Past Young Artist Competition Winners
2026 Winners
Sabine Rhodes Han, Violin
Soloist Sabine Rhodes Han began playing violin at age 4. She has studied with Margaret Gutierrez and Claude Sim, and is currently a student of Linda Wang at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music. Sabine is in the eighth grade at Denver School of the Arts
(DSA), where she majors in Orchestra and serves as Concertmaster. In 2025 she was featured with the DSA Orchestra, performing the “Spring” concerto from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. In 2024, Sabine attended the Lamont Summer Academy, where she studied with Igor Pikayzen and Eric Peterson, and was chosen to play in the solo honors recital. In 2025, she attended the Ascent Chamber Music Festival to study with Desiree Ruhstrat. This summer, Sabine will attend the summer program at the Heifetz International Music Institute.
Sabine will be performing the Violin Concerto, Op. 14 by Samuel Barber.
Sadie Rhodes Han, Violin
Soloist Sadie Rhodes Han began playing violin at age 4, and first soloed with an orchestra at age 10. She has studied with Margaret Gutierrez and Claude Sim, and is currently a student of Linda Wang at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music. Sadie has also studied with Desiree Ruhstrat, Rictor Noran, and Karla Donehew Perez, and recently performed in a masterclass featuring James Ehnes. In 2024, Sadie was one of the winners of the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition, and she has won concerto competitions with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO), the Denver School of the Arts (DSA), and the Colorado State Music Teachers Association. Sadie has served as Concertmaster with the DSA, the DYAO, and the Colorado All-State Orchestra. In 2025, she was featured on violin in two separate productions of the musical Hadestown, and she was the featured violinist in the DSA production of Big Fish, culminating in a mainstage performance in December 2025 with ThesCon in the Bellco Theater. Sadie is also active in chamber music, as a member of the Cantabile Quartet and the Con Brio Ensemble. This summer Sadie will attend the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, studying with Aimée Kreston of the Colburn School.
Sadie will be performing the Violin Concerto, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius
2025 Winners
Alexander Peterson, Cello
Cellist Alexander Peterson began his musical studies at age three on the violin with Margaret Gutierrez, and switched to cello at age six, studying with Matthew Switzer. His other teachers include Mary Beth Tyndall, Barbara Thiem, and Kimberley Patterson. At age nine, Alexander joined the Denver Young Artists Orchestra String Ensemble, and in 2015 he joined the DYAO, playing both in the section and as Principal Cellist. He often volunteers his time to share his music, performing with Young Musician Prelude in concerts for the Front Range Chamber Players in Denver and the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, Oregon. He performs each year at the Tunes for TaTas benefit concert, and volunteers for El Sistema. Alexander was an award winner in the 2023 Lakewood Symphony competition, and in 2024 he won the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Young Artists Solo Competition. He was also a winner in the 2024 DYAO Concerto Competition and will perform the Elgar Concerto at Boettcher Concert Hall in May 2025. He has played with the Interlochen Academy World Youth Symphony, and has participated in summer programs at Rocky Ridge Music Center and the University of Denver Lamont Summer Academy as principal cellist. Alexander is a senior at Kent Denver, and plans to attend college as a music and economics double major. At Kent, he participates in the music program as a member of the rock band SoularWave.
Alexander will be performing the Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 by Edward Elgar.
Mariel Bochner, Violin
Violinist Mariel Bochner began violin studies at age three at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, and since 2016 has studied with Margaret Soper Gutierrez in Denver. She has attended the Meadowmount School of Music, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the Colorado Music Festival. Mariel has been a member of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra since 2017, where she holds a leadership position and has won the DYAO concerto competition. This year she was a winner in the Young Artist Competitions of both the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra and the Loveland Orchestra. Mariel is currently in her sophomore year at D’Evelyn High School in Denver.
Mariel will be performing the Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82 by Alexander Glazunov.
2024 Winners
Middle School Division
Johanna Shaffer, Cello
Cellist Johanna Shaffer is in seventh grade and homeschools with Classical Conversations in Durango, Colorado. She began cello at age four. She currently studies with Avi Friedlander, director of the Barston Suzuki Center at the Music Institute of Chicago. Johanna is also grateful for the dedication of her former teachers: Sandy Kiefer, James Holland, and Trina Carey Hodgson.
As the youngest of four Suzuki-trained siblings, Johanna tagged along at music institutes and recitals from birth, often carrying a tiny violin case to copy her siblings. She later attended institutes in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Chicago, where she won the opportunity to perform in their honors recitals. At age five, she was the youngest winner at the Boulder Bach Festival. Since age 5, she has performed at the Annual Durango Bach Festival. She has received scholarships from Music in the Mountains and San Juan Symphony Musician Makers. Johanna keeps busy as part of the San Juan Symphony Youth Orchestra, a string quartet, and other chamber ensembles. She enjoys performing for locals and tourists on our busy Durango Main Street with cellist friends.
Besides playing cello, Johanna also danced as a soldier in State Street Ballet’s Nutcracker and sang with the Durango Children’s Chorale. She competes with Durango Swim Team and loves to ski and read in her spare time.
Johanna will be performing the Camille Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor
High School Division
Sadie Rhodes Han, Violin
Sadie Rhodes Han began her violin studies with Margaret Gutierrez at the age of 4. She currently studies with Claude Sim, Associate Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Sadie’s first public performance with an orchestra was at the age of 10 and she has since attended the Peaks to Plains Music Institute and The Lamont Summer Academy where she was chosen to perform on the honors solo and chamber recitals both summers she attended. She has also been a member of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra for the past 2 years.
Sadie has attended Denver School of the Arts since the 6th grade and served as Concertmaster of the Sinfonia Orchestra. She is now a freshman and just returned from a tour of Italy, where the orchestra performed in Rome, Florence and Venice. She placed 3rd in the Lakewood Symphony Concerto Competition in 2023 and performed in April 2024 with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra at Boettcher Concert Hall as the winner of their concerto competition.
When she is not playing violin, Sadie also enjoys playing the piano and guitar, traveling with her family, baking cakes, and watching old movies with her mom and 2 dogs.
Sadie will be performing the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.
2023 Winners
Middle School Division
Raditya Muljadi, Piano
Raditya Muljadi, piano, is in the eighth grade at Ascent Classical Academy in Lone Tree. He began piano studies at age four, and currently studies piano with Jasmine Lee Steadman and Larry Graham, and theory and composition with Sean Friar at Lamont School of Music. Raditya gave his first solo recital at age nine at Jaya Suprana School of Performing Arts in Jakarta, Indonesia. Since 2015, Raditya has won numerous competitions sponsored by Schmitt Music, Steinway, Yamaha, and Colorado State Music Teachers Association. In 2020 and 2022 he represented Colorado as the winner of the MTNA Competition.
He was also a gold medalist of the 2022 International Keyboard Odyssiad Festival, Carmel International Piano Competition, Chicago International Piano Competition, and International Paderewski and Tkaczewski Piano Competitions. Raditya has also participated in Rubato Competition and Singapore International Piano Competition. He has soloed twice with the National Repertory Orchestra at the Breckenridge Music Festival, and he has performed at Red Rocks to open their 80th season. Nationally, he has performed at Carnegie Hall and for the Benefit Gala Concert by the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. Raditya has been featured on television by the CBS Evening News, FOX31 Denver, and Rocky Mountain PBS News.
Raditya will be performing the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
High School Division
Camryn Olsten, Violin
Camryn Olsten, violin, is in the 10th grade at Summit Academy in Westminster, and is a full-time student at Front Range Community College. She began violin studies at age five, and currently studies with Claude Sim, Associate Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony. Her previous teachers include Annette Green, Zachary Carrettin, Harumi Rhodes, John Shim, and Lydia Gao. Camryn has won many local competitions, including the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO) Young Artist Alliance, the EOP String Competition, and Rising Stars.
She was a member of the Western States Honor Orchestra and Colorado All State Orchestra, and has served as Concertmaster for the Middle School Orchestra at Denver School of the Arts. For many years, Camryn and her siblings have played holiday music at numerous local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Besides violin, her other instruments include guitar, ukulele, piano, and cello.
Camryn will be performing the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35.
Misa Stanton, Violin
Violin soloist Misa Stanton began her violin studies at the age of three, and currently studies with James Maurer. Previous teachers include Jacqueline Maurer and Christine Rewoliski.
Since 2017 she has been a member of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, where she has served as Concertmaster, Assistant Concertmaster, and Principal Second Violin. In 2013 Misa was a soloist with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra; in 2019, she won first place in the junior division of the Colorado Young Sinfonia concerto competition; and, in 2020 she was a finalist in the Denver Young Artists Orchestra concerto competition.
She has played with the Non Sibi String Quartet, which was featured on CPR Classical Radio. In 2020 Misa co-founded the Evergreen String Quartet, which has performed at fundraisers and other events across Colorado. She is currently a home-high school junior.
Misa will be performing the Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61, Movement 1: Allegro non troppo.
2020 Winners
Middle School Division
Abbie Kroll, Piano
Abbie Kroll, 12, is a 7th grader at CCSD Challenge Middle School and is currently studying piano with Mrs. Jasmine Steadman.
She started lessons at age 5 with Carolyn Shaak, and in the next few years she performed Haydn’s Concerto in C, first and third movements, with Colorado’s Inside the Orchestra and began participating in local competitions and recitals. She also performed in the Honors Recital in the Interlochen Art Camp Advanced Piano Division at age 8. She was a semi-finalist in the 2018 CSMTA Rising Star Piano Competition and the 2018 IKOF Piano Competition.
Abbie won Gold at the Global Melodies Piano Competition in 2017 and 2018, first place at the 2019 CSMTA Rising Star Piano Competition, and second place in the Yamaha Competition Advanced Competitive Division II. Most recently she earned second place in the 2019 Steinway Youth Concerto Competition Division II.
Abbie is a black belt Tae Kwon Do and a Colorado Cadet Girl Scout. In her spare time she enjoys reading, participating in math competitions, snowboarding, painting, and baking.
Abbie will be performing the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1, Movement 3.
High School Division
Julia Luyten, Violin
Julia Luyten, 16, is a junior at Cherry Creek High School and has been playing the violin since she was two years old.
She has attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Killington Music Festival, Encore Music Festival, and Heartland Chamber Music Festival. She was concertmaster of the 2018 Colorado Western States Orchestra, the 2019 Colorado All State Orchestra, and the Cherry Creek High School Orchestra.
Julia has soloed with the Heartland Chamber Music Orchestra on Kansas Public Radio, the Colorado Bach Ensemble, and the Loveland Orchestra. She won the 2018 Stillman Kelley Colorado Division, as well as the Western Division. She also placed first in the 2018 and 2019 Colorado Rising Stars Festival, was the 2018 MTNA Senior String Alternate, the 2017 MTNA Junior String Winner, and the 2017 MTNA West Central Division Alternate.
She hopes to continue her study of violin throughout college and pursue a career in music performance. When she’s not playing violin, she loves to read, run, and spend time with friends.
Julia will be performing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, Movement 1.
2019 Winners
Middle School Division
Kirstie Ko, Violin
Kirstie Ko, 13, has played the violin since the age of 4. Music has always been a passion for her, and the different reactions people have to music inspires her to grow and change how she performs every day.
Kirstie’s first appearance with an orchestra was at the age of 5, where she performed Vivaldi’s A minor Concerto for the Tiny Tots program as part of “Inside the Orchestra”. At the age of 8, she auditioned and was accepted to the Denver Young Artist Orchestra for her performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto. In 2015, she won her first placement on the Colorado Young Musicians Foundation and then proceeded to win the MTNA and CSMTA State Competitions, 2017. In 2017, Kirstie was invited to perform live at Red Rocks with The Piano Guys along with other YAO members.
Kirstie is currently a member of the Young Musicians Foundation 2019 to 2020. Kirstie studies with Alexander Raab with the assistance of Eugenia Alikhanova. She enjoys reading, hilking, volleyball, and explore outdoor activities.
Kirstie will be performing the 3rd movement of the Concerto No. 3 by Saint-Saens
High School Division
Julie Minn, Violin
Julie Minn, 15, started learning violin at the age of 6 with her father. Julie’s violin repertoire covers a wide range of classical pieces including Bach’s solo violin suites, violin concertos by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, and Beethoven, solo violin works by Sarasate, Wieniawski, caprices by Paganini, and several orchestral works by Dvorak, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky.
Julie was invited to perform with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra led by Prof. Jurgen de Lemos in 2013 as a guest soloist. In 2014 and 2017, she appeared on Colorado Public Radio as a featured soloist in recognition of her technical skills and musicianship. Julie has won several local competitions including the Young Artist competition hosted by the Weekly Focus newspaper (1st place, Zapateado) and the DYAO concerto competition (2nd place, Beethoven violin concerto in D major). In addition to music, she loves photography, reading, singing, and spending time with friends.
Julie will be performing The Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25, by Pablo de Sarasate
2018 Winners
High School Division
Jory Lane, Piano
Jory Lane, 17, is one of the most versatile, up-and-coming musicians in the Pikes Peak area. Since age two, he has played violin and in his 15 years of study has picked up the mandolin, guitar, cello, bass, ukulele and dabbles with the sitar. He is in his tenth season with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association and is the soloist and concertmaster, with tours to Japan, Germany, Prague and Carnegie Hall.
Jory has won numerous competitions for classical violin performance, including the Music Teachers National Association State competition, the Pikes Peak Philharmonic Concerto competition and the CSYSA’s Young Artist Solo Competition and is a Young Musicians Foundation of Colorado Scholarship roster member.
Jory has served as concertmaster for numerous honor ensembles, including the Western States Honor Chamber Orchestra and the Colorado All State Symphony Orchestra. He maintains a busy performance schedule, playing in several ensembles and bands and performing solo violin repertoire. In his free time, he enjoys reading, snowboarding and dirt biking. Jory is a leading authority on bow ties.
Jory will be performing Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Vu
Leslie Wilburn, Piano
Leslie Wilburn is a Denver pianist, composer, violinist, violist, and actor who began musical studies at the age of 5 on the violin. Leslie is the 2018 winner of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) Composition Competition; and has won multiple state awards in piano performance and composition with the National Federation of Music Clubs, a Concerto Competition with DYAO String Ensemble (violin, 2011), honorable mentions (violin) in the DYAO Conservatory Orchestra Concerto Competition (2014) and in the Colorado Young Sinfonia Concerto Competition (2016, 2018); and Solo Honors Recitals at various summer music camps (violin, piano).
At the age of 12, Leslie toured Italy, France, and Spain with the DYAO Travel Orchestra, and in 2016 was Co-Principal Violist for the DYAO New York tour which included two performances at Carnegie Hall. Leslie has been a member of Phamaly Theater Company (the world’s only theater company composed solely of performers with disabilities across the spectrum; physical, cognitive, intellectual, and emotional) since 2013, and has performed both as an actor and as a full member of their live orchestra for musicals (violin/viola). Leslie currently studies piano/composition with Dr. Jeremy Dittus, composition with Deborah De La Torre, viola and violin with Basil Vendryes, and orchestral performance (concertmaster) with Dr. Enrique Lasansky at the Denver School of the Arts.
Leslie has had a cathartic relationship with music for virtually his entire life. He uses music as a means to express emotions and depict scenes that he cannot put in words. Leslie is ecstatic to be the 2018 co-winner of the Broomfield Symphony Concerto Competition, High School Division (piano), and especially with this concerto that was premiered so early in Beethoven’s musical career. The performance features an ending composed by Leslie for the original unfinished cadenza. He hopes to draw inspiration from this experience as he moves forward through his own musical journey. Leslie further hopes to grow accustomed to the awkwardness of writing about himself in the third person.
No awards were made in the Middle School Division for the 2018 competition
2017 Winners
Middle School Division
Hannah Park, Piano
Hannah Park is 11 years old and is in the 6th grade at Skyview Academy in Highland Ranch. She started piano at the age of 6 and started participating in concerts and competitions after meeting her current teacher Chris Kim.
In 2016, Hannah won the CSMTA Concerto Competition in the elementary piano division and has performed with the Metropolitan University Orchestra in King Center. She was awarded 1st prize in the Steinway Concerto competition in the middle school piano division in 2016. She was awarded 1st prize in the New York Artist International Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She was a winner of 12th Annual Stars of Tomorrow Talent Show in the Kiwanis Club.
Besides piano, Hannah loves other activities including practicing Yoga with her family and skiing.
High School Division
Jessie Eoff, Piano
Jessie Eoff, 16 years old, is currently a junior at Smoky Hill High School. At the age of six she began playing the piano under the guidance of her mother, a private piano instructor, and has studied with her current teacher, Hsing-ay Hsu, for the past 5 years.
She was the 2016 Rising Star CSMTNA first place winner, 2016 Schmitt first place winner, and 2015 MTNA honorable mention. In school Jessie is a 2x state qualifier in track, has a 4.6 weighted GPA while taking advanced AP and IB classes, is an NHS officer, and held first chair for clarinet in the high school wind symphony for 2 years.
Outside of school she enjoys camping, skiing, and hiking 14ers in the beautiful Colorado Mountains, plays in many charitable music events, teaches sunday school, and tutors younger children with their school work.
2016 Winners
Middle School Division
Lucy Sotak, Harp
Lucy Sotak is a fourteen year old, home schooled student from Arvada, Colorado. She began harp lessons at the age of four with Mary Kay Waddington, author of the Suzuki Harp School, and piano lessons at the age of six with Annette Green.
Playing the harp for Lucy is not only great fun, but it has also provided many opportunities for travel and meeting new people. Highlights include harp ensemble concerts at the 11th World Harp Congress (Vancouver, B.C., 2011) and the 150th anniversary celebration of Lyon & Healy Harps (Chicago, 2014). Solo performances include the Suzuki Association of the America’s 40th anniversary Kaleidoscope Concert (Minneapolis, 2012), Indiana University’s Stars of Tomorrow concert (2013), and NPR’s From the Top (El Paso, Texas, 2013). Lucy has participated in several competitions for harp and piano. She won first place in the American Harp Society National Competition in the Junior division (2011) and was a finalist in the Intermediate I division (2013, 2015). She received first place for piano in her division at the TASHCO Young Artists Festival (2012, 2013).
In addition to music, Lucy enjoys drawing, animation, writing stories, reading, bird watching, and spending time with friends and family.
High School Division
Andrew Ying, Violin
Andrew Ying, 16, is a junior at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. He began violin lessons at age 5 and currently studies with Professor Linda Wang at the University of Denver. Previously, Andrew studied with Mimi de Lemos and Larisa Lewis.
Since his debut with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra in 2011, Andrew won the Junior Division of the 2011 and 2013 MTNA Colorado State Violin Competitions and was invited both years to perform at the Colorado Music Teachers Annual Conference. He was also the winner of the 2012 Young Musicians Foundation of Colorado Junior Division Auditions and is a member of the 2015 Young Musicians Foundation Artist Roster.
He performs annually at the Young Musicians Foundation Showcase Concert. Andrew also soloed as part of the 2013 Littleton United Methodist Church Fine Arts Series. Invited as a winner of the International American Protégé Piano and Strings Competition, Andrew performed at Carnegie Hall in July. Andrew was also a scholar of the Lamont Music Summary Academy and a fellow of the Montecito International Music Festival, where he received masterclasses and guidance from Alexander Treger and Joseph Silverstein. Andrew was a finalist in the Jefferson Symphony International Young Artists Competition in January.
Aside from his musical endeavors, Andrew is a two-time qualifier to the National Speech and Debate Tournament in both Policy and Congressional Debate. He also co-founded the Denver Math Club, a non-profit organization that aims at fostering elementary and middle school mathematical minds. Andrew is also a two-time Colorado State Top Scorer in the American Mathematics Competitions 10 and 12.
Michael Davison, Piano
Michael Davison is a senior at Colorado Early Colleges Charter School, and is a resident of Fort Collins, where he has been studying piano with Dr. David McArthur since late 2014.
Michael started taking piano lessons during the summer after his second grade year, and has pursued the instrument vigorously ever since. His early teacher, Mary Beth Eversole, helped him discover his desire to understand music at an intimate level, as he transformed under her instruction from a student who enjoyed playing Star Wars themes into a passionate fan of Bach and Schubert. After Ms. Eversole moved to California, Michael spent nearly two years without musical instruction, prompting himself to explore the works of unfamiliar composers and genres. During this time, he developed a taste for the music of more obscure composers, as well as the popular Romantic and 20th Century greats, such as Alkan, Liszt, Brahms, and Godowsky. For about two years, Michael participated in Project Youth and Chamber Music (PYCH) in Fort Collins, playing chamber works of various composers.
Publicly, Michael has kept a rather low profile, giving few performances after his first teacher moved away. During 2014, he began searching for a teacher to study under, and found an answer in Dr. McArthur, whose teaching methods and understanding of the piano have been astronomical to Michael’s development as a pianist, emphasizing technique and hypermetrical analysis.