EPSMF ANNOUNCES INSTRUMENT AWARDS AND FINALISTS IN 2024 COMPETITION FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

April 7, 2024

The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) announces seven finalists for the 2024 Competition for Young Musicians. This competition calls to exceptionally talented students between the ages of eight and nineteen to compete for cash awards with classical music repertoire. The competition has grown to cross borders with local, national, and international applications. The top award is $1800 and the opportunity to perform in EPSMF’s events followed by second and third place awards of $700 and $500. All of the finalists in this competition will be publicly recognized for their achievements.

Competition performances will be live and recorded on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (5005 Love Road, El Paso, TX 79922) at 3PM.

The 2024 Competition Finalists are:

Sophia Cao - piano

Sophia Cao is the sixth grade and attends a public school. She has studied piano for six years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She was the first prize winner in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 for Category A, fifth grade and under.

Jane Elizabeth Caranto- piano

Jane Elizabeth Caranto is thirteen and attends the St. Philomena Homeschool Academy. She has studied piano for five years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. She has performed in several Solo and Sonatina festivals as well as Baroque Festivals.

Judy Caranto - piano

Judy Caranto is sixteen and attends the St. Philomena Homeschool Academy. She has studied piano for eight years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She has performed in several solo and sonatina festivals and baroque competitions and placed third in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023. Judy was a finalist in the EPSMF 2021 Competition for Young Musicians and placed third in the 2022 and 2023 EPSMF Competitions.

Catherine (Sunny) Ellsworth - cello

Sunny Ellsworth is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has studied the cello for twelve years and currently studies with Hyerim Mapp. She has attended the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute, Louisiana State University Collaborative Piano Institute, the University of Kansas Orchestra Camp, and Interlochen Cello Intensive. She was the second place winner in EPSMF 2023 Competition for Young Musicians and currently plays with the local youth orchestras, El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Las Cruces Youth Orchestra.

Anna Dang - piano

Anna Dang is thirteen and attends Hornedo Middle School. She studied the piano for eight years and currently studies Anna Habicht. She is a member of the Hornedo Orchestra and the Hornedo Jazz Band. She has also participated in the Midwest 2023 International Band/Orchestra Clinic and in Texas Music Educators Association events.

Isabella Tosado-Díaz - piano

Isabella Tosado-Díaz is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has been playing piano for six years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. She participated in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 and has participated in five consecutive years in local Baroque and Solo and Sonatina Festivals.

Bradley Yoshawirja - piano

Bradley Yoshawirja is ten and attends Polk Elementary School. He has been playing piano for five years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. He participated in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 and has participated in local Solo and Sonatina Festivals.

The 2024 INSTRUMENTS FOR YOUNG LIVES AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT

This year’s instrument recipients are:

Catherine (Sunny) Ellsworth - cello

Sunny Ellsworth is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has studied the cello for twelve years and currently studies with Hyerim Mapp. She has attended the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute, Louisiana State University Collaborative Piano Institute, the University of Kansas Orchestra Camp, and Interlochen Cello Intensive. She was the second place winner in EPSMF 2023 Competition for Young Musicians and currently plays with the local youth orchestras, El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Las Cruces Youth Orchestra. Sunny states, “I hope to be doing music for the rest of my life…”

Teresa de la Peña-Franceschi - violin

Teresa dela Peña-Franceschi is seventeen and a student at El Paso High School. She has been playing the violin for 9 years and currently studies with Eric Rangel. She is first violin in her state qualified quintet and first violin in the El Paso High School Orchestra. According to Teresa, “I find the ways music makes people feel so magical…I want the ability to translate what I feel and what others fell into music allowing others to experience feelings that only fill them more.”

Applications for the 2024-2025 Competition for Young Musicians and Instruments for Young Lives Program will be available in September 2024.

Watch for announcements regarding EPSMF competitions, events, and application deadlines.

EPSMF ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS IN 2023 COMPETITION FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS

The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) announces the winners for the 2023 Competition for Young Musicians. This competition calls to exceptionally talented students between the ages of eight and nineteen to compete for cash awards with classical music repertoire. The top award is $1800 followed by second and third place awards of $700 and $500. All of the finalists in this competition will be publicly recognized for their achievements.

Competition performances were live and recorded on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (5005 Love Road, El Paso, TX 79922) at 3PM. A recording of the finalists' performance will be available on the EPSMF website (www.epsmf.org).

The 2023 Competition for Young Musician Standings are:

WINNER: Kathryn Haluschak- piano

Kathryn Haluschak is seventeen and is homeschooled. She studies piano with Anna Habicht. She has played in several ensembles, All State Festivals and numerous Sonatina and Solo Festivals through EPMTA. Kathryn was a finalist in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 EPSMF competitions and placed second in the 2022 EPSMF Competition for Young Musicians.

2nd PLACE: Sunny Ellsworth - cello

Sunny Ellsworth is sixteen and is homeschooled. She has studied the cello for twelve years and currently studies with Hyerim Mapp. She has attended the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute and the Louisiana State University Collaborative Piano Institute. Last year, she was invited to play with the New Mexico State Philharmonic.

3rd PLACE: Judy Caranto - piano

Judy Caranto is fifteen and attends the St. Philomena Homeschool Academy. She has studied piano for seven years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She has performed in several solo and sonatina festivals and baroque competitions. Judy was a finalist in the EPSMF 2021 Competition for Young Musicians and placed third in the 2022 EPSMF Competition.

RECOGNITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Sophia Cao - piano

Sophia Cao is ten and attends a public school. She has studied piano for five years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She has participated, in the past three years, in the Texas Music Teachers Association Baroque Piano Competition.

RECOGNITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Ittai Schweiger - piano

Ittai Schweiger is fifteen and attends I-University Prep/ He has been playing piano for seven years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. He has won awards in two Baroque festivals. He also plays with his church worship band.

RECOGNITION FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Stephan Hatem - piano

Stephan Hatem is sixteen and attends Eastwood High School where he is in the Top 20 of his class. He has studied the piano for seven years and currently studies with Dr. Ezequiel Meza.

The 2023 INSTRUMENTS FOR YOUNG LIVES AWARDS RECIPIENT:

Alexa Ortiz-Hernandez – Bb clarinet

Alexa Ortiz-Hernandez is eighteen and a senior at El Dorado High School. She has performed with the All Region Band (2020-2023), Aside from playing in El Dorado High School bands and orchestra, she has participated in the All State Band (2023) and the Southwest Honor Band (2022-2023). She has received the Drum Major Award and has recognized as an Outstanding Honor Ban Member. According to Alexa, “my passion for music is huge… an instrument of my own would be the best tool to not only study my passion but to spread my love for it to those around me.”

Competition finalists will receive their awards at the EPSMF OM/NI Talk: String 2023 event on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church (5005 Love Road) at 3PM. This event is free to the public. All are welcome to attend.

EPSMF is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization. The 2022-2023 EPSMF events and programs have been made possible with the support of the El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, the El Paso Community Foundation, the Paso del Norte Foundation, Texas Commission for the Arts, and generous patrons from the community. www.epsmf.org

Dedicated to providing quality classical music programs.