Michael Ben & Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Competition

A competition for accomplished Indiana musicians through age 18 to learn and perform at a high level.

Follow in the footsteps of winners of the Michael Ben and Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Competition who are now musicians in orchestras across the nation, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. This competition encourages accomplished young Indiana musicians to set and achieve goals of technical and artistic excellence by providing an opportunity to perform in a competitive setting.

The competition now offers two divisions for young musicians to enter: the Crescendo category and the Virtuoso category. The winner of the Virtuoso category will receive a cash prize of $2,500 and the opportunity to perform their winning concerto with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Hilbert Circle Theatre on February 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The Young Musicians Contest was the first major competition that I had ever participated in, so I was naturally very nervous the first time I competed. When I arrived to play my first round though, the volunteers and workers made me feel right at home, and my nerves went away. Looking back on the years that I competed, I have nothing but positive memories.

Austin Huntington

2009-2010 Winner & Principal Cellist, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Contest Information

2024-2025 Competition Guidelines Suggested Repertoire List

Don’t just play to win. Yes, winning is rewarding and affirming. What I found through competing is that a huge part of it is learning to enjoy the process. The work you put into practicing the repertoire will pay off at some point later, whether it be making it to the finals of this competition, winning a prize, receiving a good scholarship at a music conservatory, or landing a job, it’s about the long term and this competition is a great stepping stone that will help you go far.

Aaron Mossburg

2008-2009 Winner, ISO Side by Side Alumni & Section Violist, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Past Winners

2023-2024

Young Musicians Category (under 18)
1st Prize: Miranda Isbitts, violin
2nd Prize: Sasha Varchenko, violin
3rd Prize: Emma Levesque, harp

Rising Stars Category (under 13)
1st Prize: Prudence Peng, violin
2nd Prize: Felicia Xie, piano

2022-2023

1st Prize: Lily Sullivan, violin
2nd Prize: Elson Koh, violin
3rd Prize: Ethan Murphy, cello

2021-2022

1st Prize: Cooper Olsen, violin

2020-2021

1st Prizes: Serge Kalinovsky, cello & Micah Young, piano

2019-2020: Philip Hammond, violin

2018-2019: Maya Kilburn, violin

2017-2018: Sage Hamm, piano

2016-2017: Isaac Camara, cello

2015-2016: Gabe Bruner, piano

2014-2015: Daniel Hallett, marimba

2013-2014: Nathan Meltzer, violin

2012-2013: Anson Hui, piano

2011-2012: Brian Allen, violin

2010-2011: Jiwon Park, piano

2009-2010: Austin Huntington, cello

2008-2009: Aaron Mossburg, viola

2007-2008: Jingxuan Zhang, piano

2006-2007: Thomas Huntington, cello

2005-2006: Nathan Vickery, cello

2004-2005: Peter Vickery, violin

2003-2004: Whitney Gamble, cello

2002-2003: Rachel Patrick, violin

2001-2002: Robin Scott, violin

2000-2001: Nina Cochiarella, piano

1999-2000: Jeff Wiley, percussion

1996-1997: Min-Ju Choi, piano

1995-1996: Theodore Harvey, cello

1994-1995: Sara Caswell, violin

1993-1994: Jonathan Biss, piano

1992-1993: Paul Yeager, violin

Questions?

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