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Past Winners

Caprio Young Artists Competition

Sharing their talents and passion for music, past prize winners are teaching and performing all over the world!
Find them on Google and YouTube. 

2022 Caprio Young Artists Competition Winners Announced!

The Riverside Symphonia is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 Caprio Young Artists Competition!

This competition offers exceptional young musicians 22 years old and under who live or study in NJ, NY, PA, or DE the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform with the orchestra.

The $2000 First Prize recipient is Yvonne Wang, clarinet, a 17 year old student in the Pre-College Program at The Juilliard School of Music.

The $1000 Second Prize recipient is Zoe Yost, viola, a 19 year old student who will be part of the Class of 2026 at the San Francisco Conservatory.

The $500 Third Prize recipient is Bethany Bobbs, cello, an 18 year old student at The Juilliard School.

The Caprio Competition honors the life and memory of John Michael Caprio, founding Founding Music Director and Conductor of the Riverside Symphonia. Since 1998, many outstanding musicians have received financial support and performance opportunities.

Thank you to our 2022 sponsors:

First Prize: The Arts & Letters Foundation, New York, NY
Second Prize: Barbara & Jay Belding, New Hope, PA
Third Prize: ShopRite of Flemington, Flemington, NJ

caprio

RIVERSIDE SYMPHONIA INVITES YOUNG MUSICIANS TO APPLY FOR 2022 CAPRIO COMPETITION
Prizes for classical music students in NY, NJ and PA

Lambertville, NJ; January 2022: The Riverside Symphonia, a professional orchestra celebrating its 32nd year serving audiences in the Delaware Valley, is pleased to announce the 2022 Caprio Young Artists Competition will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 3:00pm in Lambertville, NJ. This important regional competition provides a unique opportunity for exceptional young musicians to perform, compete, and receive cash prizes: a $2000 First Prize and the opportunity to perform with the Riverside Symphonia and Maestro Marius Smolij; a $1000 Second Prize; and a $500 Third Prize. Classical music students (excluding keyboard) who live or study in New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania and who will be no more than 22 years of age on June 3, 2022 are eligible to apply. The application and audition deadline is Monday, April 4, 2022. The final live round will be judged live at South Hunterdon Regional High School, 301 Mt Airy-Harbourton Road, Lambertville, NJ.

Since 1998, the Caprio Competition has attracted over 180 student applications with $45,000+ in prize money distributed. As an important community outreach of the Riverside Symphonia, the Caprio Competition has a mission to recognize, promote and encourage the development of excellence in classical young musicians.

Caprio "alumni" winners can be found performing all over the world. You can hear and see them on YouTube or on their websites: 1998: Jeremy Kurtz Harris; 2000: Denise Djokic; 2002: Hannah Stitzinger Eldridge; 2006: Fora Baltacigil; 2008: Malwina Sosnowski; 2010: Clare Semes; 2012: Piotr Filochowski; 2016: Zachary Fung; 2018: Robin Park; 2020: Chelsie Lim.

The competition honors the life and legacy of John-Michael Caprio, Founding Music Director and Conductor of the Riverside Symphonia who was the former director of music for the Archdiocese of New York and Choir Director at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, NY. John-Michael encouraged and inspired people of all ages with his love of music.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the Arts & Letters Foundation, New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; and Barbara and Jay Belding.

 AL Logo

The Riverside Symphonia is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Caprio Young Artists Competition, offering exceptional young musicians 22 years old and under who live or study in NJ, NY or PA the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform with the orchestra. The $2000 First Prize recipient is Chelsie Lim, cello, a 16 year old student in the Pre-College Program at the Juilliard School of Music.  The  $1000 Second Prize recipient is Dylan Hamme, violin, a 17 year old  student in the Pre-College Program at the Juilliard School of Music. The $500 Third Prize recipient is Yihang Li, cello, a 15 year old student who graduated from the Pre-College Program at the Juilliard School and is now a student at Northwestern University. 

The Caprio Competition honors the life and memory of John Michael Caprio, founding Founding Music Director and Conductor of the Riverside Symphonia. Since 1998, many outstanding musicians have received financial support and performance opportunities.  Over $50,000 in contributions has made this competition possible. Thank you to our 2020 sponsors. First Prize: The Arts & Letters Foundation, New York, NY; Second Prize: Barbara & Jay Belding, New Hope, PA; Third Prize: ShopRite of Flemington, Flemington, NJ.

Listen now to our winners:

Chelsie Lim, Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor, 1st movement: 

Dylan Hamme, Barber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,1st movement:  

Yihang Li, Shostakovich Cello Concerto, 1st movement

 

 

Press:
pdfBucks County Herald 2016

 

2018

First Prize: Robin Park, Cello, 17, Princeton, NJ;
Second Prize: Eliana Yang, 18, Cello, Philadelphia, PA;
Third Prize: Joshua Choi, 13, Clarinet, Palisades Park, NJ.

2016 

First Prize: Zachary Fung, cello; student at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and Temple University Music Prep.
Second Prize: Ania Filochowska, violin; student at the Curtis Institute.
Third Prize: Joshua Park, marimba; student at Millburn High School, Millburn, NJ.

2012

First Prize: Piotr Filochowski, Violin. Winner of over 30 national and international violin competitions, Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music.
Second Prize: Yuki Koyama, Cello. Recipient of Stephen Kates Memorial Fellowship; national finalist in the MTNA Young Artist Competition, ASTA National Solo Competition.
Third Prize: Lillian Lee, Violin. Soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Warminster Symphony Orchestra; first prize at 2010 and 2011 Music Teachers National Association Connecticut State Competitions.

2010

First Prize: Clare Semes, Violin. Graduate of The Juilliard School; Member of violin duo “Les Deux”; soloist with Newark Symphony, Riverside Symphonia, Ocean City Pops, Shanghai Philharmonic.
Second Prize: Su Hyun Park, Violin. Graduate of The Juilliard School soloist with The Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, Monmouth Symphony Orchestra and Taegu Philharmonic Orchestra.

2008

First Prize: Malwina Sosnowski, Violin. Chamber musician and soloist. Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music where she received “Milka Award”. Performs internationally with orchestras and on TV and radio.
Second Prize: Coline-Marie Orliac, Harp. Graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music. Performed with Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustave Mahler Youth Orchestra.
Finalists: Ah Young Julia Choi, Violin; Ryu Cipris, Flute; Achilles Liarmakopoulos, Trombone

2006

First Prize: Fora Baltacigil, Double Bass. Active recitalist and international performer; Principal Bass Player, New York Philharmonic (2012-2014).
Second Prize Tie: Jenny Chang, Violin. Violinist with Royal Northern Sinfonia, Great Britain;  and Brian Jordan, Marimba. Principal Percussionist, Naples Philharmonic; performed with orchestras across the country including Philadelphia Orchestra, and National Reperatory Orchestra in Colorado
Finalists: Ania Filochowska, Violin; Grace Kang, Violin; Jessica Sibelman, Clarinet

2004

 

First Prize: Christina Ann Vigilante, Flute
Second Prize: Peanut Wai-Ping Wong, Marimba
Finalists: Jessica Wang, Cello; Honorable Mention: Robyn Bollinger, Violin

 

2002

First Prize: Hannah Stitzinger Eldridge, Violin. Native of Bucks County, PA and member of “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army Strings since September 2008. Soloist with National Philharmonic, Delaware Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and many others. Received dual Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University.
Second Prize: Rachel Ku, Violin. Violinist with Philadelphia Orchestra; soloist with Delaware Symphony Orchestra; recipient of many awards and teaches privately.
Finalists: Kiran Auerbach, Violin; Lear Janiv, Violin

2000

First Prize: Denise Djokic, Cello. Soloist and chamber musician based in Canada who performs in North America and Europe .  Star of “Seven Days, Seven Nights” documentary film and featured artist on 2002 Grammy Awards.  Award winning recording artist for several CDs including “Folkore”. Her Carnegie Hall debut occurred in 2012.  Frequent guest at music festivals and teaches with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
Second Prize: Harumi Rhodes, Violin. Assistant Professor, Syracuse University; founding member of Trio Cavatina; soloist and performer; graduate of The Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory.
Finalists: Soo Bae, Cello; Rachel Ku, Viola; Robert Moose, Violin; Harumi Rhodes, Violin; Hanna Stitzinger, Violin, Shawn Wyckoff, Flute

1998

First Prize: Jeremy Kurtz, Double Bass. Principal Bassist of the San Diego Symphony and on the faculty of San Diego State University.  Graduate of Curtis Institute and Rice University.  Solo CD “Sonatas and Meditations”.
Second Prize: Giora Schmidt, Violin
Finalists: Mimi Stillman, Flute; Jacob Hines, Piano; Jason Calloway, Cello

Telephone (609) 397-7300 - PO Box 650 Lambertville, NJ 08530

Serving Lambertville, New Jersey, New Hope, Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas in Hunterdon County, NJ and Bucks County, PA

MUTCD D9-6.svgThe Riverside Symphonia is pleased to offer its performances in a barrier-free venue. Audience members who need special assistance should contact the Symphonia office at 609-397-7300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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