Elliot Kim, First Place Winner

First Place winner is Elliot Kim, Violinist, who won First Place in the Wilcox Contest in 2018. He has studied violin for 12 years, the last 9 with William Dick of Austin. Among his many awards is acceptance to the National Youth Orchestra of the United States ofAmerica in 2020 and 2021. He is first violinist and founding member of the OPUS String Quartet, sponsored by the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He is also an award-winning pianist. Elliot will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where he plans to continue his music studies and ensemble participation while focusing on pre-medical course work.

Violinist Laoise Matsumoto, Second Place Winner

Second Place went to Laoise Matsumoto, Violinist, and student of U.T. Professor Sandy Yamamoto. Laoise began her violin studies at the age of three, with Kristi Manno. She has participated in numerous festivals, music camps, and institutes over the years, and has won many awards, including two first place awards and a second place award in the 2020 Great ComposersCompetition, an international online competition. Laoise will enter the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the fall, and will study with Professor Sibbi Bernhardsson. She plans to go on to Masters and Doctoral programs after her undergraduate studies.

Flutist Ella Jones, Third Place Winner

Ella Jones, Flutist, won the Third Place Award. She is a student of Ann Kjerulf Knien, who has given us several winners in the past. Ella has won many honors, including first chair in All-State Band, First Place in the Junior Division of the Austin Flute Society’s Young Artist Competition, and 3rd Place in its Senior Division. She will attend Trinity University in San Antonio in the fall, where she has been invited to play in their wind symphony and orchestra.