News Release

WARSAW — Registration will be closing soon for the ninth annual Statewide Young Artist Competition for all orchestral instruments. The event will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in the Performing Arts Center of Warsaw Community High School.

Sponsored by the Wagon Wheel Symphony of the Lakes and the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the competition was founded by the late Thomas Stirling, who was music director for the symphony and the theater. Those in the senior division will compete for the Thomas N. Stirling Memorial Scholarships, which will be awarded to the top three musicians. The top winner in the senior division will also be given the opportunity to perform with the Symphony of the Lakes in a future concert.

There are two divisions for the competition. The junior division is for grades five through eight. The senior division is for musicians in grades nine through 12. Competition will be Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Warsaw High School Performing Arts Center, with opportunities for students who play any of the following instruments: orchestral strings (including harp), Brass, woodwinds, percussion and piano. Students must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate. Attendance at the entire competition is open to the public without charge.

“Our organization recognizes that Indiana is blessed with so many wonderful young musicians around the state,” said Jason Luke Thompson, conductor of the Wagon Wheel Symphony of the Lakes. “We want to offer students a unique opportunity to compete, to earn scholarships, and also have an opportunity to perform with the Symphony of the Lakes in the future. Our musicians come from all over Indiana, so it’s important to us that we’ve expanded this opportunity for students beyond northern Indiana.”

Complete registration information is available on the Wagon Wheel Center’s website at wagonwheelcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2024-Symphony-of-the-Lakes-Young-Artist-Competition-Packet.pdf or call the center office at (574) 267-8041.