Young Artists Competition
Congratulations to the winner of the 2021 Young Artists Competition, Kristian Mendoza, piano!
Honorable Mention:
Olivia Leichter, violin and Sophia Tarlton, bassoon

Each year, up-and-coming young musicians from across the region gain valuable experience participating in our annual Young Artists Competition.
Open to all instrumentalists residing in Charlotte, Manatee, or Sarasota Counties. Sarasota Youth Orchestras students residing in another county are eligible to participate.
CATEGORIES:
Piano
Strings
Woodwind, Brass, Percussion
LEVELS:
Junior – Ages 9-14
Senior – Ages 15-19
(Age as of February 1, 2023)
History
The Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artists Competition was established in 1966. The Wilkofs wanted to plant a seed in talented youth and encourage them to aspire to professional heights. The couple’s endowment is an outgrowth of the artistic devotion Mr. Wilkof has shown to the Sarasota Orchestra for decades, as a generous philanthropist and longtime member of the orchestra’s Board of Directors.