Celebrating Our 2026 Young Artists Competition Winners
This year’s competition marked the 30th anniversary of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition and brought together an exceptionally accomplished group of nine finalists from across the region and beyond. These young musicians represented a remarkable range of training, experience, and artistic maturity, with many already performing as soloists with orchestras, earning top prizes in national and international competitions, and studying with distinguished teachers. The depth of preparation and musical insight on display made this one of the strongest and most competitive fields in the history of the competition.
If you wish to read a bit more about the LSO’s Young Artists Competition and see a listing of previous winners, you may visit this link: Young Artists Competition – LaGrange Symphony Orchestra
The 2026 Esteemed Panel
Each year, finalists are evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges whose own careers reflect the highest levels of professional artistry and leadership. This year the judges included Amy Schwartz Moretti, Director of the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University and founding member of the Ehnes Quartet, and Dr. Richard Prior, Music Director and Conductor of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and an award-winning composer. Together they compiled thoughtful, expert perspectives on each performance. The exceptional standard set by the finalists made the judges’ task especially challenging. One of the valuable aspects of the Young Artists Competition is the opportunity for participants to receive thoughtful, individualized feedback from seasoned professionals. These comments are offered in a supportive and encouraging spirit, with the goal of helping each young musician continue to refine their artistry, build on their strengths, and grow in confidence as they move forward in their musical journeys.
We are pleased to announce the following prize recipients:
1st Place – Dorothy Allen Turner Award
Leila Warren, violin — Leila is a junior at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. Leila studies with Dr. Shannon Thomas, Associate Professor of Violin at Florida State University. Over the past two years, she has won several Young Artists Competitions sponsored by symphony orchestras, performing in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana and Arkansas. Leila performed Violin Concerto in D Major, Moderato Nobile by Erich Wolfgang Korngold . Leila will receive a $1,500 stipend and will be invited to perform with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra at an upcoming Concert.
2nd Place – Max Kaplan Award
Lauren Yejin Kang, violin — Lauren is a freshman at John Carrol Catholic High School in Birmingham, Al, Lauren studies with Sheryl Staples, Principal Associate Concertmaster, New York Philharmonic who is part of the Violin Faculty of The Julliard School. She has performed with multiple symphonies and won competitions in South Korea and the United States. Lauren performed Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 63. I. Allegro non troppo by Camille Saint-Saëns. Lauren will receive a $1,000 stipend.
3rd Place – NOTE Award (Tie)
Two contestants were named resulting in a tie for this award.
Gabriel Parker, violin — Gabiel holds a bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from The University of North Texas. Gabriel is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University and currently studies with Sergiu Schwartz, Professor of Violin and String Area Coordinator. He has won multiple awards in both violin and piano competitions and has played with symphonies throughout Texas and in Georgia. Gabriel performed Violin Concerto No. 3, “Finale” by Saint-Saëns, Gabriel will receive a $500 stipend.
Samuel Vaillancourt, violin — Samuel is a twenty-year old at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University majoring in Violin Performance. He currently studies with Sergiu Schwartz, Professor of Violin and String Area Coordinator. Samuel has won honors and accolades in multiple competitions, making his Carnegie Hall debut in 2025 as the Grand Prize Winner of the International Association of Professional Music Teachers, Grand Concours de Austria Competition. Samuel performed Violin Concerto in D Major, Moderato Nobile by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Samuel will receive a $500 stipend.
We commend all nine finalists for their remarkable performances and dedication. Each finalist will receive written feedback from the judges in the coming days as part of our commitment to supporting their continued artistic growth. Congratulations to all who participated in making this milestone year of the Young Artists Competition such a memorable celebration of young talent.
Thank you to the many volunteers and staff who worked behind the scenes to support this event, and to our partners at LaGrange College/Callaway Auditorium for helping provide such a welcoming setting for our young artists.
© LaGrange Symphony Orchestra 2025/2026 | All rights reserved | 706.882.0662 | Richard Prior, Music Director & Conductor
