2025 Young Artist Competition Results

Click here to view information on the upcoming 2026 Eugene Symphony Guild Legacy Young Artist Competition.

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Eugene Symphony welcomed talented young musicians from across Oregon to perform and compete for prizes at the 2025 Eugene Symphony Guild Legacy Young Artist Competition, before a panel of Eugene Symphony judges at Lane Community College. The Eugene Symphony Guild Legacy Young Artist Competition provides a platform for young musicians to practice their performance skills and an opportunity to receive feedback from professional musicians.

The Eugene Symphony Guild and their Legacy Fund has generously sponsored this annual competition since 2017.

Meet the 2025 Eugene Symphony Guild Legacy Young Artist Competition winners:

SENIOR DIVISION

Cadence Schuerger, marimba
1st Prize, ($1,000)

  • Cadence Schuerger is finishing his 3rd year at Oregon State University studying with percussion instructors Bob Brudvig and Justin Preece. He is working towards a Music Education degree with plans to teach instrumental music at the secondary level. A passionate performer, Cadence has served as principal percussionist of the Oregon State Wind Ensemble since his freshman year, and has been a staple of the entertainment department at the Enchanted Forest Theme Park for the past 6 seasons. Cadence also performs across the West Coast as a member of Celtic group 'Possibly Irish' where he plays the accordion and bodhrán drum. He would like to give a special acknowledgement to his accompanist for the Young Artist Competition, and many other performances, David Nicholas. 

Alfie Ong, piano
2nd Prize ($500)

  • Alfie Ong began piano studies at the age of two and a half and is currently pursuing a degree in piano performance at the University of Oregon under Dr. Alexandre Dossin. A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School, Alfie had performed in recital at Sudler Hall at Yale University and Person Recital Hall at UNC Chapel Hill. He is a prizewinner of the MTNA Senior Performance Competition and the Eugene Symphony Guild Legacy Young Artist Competition.

Henry Broughton, French horn
Honorable Mention

  • Henry Broughton is a French Horn student from Portland, Oregon. Struggles with mental illness and self-harm have led Henry to spread the healing that music has brought him to others. Henry likes to keep an amicable relationship with his audiences. Henry enjoys and performs music from numerous genres, loving both modern and classical music alike.

    He has performed as a substitute for the Vancouver Symphony USA, and performs regularly as the first horn of Portland State University’s Pit Orchestra and Wind Symphony. Henry has worked with a number of chamber ensembles at PSU, including the Big Tuba Brass Quintet, PSU Brass Ensemble, and PSU Chamber winds, and has also performed in a number of master classes hosted by Portland State, receiving instruction from Bang on a Can, Radovan Vlatković, David Johnson, and Jeff Scott. Henry is a student of Dr. Daniel Partridge.

Nicholas Peterson-Hunt, trumpet
Honorable Mention

  • Nicholas Peterson-Hunt is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas with Barbara Butler. Recently, he performed Légende by George Enescu with the Salem Youth Symphony after winning the concerto competition. Some of his accomplishments include winning the Oregon Solo Trumpet Championship three years in a row, advanced into semi-finals at the National Trumpet Competition in the high school solo division and placing second at the National Trumpet Competition in the high school ensemble division.

JUNIOR DIVISION

Kaylee Nah, violin
1st Prize ($500)

  • Kaylee Nah, 15, is a sophomore at Sunset High School and has studied violin under Hae-Jin Kim since the age of five. She serves as co-concertmaster of the Portland Youth Philharmonic orchestra, and served as concertmaster for the OMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra in both 2024 and 2025. Kaylee has made many achievements, such as winning 1st place in both the Oregon state and Northwest divisions of the 2023-2024 MTNA Junior String competition, advancing as one of seven national finalists. Kaylee was also the two-time champion of the OMEA State Solo Competition, winning 1st place in 2024 and 2025. Furthermore, Kaylee was the 1st place winner of both the Oregon ASTA solo competition and the Monday Musical Club Award Competition, where she received the $2,000 Phillips Award for best instrumental performance.

    Kaylee made her solo debut after winning the MetroArts Young Artists Debut! Competition. She won the Jewish Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition and performed with the orchestra in 2025. She also soloed with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra as a winner of the 2025 Youth Competition. Additionally, she has participated in masterclasses for many renowned artists including Ray Chen, Vadim Gluzman, and Benjamin Beilman, to name a few. Kaylee has attended the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Interlochen Arts Camp, where she served as concertmaster of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra on a full scholarship. This year, she is honored to have been selected for NYO2 2025, where she will perform alongside fellow young American instrumentalists at Carnegie Hall and the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.

Kristen Kim, cello
2nd Prize ($250)

  • Kristen Kim is a 16-year-old cellist from Portland, Oregon. She began playing the cello at the age of six and currently studies with cellist Hyun-Jin Kim.

    Kristen made her solo debut at age 12 with the Oregon Mozart Players Orchestra after winning first place in the 2022 Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloist Competition. Since then, she has performed as a soloist with several prestigious ensembles, including the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and the Oregon Sinfonietta. In 2022, she was a winner of the Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition, which led to a solo performance with members of the Oregon Symphony. Additionally, she performed at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Protégé International String Competition.

    Kristen has received numerous accolades in music competitions. She won first place in the 2021 MTNA Oregon State Junior String Competition and was named an alternate winner in the Northwest Division. In 2025, she was awarded first place in the National Federation of Music Clubs Mary Cox Award, receiving a $2,500 prize, and won the Monday Musical Club of Portland Phillips Award for best instrumental performance.

    In the summer of 2024, Kristen attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), where she served as principal cellist of the Young Artists Orchestra. During this transformative experience, she had the privilege of participating in a masterclass with legendary cellist Steven Isserlis.

    Beyond her individual accomplishments, Kristen is actively involved in the Portland music community. She serves as co-principal cellist of the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), was the principal cellist of the 2025 All-State OMEA Orchestra, and is a member of both a PYP quartet and Camerata PYP, where she serves as co-principal cellist.

    Kristen is also the Executive Director of Project Prelude, an initiative through which she shares her musical experiences and helps inspire the next generation of young musicians.

    Outside of music, Kristen enjoys reading and baking muffins with her mom!

Andrea Gareddu, trumpet
Honorable Mention

  • Andrea Gareddu is a young trumpet player currently studying at the Conservatory of Sassari, in Italy, where he began his musical training at age 10. He has been an active member of the Conservatory’s Youth Orchestra since 2019 and has performed with several ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Brass Band. His experience includes participating in prestigious concerts such as academic year openings and closings, as well as operatic productions like Pagliacci, Otello, and L’elisir d’amore. Andrea has attended masterclasses with renowned trumpet players such as Rex Richardson and Sergej Nakariakov, serving as an interpreter as well. He has also performed important ceremonial fanfares at official events attended by local authorities.

    During 2024-2025, he became a Rotary Exchange Student at South Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon, and excelled as principal trumpet in all school ensembles and the Eugene Springfield Youth Orchestra. He earned high distinctions in competitions, including second place at the Oregon State Solo Music Competition with Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, and third place with his jazz ensemble at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival. Alongside trumpet, he has pursued piano studies, achieving honors and continuing advanced training. Andrea balances his conservatory studies with outstanding academic performance at a scientific high school, demonstrating a strong commitment to both music and education.

Hazel Heise, tuba
Honorable Mention

  • Hazel Heise is a 17 year old tubist from Eugene Oregon. She currently studies with Prof. Mike Grose. Previous teachers include Marc Placencia, Dr. Dan Bryce, and Dr. Kelli Duncan. She will be attending UO in the fall for tuba performance. Hazel has won notable awards in her community such as the conductors choice award for the ESYO orchestras, 4th place in the OMEA State Solo Competition, and a member of the OMEA all state wind ensemble. She hopes to always continue to be a storyteller of sound.

Ellie Liu, cello
Honorable Mention

  • Ellie Liu, 14, is a freshman at Westview High School and has been studying cello under the guidance of Ms. Hyun-Jin Kim since the age of six. As a passionate and dedicated musician, Ellie has been a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) organization since she was nine. She currently serves as co-principal cellist in both the PYP Orchestra and PYP Camerata. 

    Ellie has been recognized in numerous competitions and festivals. In 2023 and 2024, she received Honorable Mention in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Junior Division. Most recently, she earned third place in the OMEA Cello Solo Competition. She is also a prizewinner in the Bellevue Symphony Young Artist Competition, the Great Composers Competition’s Best Bach Performance, and the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition. As a soloist, Ellie has performed with the Jewish Community Orchestra, the Willamette Falls Symphony Orchestra, and the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra after winning their respective concerto competitions. She was also selected to participate in the All-State Orchestra and performed as Assistant Principal Cellist for the NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra.

Jacob Peizner, alto saxophone
Honorable Mention

  • Jacob Peizner, 16, is a Junior at Oregon Episcopal School and a passionate saxophonist and musician. He studies with Phil Baldino and Kenneth Radnofsky of New England Conservatory. Jacob was 1/10 saxophonists internationally selected for the 2024 BU Tanglewood Institute Saxophone Workshop, as well as 1/4 selected for the 2025 Tanglewood Young Artists Orchestra & Wind Ensemble, with a full-tuition merit-scholarship. Additionally, he was selected to attend the nationwide MPulse saxophone intensive to study with Grammy winning saxophonist Dr. Tim McAllister. Jacob was a finalist in the YoungArts Classical Competition and 1/4 alto saxophonists chosen nationwide for the Music-for-All Honor Band of America. In Oregon, he was the 2024 OSAA High Saxophone State Champion and was awarded 1st Place in the OMTA Orchestral-Instrumental scholarship competition. He plays 1st alto and tenor saxophone in the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and also excels in piano, accompanying a middle school choir. Beyond music, Jacob plays varsity tennis, enjoys reading, and is an avid Pacific Northwest sports fan.

Sabine Voelker, viola
Honorable Mention

  • Sabine Voelker is just finishing her junior year at South Eugene High School and has been studying with Lillie Manis (Willamette Violin Academy) since the age of four. She has been recognized in state-wide competitions in both violin and viola, this year she was awarded first place in solo viola and fourth place in solo violin in the Oregon Music Education Association state chamber and solo championships, as well as second place with her piano trio. Sabine has also been a member of the Eugene Springfield Youth Orchestras for six years. This summer Sabine was selected to play viola with the national youth orchestra NYO2 in New York for a second time, they will be touring to Edinburgh, Scotland. Sabine enjoys ensemble musicianship; she has participated with the chamber program at the Community Music Institute for several years and is co-founder of Celeste String Quartet. In her spare time, Sabine practices martial arts and enjoys cooking new recipes.