The annual YPAS concerto competition, held at the beginning of each school year, is open to all the YPAS junior and seniors who play an instrument or sing. Many outstanding YPAS students have entered this competition. For the first round, they perform for all the YPAS music faculties, and for the final round, they will perform for adjudicators who are professional musicians or university music faculties. Three most outstanding young musicians are chosen to receive this highest honor at YPAS and to perform with full orchestra during the school year.
YPAS Competition Winners of 2021-2022
First Place:
Kaylynn Li, Violin
Kaylynn is scheduled to perform the first movement of the Mendelsoohn Violin Concerto in E minor with YPAS Philharmonia Orchestra on May 4, 2022.
Kaylynn Li, Violin
Kaylynn is scheduled to perform the first movement of the Mendelsoohn Violin Concerto in E minor with YPAS Philharmonia Orchestra on May 4, 2022.
Catherine Willis, Double Bass
Catherine Willis has been a devoted double bassist since 2015. She is a class of ‘22 current senior at the Youth Performing Arts School and GSA class of ‘21 graduate. If you know Catherine, you know you can almost always find her rehearsing with the YPAS Philharmonic or Chamber orchestra, LYO Symphony orchestra, YPAS production of Elf the Musical, endlessly practicing Strauss’s famous Ein Heldenleben excerpt, or swinging a bass line with a few pals after class. Her performance experience includes the Kentucky All State Symphony orchestra, Kentucky All County Symphony orchestra, the YPAS jazz combo, University of Louisville String Academy, and various music camps and programs including Girls Rock Louisville, Butler University Bass Intensive, University of Louisville Bass Day and String Day. In the future she hopes to pursue a career in music performance.
Catherine will appear as soloist to perform the first movement of the Double Bass Concerto in D Major by Vanhal with YPAS Chamber Orchestra on May 4, 2022.
Catherine Willis has been a devoted double bassist since 2015. She is a class of ‘22 current senior at the Youth Performing Arts School and GSA class of ‘21 graduate. If you know Catherine, you know you can almost always find her rehearsing with the YPAS Philharmonic or Chamber orchestra, LYO Symphony orchestra, YPAS production of Elf the Musical, endlessly practicing Strauss’s famous Ein Heldenleben excerpt, or swinging a bass line with a few pals after class. Her performance experience includes the Kentucky All State Symphony orchestra, Kentucky All County Symphony orchestra, the YPAS jazz combo, University of Louisville String Academy, and various music camps and programs including Girls Rock Louisville, Butler University Bass Intensive, University of Louisville Bass Day and String Day. In the future she hopes to pursue a career in music performance.
Catherine will appear as soloist to perform the first movement of the Double Bass Concerto in D Major by Vanhal with YPAS Chamber Orchestra on May 4, 2022.
Isabella Recktenwald, soprano
Isabella is a senior vocal major at YPAS. This summer, she participated in The Washington National Opera Vocal Institute whose faculty included Millicent Scarlett, Patrick O’Donnell, and Harolyn Blackwell. Isabella has performed in The Philadelphia International Music Festival, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Youth Choir, and Second Presbyterian Concert Series. She is a choral intern at Calvin Episcopal Church under the direction of Jacob Cook. She plans to pursue vocal performance and dietetics in college.
Isabella is scheduled to perform Le Nozze di Figaro, No. 27 Recitativo and Aria, with YPAS Chamber Orchestra on December 8, 2021.
Isabella is a senior vocal major at YPAS. This summer, she participated in The Washington National Opera Vocal Institute whose faculty included Millicent Scarlett, Patrick O’Donnell, and Harolyn Blackwell. Isabella has performed in The Philadelphia International Music Festival, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Youth Choir, and Second Presbyterian Concert Series. She is a choral intern at Calvin Episcopal Church under the direction of Jacob Cook. She plans to pursue vocal performance and dietetics in college.
Isabella is scheduled to perform Le Nozze di Figaro, No. 27 Recitativo and Aria, with YPAS Chamber Orchestra on December 8, 2021.
Ryan Barrett, Trombone
Ryan will appear as soloist to perform with the YPAS Chamber Orchestra the first movement of Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra by Launy Grøndahl on March 10, 2022.