Annual edith knox
performance competition
Note:
The application period for the 2026 Annual Edith Knox Performance Competition will open on Nov. 1 and close on Dec. 31, 2025
The Preliminary Round will take place on Jan. 10, 2026 at Los Angeles Harbor College
The Final Round will take place on Feb. 1, 2026 at RUHS Auditorium
Cash Prizes
First Place
$2,000
Second Place
$1,000
Third Place
$750
Fourth Place
$500
fifth Place
$400
Competition Rules
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The Competition is open to instrumentalists who have not attained the age of 25 by June 1 of the competition year. Proof of age may be required at the Preliminary Competition.
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The preliminary round audition times will be assigned after applications are received. In the event of an unusually large number of submissions, applicants may be asked to provide a link to a sample performance. Not all applicants may be selected for the preliminary round.
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Entrants must perform a concerto in its entirety or another work for solo instrument and orchestra from the standard repertoire that is equivalent in terms of difficulty and length. Selections are subject to approval by the Chairs of the Knox Competition and the PSA Artistic committees, as well as by the Peninsula Symphony Music Director. Repertoire must be performed from memory with piano accompaniment.
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Decisions of the judges are final. Neither oral nor written critiques will be provided.
Ready to Apply?
1.
After submitting the application form, pay the non-refundable $50 fee through PayPal (a link will be made available)
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Meet the winners
2025
Winner
Emerson Yul Yang, Cello
Tchaikovsky: Variations of a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
Second
Kento Ishikawa, Piano
Chopin: Concerto for Piano in E minor, Op. 11
Third
Logan Elliot, Bassoon
Hummel: Concerto for Bassoon in F major
Third
Dallas Chu, Violin
Barber: Concerto for Violin, Op. 14
Fourth
Gregory Cheong, Piano
Mozart: Concerto for Piano No. 27 in B flat major, K.595
2024
Winner
Ezra Shcolnik, Violin
Goldmark: Violin Concerto 1n A minor
Second
Simon Yao, Piano
Mendelssohn: Concerto for Piano in G minor
Third
Helaine Zhao, Piano
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Piano No. 1 in B flat minor
Fourth
Kayla Ralls, Cello
Elgar: Concerto for Cello in E minor
Fifth
Sabrina Lo, Piano
Rachmaninoff: Concerto for Piano No. 2 in C minor
2023
Winner
Cameron Akioka, Piano
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major
Second
Rin Homma, Piano
Ravel: Piano Concerto G major
Third
Sophie Bell, Violin
Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor
Fourth
Lauren Spring, Trumpet
Neruda: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major
Fifth
Nathaniel Yue, Cello
Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor
2022
Winner
Mei Hotta, Cello
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto in E-flat major
Second
David Choi, Piano
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
Third
Rachel Kim, Violin
Hummel: Concerto for Bassoon in F major
Fourth
Elaine Tai, Cello
Schumann: Cello in A minor
Fifth
Natalie Kwok, Cello
Tchaikovsky: Variations of a Rococo Theme
2020
Winner
Mi-Hyun Suh, Piano
Chopin: Concerto for Piano in F minor
Second (tie)
Tiffany Koo, Piano
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 for Piano
Second (tie)
Kevin Song, Cello
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Third
Austin Ho, Piano
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Paganini
Fourth
Dallas Noble, Violin
Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor
2019
Winner
Audrey Park, Violin
Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor
Second
Irene Lee, Cello
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Third (tie)
Tiffany Koo, Piano
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 for Piano
Third (tie)
Dominik Yoder, Piano
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Paganini
Fourth
Eilene Tai, Cello
Elgar: Cello Concerto
2018
Winner
Victor Shlyaknenko, Piano
Liszt Concerto for Piano No. 1
Second
Strauss Shir, Violin
Sibelius: Concerto for Violin in D minor
Third
Max Hammond, Violin
Prokofiev: Concerto for Piano No. 3 in C major
Fourth
Clayton Dungey, Tuba
Vaughn Williams: Concerto for Tuba
Fifth
Annie SeEun Hyung, Cello
Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor
2017
Winner
Nicholas Mariscal, Cello
Samuel Barber: Concerto for Cello, Opus 22
Second
Michael Harper, Trumpet
Arutunian: Concerto for Trumpet
Third
Heidi Hatch, Violin
Korngold: Concerto for Violin, Opus 35
Fourth
Tomlin Su, Violin
Glazunov: Concerto for Violin, Opus 82
Fifth
Max Hammond, Piano
Schumann: Piano Concerto, Opus 54
2016
Winner
Caroline Ho, Piano
Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 for Piano in B-flat minor, Opus 23
Second
Rainer Crosett, Cello
Bloch Schelomo: Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello
Third
Dillon Parker, Trumpet
Edward Gregson Concerto for Trumpet
Fourth
Max Hammond, Piano
Rachmaninoff Concerto for Piano No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18
Fifth
Kristi Kim, Cello
Elgar Concerto for Cello in E minor, Opus 85
2015
Winner
Jihyun Lily Moon, Piano
Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
Second
Usha Kapoor, Violin
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
Third
Minh Nguyen, Piano
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Opus 30
Fourth
Kristi Kim, Cello
Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Opus 85
Fifth
Jamie Kim, Flute
Chaminade Flute Concertino in D major, Opus 107
2014
Winner
Erick Y. Chong, Cello
Dvořák Concerto for Cello in B minor
Second
Howard Chen, Piano
Prokofiev Concerto no. 3 for Piano in C major
Third
Karen Su, Violin
Bruch Violin Concerto no. 1 G minor
Fourth
Jeffery Li, Cello
Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor
Fifth
Yuet Ka (Keri) Hui, Piano
Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto no. 5 in F major
2013
Winner
Hao Zhou, Violin
Wienaiwski Violin Concerto no. 1
Second
Joseph Morris, Clarinet
Nielsen Clarinet Concerto
Third
Erick Y. Chong, Cello
Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations for Cello in A major
Third
Shotaro Matsumoto Piano
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major
Honorable Mention
Karen Su, Violin
Wieniawski Violin Concerto no. 2 in D minor
Geneva Lewis, Violin
Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no. 3
Noah Sonderling, Piano
Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 1 in D♭
2012
Winner
Michelle Tseng, Violin
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D
Second
Jonathan Mamora, Piano
Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 3
Third
Jeffery Li Elliot,
Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante in E minor
Thurd
Jesse Chen, Violin
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Honorable Mention
Yifan Zhou, Violin
Brahms Violin Concerto in D
Isabella Ma, Piano
Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
Edith Knox Performance Competition and prizes are made possible through support provided by Edith Knox Fund, the Mimi Horowitz Fund, and individual donors (Angels).