NAFTZGER YOUNG ARTISTS AUDITIONS & AWARDS
March 16-17, 2024
Please feel free to send any questions to naftzgeryoungartists@wichita.edu.
The 2024 brochure has the rules and requirements.
2024 Judges coming soon
2023 Naftzger Young Artists Auditions Winners
Congratulations to our 2023 Naftzger Young Artists Auditions Winners:
Pictured from left to right: Peter Miyamoto (judge, piano) Jiyeon Lee (piano), Zhengyi Huang (piano), Ted Taylor (judge, voice), Ashley Ruckman (soprano), Cole Mcllquham (tenor), Ilkhom Mukhiddinov (violin), Ann Kuo (flute), Najee Greenlee (clarinet), Qianru Elaine He (violin), Lin He (judge, strings), Robert Carnochan (judge, winds & percussion)
NAFTZGER YOUNG ARTISTS AWARD RECIPIENT ($5,000 Grand Prize)
Zhengyi Huang, University of Michigan, piano
DIVISION WINNERS ($2,000 Cash Prize)
- Strings Division Winner: Qianru Elaine He, Manhattan School of Music, violin
- Vocal Division Winner: Cole Mcllquham, Wichita State University, tenor
- Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Division Winner: Ann Kuo, Colburn School, flute
DIVISION RUNNERS UP ($500 Cash Prize)
- Strings Division Runner Up: Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, Park University, violin
- Vocal Division Runner Up: Ashley Ruckman, Wichita State University, soprano
- Piano Division Runner Up: Jiyeon Lee, Missouri State University
- Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Runner Up: Najee Greenlee, Rice University, clarinet
Administration
The Naftzger Young Artists Auditions and Music Awards are administered by Wichita State University's School of Music and are made possible by The Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts, Inc. Created by Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Naftzger in memory of L.S. Naftzger, Ida L. Naftzger, and Lee Southwell Naftzger II.