MCE's Annual Youth Music Competition
Each Spring, Masterworks’ Youth Music Competition is an opportunity for area youth to compete in one of three levels: elementary, middle, or high school. Since 2001, this event has provided wonderful learning and performance experience for students in our community.
The competition is open to all grade 3-12 vocal and instrumental students. The three winners, one from each level, receive a scholarship award and an invitation to perform a solo in a Masterworks Choral Ensemble concert at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts the season following the competition.
2026 Winners
Winner, High School Division
Kaydence Coleman, Voice
11th grade, North Thurston High School
Kaydence is a member of the Jazz and Chamber choirs at North Thurston High School. She has competed at the State Solo & Ensemble competition the past two years, WMEA All-State this May and will be attending the NYU Tisch program over the summer. She loves to sing and is planning to pursue music after high school.
Winner, Middle School Divison
Jace Wu, Piano
7th grade, Jefferson Middle School
Jace is a 7th grader enrolled in the JAMS program at Jefferson Middle School. Since kindergarten, he has participated in a variety of adjudications, competitions, and recitals along with his teacher, Amy Yang. Outside of studying piano, Jace enjoys playing club soccer, contributing to his school orchestra as a violinist, drawing, playing video games along with his friends, and spending time with his family and beloved dog. Jace is the past winner of the OMTA piano concerto competition in the elementary school division.
Winner, Elementary School Division
Eugene Lee, Cello
4th Grade, Roosevelt Elementary School
Eugene is a fourth grade student in the ALPS program at Roosevelt Elementary. He has been studying the cello with Haeyoon Krentz for three years. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, golf, guitar, and chess.
2027 Competition
Next year’s competition is currently scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2027 at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts on the South Puget Sound Community College Campus. (Date and location subject to change.)
Competition Rules:
- All instruments and voice are eligible.
- Maximum audition piece length is 3-4 minutes.
- This is a solo competition. Duets, trios, etc., are not permitted.
- Your audition must have either live accompaniment or be unaccompanied. Competitors are strongly encouraged to arrange for accompaniment.
- A student can win only ONCE in any level. Once they win in a level, they must wait until they are in the next level to compete again.
- A student may not compete the year immediately following their win, even if they switch levels. Ex: student winning in the last year of middle school eligibility may not compete in the high school level the following year.
Prize Divisions:
One winner will be selected from each division:
- Elementary: grade 3-5
- Middle School: grade 6-8
- High School: grade 9-12
Competition winners will have the opportunity to perform live in a Masterworks Choral Ensemble performance in the 27-28.
If you have additional questions, reach out to us at youthmusiccompetition@nullmce.org.
Past Youth Music Competition Winners
Click to view a list of past Youth Music Competition winners: YMC Winners 2001 – 2025
