Young Artist Program

Education Director Craig Sorgi, Artistic Director Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio and Artistic Director-designate Ryo Yanagitani are pleased to announce the 8 winners of this season’s YAP auditions. Craig enthusiastically observed after the auditions, “It’s always great to hear our talented young San Antonio musicians up close and personal like that. Of course, after hearing these auditions Ms. Sant’Ambrogio, Mr. Yanagitani and I were left with the challenging task of deciding who the next generation of Cactus Pear Young Artist Fellows would be. Congratulations to the following applicants, our 2022 YAP Fellows:”

The YAP Fellows are pictured horizontally from top left to bottom right. We thank each individual listed in black who so generously has sponsored or co-sponsored one of these talented young musicians:

Henry Guo, piano [16, Basis HS]
Bunny & Wilbur Matthews and Charles Bender – Co-Sponsors
Allyson Sudduth, clarinet [18, Communication Arts HS]
John Hudson – Sponsor
Nellie Ingram, violin [16, NESA HS]

Dr. Jan Garverick – Sponsor

Sara Garcia Villar, violin [16, Reagan HS]

Padmakar Joshi on behalf of the Joshi Family – Sponsor
Bryan Echeveste, viola [18, Communication Arts HS]

Rotary Club of SA at The Dominion – Sponsor

Christina Liu, viola [17, Reagan HS]

Gillian Cook & Barry Hubbard – Sponsor
Katherine Beebe, cello [18, MacArthur HS]

Dr. Jan Garverick – Sponsor

Sydney Rakowitz, cello [16, Smithson Valley HS]

Charles Bender, sponsor, who also gave an additional $2,000 to underwrite all application fees in memory of Kay Kutchins & Diane Windeler

The program is based at CPMF’s San Antonio concert venue, Trinity Baptist Church. The Young Artists will form an ensemble—and ensembles—to study and perform chamber music. The curriculum includes private instruction and chamber music coachings with Education Director Craig Sorgi, Education Assistant Karen Stiles, and Festival Artists, lecture classes on aspects of music performance/careers, as well as several community engagement concerts. The Young Artists, who are calling their ensemble THE OCTAVES, will be        presented in their own final concert on July 16, showcasing the exceptional work they have put in over their 2+ week residency under the guidance of seasoned, world-class teaching. As the young artists’ summer schedule of performances firms up, we will update the calendar schedule below.

To watch a video of our 2018 YAP Fellows in performance, click here.
Composer-in-Residence Juan Pablo Contreras's piece Son Jarocho (The Sound of Veracruz) was performed by the YAP ensemble "The Prickly Octet" at the July 13, 2019 CPMF concert.

Auditions are completed, the winners announced, but here is this season's information for anyone who might want to consider applying in 2023 when we'll be asking for applications once again.

The program runs concurrently with the festival
Typically, between four and nine young instrumentalists are chosen and awarded full-tuition scholarships for an intensive 2 1/2 week program. The Young Artists form an ensemble—and ensembles—to study and perform chamber music. The curriculum includes private instruction and chamber music coachings with Festival Artists, lecture classes on aspects of music performance/careers, free admittance to festival rehearsals & concerts for Fellows and family, and usually 8 outreach performance opportunities including the final two San Antonio Festival concerts.
 
Eligibility for 2023 [instrumentation varies each year]
Serious Violin, Viola, Cello students ages 14 through 18, and Piano students between the ages of 14 and 20, who live in and around San Antonio, Texas, may apply. Eligibility for wind and other instruments will be announced at a later date so check back after the New Year. (Room and board not included.) Individuals as well as pre-formed groups will be considered for acceptance. Pianists MUST prepare the two short chamber music pieces available online (see Audition Checklist below.)

APPLICATIONS
The sample application is available via the link below. Application deadline is typically early April with auditions scheduled shortly thereafter.

We typically ask the following:

Applicants should perform two contrasting solo works (accompanist not necessary). Pianists, in addition, will be asked to perform two short chamber music excerpts that are available at bottom of webpage. All applicants will be notified of the results within 48 hours of the auditions’ conclusion.

For additional information contact YAP Education Director Mr. Craig Sorgi: 210-259-7258 or cpmfeddirector@gmail.com.

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