Each spring, undergraduate music majors at Case Western Reserve University participate in the CWRU Music Concerto Competition—a recital-style performance opportunity that offers selected students the chance to appear as soloists with the Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Winds in the following academic year.
Coordinated by Dr. Kathleen Horvath, Director of Orchestras, the competition provides a platform for students to showcase their artistry, gain valuable performance experience, and receive public recognition for their achievements.
The 2026 Concerto Competition was held in person on Friday, March 20, 2026, with performances evaluated by a panel of faculty members.
We are pleased to announce this year’s winners:
Erin Huang, flute
Flute Concerto in D Major, Op. 283 – Carl Reinecke
Studies with Heidi Ruby-Kushious
Biomedical Engineering (BSE) / Music (BA)
Austin Lu, piano
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 – Sergei Prokofiev
Studies with Gerardo Teissonnière
Biomedical Engineering (BSE) / Pre-Health / Music (Sec)
Congratulations to both soloists, who will be featured in performances during the 2026/27 concert season.
We also extend our appreciation to all participants for their outstanding preparation, professionalism, and musicianship.
Special thanks to our collaborative pianists—Alicja Basinska, Irwin Shung, and Elizabeth DeMio—for their essential contributions to this event.
A list of past winners is available on the Performance Competitions page. You can also visit the Concerto Competition event page to view the full list of performers and the official program.