Youth Competitions
Every spring ECHO hosts two youth competitions for musically talented students in the Houston.
The Concerto competition winner performs with the orchestra in a major concert as a featured guest artist.
The Composition competition winner's piece is performed by the orchestra in a major concert.
ECHO is committed to fostering young talent in our backyard and to bringing the next generation of musicians to our audience.
Performers, learn about the Concerto Competition
Composers, learn about the Composition Competition
2026 CONCERTO Competition
Announcing our annual ECHO Young Artist Concerto Competition for students in grades 7-12. The winner of the competition will be the featured performer with the full orchestra as part of ECHO’s spring concert on Friday, May 15, 2026 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. The winning performer also will receive a scholarship prize toward further music study sponsored by Casa Argentina.
This is an exciting opportunity for talented performers to play with a full orchestra and for the audience to delight in their skill and musicianship!
For more information about the competition, please see our guidelines. Our first round video submissions has closed. Good luck to our the competitors!
ECHO is delighted and grateful to Casa Argentina for underwriting the Youth Concerto competition award.
2026 composition Competition
Announcing our annual ECHO Youth Composition Competition for students in grades 7-12. A composition competition for youth in 7th-12th grades. The winning composition will be premiered with full orchestra at ECHO's spring concert on Friday, May 15, 2026 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church and receive a cash prize.
This is an exciting opportunity for youth composers to hear their music come to life with a full orchestra and for audiences to hear the next generation of composition!
For more information about the competition, please see our guidelines. To apply, please submit payment prior to sending in work.
2025
VANAE SHUNK, VIOLIN
Vanae is a freshman at Clements High School in Sugar Land. Outside of her violin studies, she is involved in her school’s theater club, and is a singer with the Clements choir.
CALEB MAYBERRY, COMPOSER
Caleb is a senior at Cypress Creek High School. He studies composition and violin. He is especially interested in emotions, and dramaticism in music.
2024
ARTURO GONZALEZ, CELLO
In 2024, Arturo attended The Woodlands College Park High School. Outside of school, he volunteered to perform at a nursing home and enjoyed publishing his own arrangements of famous classical pieces for cello
ensembles.
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2023 Hope Hoang, Harp, Memorial HS
2023 Brigham Smith, Piano, Westside HS
2022 Chanmin (Joel) Park, Cello
2020 Katherine Butler, Violin
2020 James Li, Violin
2019 David Kim, Cello
2018 Ping Jing Toong, Violin
2018 Lauren Mathews, Cello