String players and ensembles among 2025 YCA finalists
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Young Concert Artists (YCA) has announced the finalists in the 2025 Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. The finals will begin on 9 November in Merkin Hall at New York’s Kaufman Music Center, with the laureates being announced on 10 November.
Among the twelve finalists are four solo string players and four ensembles including string players. These are: violinists Christina Nam, Hannah Tam and Claire Wells, violist Samuel Rosenthal, Trio Azura, Eris Trio, Erinys String Quartet and piano-violin duo Jiusi Zhang and Ray Ushikubo.
The other finalists are: pianist Elias Ackerley, clarinetist Elad Navon, flutist Nikka Gershman and saxophonist Estel Vivo Casanovas.
The finalists will perform for the chance to join the YCA Roster as soloists or – in a new offering for ensembles – as YCA’s first-ever Ensemble-in-Residence.
The YCA Jacobs Fellowship offers a holistic system of support and opportunities, including artist management, performance opportunities at top venues around the globe, mentorship from YCA leadership and alumni, training in education and community engagement projects, plus brand development.
For the first time, the jury will also select up to three laureates who will receive $5,000 in career development grants and an invitation to compete in the semi-final round of future audition cycles.
YCA President Daniel Kellogg will head the jury, which will also comprise YCA founder Susan Wadsworth, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, former Opus 3 Artists senior vice president Pat Winter, violinist Chee-Yun, conductor and flutist Ransom Wilson, cellist Alban Gerhardt, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and the Metropolitan Opera’s Ken Noda, musical advisor for the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
