 Derek Zhu, piano

  • 2019 Elizabeth Li, flute

  • 2018 Yoav Hayut, violin

  • 2017 Alon Hayut, cello

  • 2016 Charles Berofsky, piano

  • 2015 Bum NamKoong, Bb clarinet

  • 2014 Paddy Harvey, cello and Forrest Flesher, piano

  • 2013 Emma Sandberg, violin

  • 2012 Stuart Carlson, violin and Giancarlo Latta, violin

  • 2011 Davis West, violin

  • 2010 Jacob Joyce, violin

  • 2009 Nathaniel Pierce, cello

  • 2008 J. Jesse Bennett, piano

  • 2007 Daniel Park, clarinet

  • 2006 Maria Xiang, horn and Sarah Schroeder, cello

For questions about the Youth Artist Competition, please contact dcoyouthartist@gmail.com.