2025 Winners

Congratulations to our Naftzger Young Artists Auditions Winners:

An image of the finalists from the 2025 competition, standing in front of WSU's marcussen organ

Pictured from left to right

Front Row - Runqi Weng, violin; Isabel Blake, soprano; Pulip Han, soprano; Riley Bender, flute | Back row -  Jodi Levitz, string judge; Dylan Kinneavy, cello; Zachary Costello, saxophone; David Congelosi, vocal judge; Ethan Stahl, piano; Jiyeon Lee, piano; Caroline Oltmanns, piano judge; Thomas Keck, WBP judge

 

Naftzger Young Artists Award Recipient ($5,000 Grand Prize)

Zachary Costello, Eastman School of Music, saxophone,

Division Winners ($2,000 Cash Prize)

  • Piano Division Winner: Jiyeon Lee, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Strings Division Winner: Dylan Kinneavy, cello
  • Vocal Division Winner: Pulip Han, Wichita State University, soprano

Division Runners Up ($500 Cash Prize)

  • Piano Division Runner Up: Ethan Stahl, University of Colorado-Boulder
  • Strings Division Runner Up: Runqi Weng, Michigan State University, violin
  • Vocal Division Runner Up: Isabel Blakewell, Wichita State University, soprano
  • Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Runner Up: Riley Bender, University of Texas - Austin, flute