Young Artists Competition

Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin performs with the Civic Orchestra during Young Artist Competition finals in 2017.

Todd Rosenberg Photography

Crain-Maling Foundation

 

The Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition is a prestigious concerto competition for Illinois’ top young soloists. Applicants audition live at Symphony Center for a distinguished panel of judges. Following a preliminary round, four finalists are selected to perform in the final round in Orchestra Hall, accompanied by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. The winner is featured on the following season as soloist with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as part of CSO School and Family Concerts.

Presented jointly by the League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Congratulations to Jaden Teague-Núñez (steelpan) on winning the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition! 

The instrument group for the 2025 competition is piano. Information about applying and eligibility will be available August 2024. 

Explore more on Experience CSO
Esme Arias-Kim
Esme Arias-Kim, a 17-year-old violinist, was declared the first-place winner of the 2023 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. She will appear as a soloist in a CSO Youth Concert during the 2023/24 Season.
Explore more
Rosie Wang and Isabella Brown
Rosie Wang and Isabella Brown, the 2019 and 2020 winners of the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, will perform in a CSO for Kids Family Matinee on Oct. 23, 2021.
Explore more
Isabella Brown - Young Artists Competition
Crain-Maling winner Isabella Brown looks to past victors for guidance
Explore more